Tag Archives: House of Sweden

Weekend Outlook: Snow, with a Cherry Blossom on Top

Surely, I’m not the only one who has been staring at the weather forecast in disbelief.  That can’t be a picture of a little white cloud surrounded by tiny snowflakes on Sunday.  Not only does this not bode so well for the kite festival that I’ve been looking forward to for weeks, I just packed up all of our winter coats for storage in the basement for what I thought would be the next few seasons.  Plus, OldMan Winter just announced his hiatus for the better part of the remaining year.

But I’ll keep the glass half full (like mine literally will be by 5pm today) as I get to my picks for family fun.  Snow may not be the ideal weather scenario, but plenty of great indoor activities will be happening to override any meteorological disappointment.  However, if that forecast turns around, I highly recommend the kite festival.  Happy Weekend!

Celebrate the Bloom – The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off on Saturday with a Family Day and Opening Ceremonies at the National Building Museum.  On both Saturday and Sunday, there will music and activities on the National Mall, including the Blossom Kite Festival on Sunday, if it doesn’t get snowed out.  Find out more about the best family events and get tips for viewing the spring blossoms.

Under the Big TopThe Greatest Show on Earth is at the Verizon Center now through March 27. Barnum 200 – Barnum’s Funundrum features 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids — a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it.   Tickets are still available, and I found a promo code on Go Out & Play – save $8 by entering the code 8MOM when buying your tickets at Ticketmaster.com.  If you purchase your tickets the day of the show, you can save $4 with the code 4MOM.

Boogie Down at Eastern MarketCelebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the Boogie Babes! The Festival’s Music of Spring program includes a Children’s Stage at the Market’s North Hall where many Boogie Babes regular performers will entertain kids throughout the day. On the schedule:  Saturday – 10:30am Mr. Skip, 1:30pm The Banjo Man, 4pm The Singing Lizard.  Sunday -10:30am The Banjo Man, 1:30pm Mr. Skip, 4pm John Henry, The Guitar Playing Man.  Suggested $10/family for the performer.

It’s Showtime – Along with the circus, a few more family shows will bring uniqe entertainment to the area this weekend.  Strathmore will host “Imago Theatre: Zoo Zoo”; an NSO Family Concert, “The Trumpet of the Swan” will play at the Kennedy Center, and the Gardens Figure Skating Club presents “Alice in Wonderland on Ice.”  Tickets are still available for all of them.  For details on these performances and more, see this post on spring shows.

Bowie Baysox Free Family FunFest – Get ready for baseball season with minor league team, the Bowie Baysox.  Their 12th annual Free Family FunFest will take place on Saturday from 10am – 2pm rain or shine.  Festivities include free rides, games, inflatables, music, and face painting.  Plus, there will be special appearances by Louie, the Oriole Bird, Dora, and the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS department with vehicles on display.  More details are available on the Out by Ten blog.

South African Family FunOn Saturday from 12 – 2:30pm at the African Art Museum, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of South Africa as Lesole Dance Project performs a variety of South African dances, including gumboots, which originated in the gold mines; the fast-paced and colorful pantsula; and the indlamu, known as “the warrior dance.” Discover the beauty of South African wall painting among the homesteads and houses of the Ndebele peoples and create your own Ndebele-inspired design. Join storyteller Lucretia Anderson as she weaves old and new tales from South Africa.  This is a free event.

Have a Ball this Saturday at The NationalThe audience gets into the act at this with Globe Trotter Alumnus and basketball star, Spencer “Spinny” Johnson, celebrated for high scoring, integrity, and trick-shot artistry. Spinny gives a dynamic display of digital dexterity and invites anyone to step up and join in. Behind dazzling fast-action tricks are inspiring lessons in respect, goal-setting, and self-confidence. Performances are at 9:30am and 11am.  Tickets are free, but required. Distributed day of on first-come, first-served basis.

Maury at the MarketIf you have a sitter for Saturday evening, consider attending Maury at the Market, a silent auction and reception to support PTA programs at Maury Elementary, a DC public school on Capitol Hill.  From 7-10pm, Eastern Market’s North Hall will be transformed into a swanky party venue where guests can mix and mingle, enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and bid on a variety of fantastic auction items.  Tickets are $30 at the door.  See this post for more details.

Space for Children at House of Sweden – The Swedish Embassy welcomes families to experience what sounds like a unique exhibit on weekends through April 24.  Two rooms of “interactivity creativity” celebrate the parent-child bond and encourage creative play. The free exhibit is open Saturdays from 11am – 4pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  Read more about it on the Embassy’s website.

Tiny Tots –Two puppet shows for the littlest ones will be performed at The Puppet Co. this weekend: Baby Bear’s Birthday on Saturday and Second-Hand Stars on Sunday.  Both start at 10am.  Tickets are $5 and available online or at the box office.   Tiny Tots shows are recommended for ages 0-4.

Portrait Story Day: PocahontasDrop in at the National Portrait Gallery on Sunday from 1 – 4pm to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This week, learn about Pocahontas, the Native American chief’s daughter who married English settler John Rolfe.



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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Monuments & Memorials, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Spring, Weekend

What To Do This Weekend

There’s so much going on this weekend, it almost seems more appropriate to ask, “What isn’t there to do?” Museum family days, Mardi Gras celebrations, even some outdoor fun (if the weather cooperates) are all part of the mix.  Here are details on all of them and more.  Happy Weekend!

Tots Rock!Rocknoceros at the Air & Space Museum.  I almost feel like nothing more needs to be said.  But in case you’re wondering, a planetarium show starring Big Bird and Elmo, plus “Flights of Fancy” story time will also be part of Saturday’s entertainment at the museum on the National Mall. Visit the website for a schedule of events, and note that tickets are required and seating is limited for planetarium shows.

Space for Children at House of Sweden The Swedish Embassy welcomes families to experience what sounds like a unqiue exhibit on weekends through April 24.  Two rooms of “interactivity creativity” celebrate the parent-child bond and encourage creative play. The free exhibit is open Saturdays from 11am – 4pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  Read more about it on the Embassy’s website.

Mardi Gras FestivalThis party at the Rockville Town Square will have all the makings for a New Orelans-style celebration – the family-friendly version, anyway. Put on crazy balloon hats and whoop it up with a parade, live music, masks and beads, arts & crafts, a moonbounce, and plenty more Mardi Gras fun.  The free event will take place Saturday from  10am – 2pm.

D.C. Color Splash!If you follow KidFriendly DC on Facebook, you may have seen the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s 2011 Family Festival mentioned a few days ago.  It sounds like a great opportunity to check out the museum and have a fun, art-filled day with the kids. Guests can try their hands at various art mediums, join in interactive performances, groove along with local musicians, and explore the hues and  illuminations of the exhibit “Washington Color and Light.”

U.S. National ArboretumThere may be some rain in the forecast for this weekend, but we all know how quickly that can change around here.  So, I’ll go ahead and recommend the Arboretum for some outdoor recreation. The plants aren’t yet blooming (I know from being there last weekend), but tramping through the woods, playing among the old Capitol columns, and visiting the Koi pond are always a thrill for kids.  Don’t forget to check out the new Lunar New Year exhibit at the Bonai Museum  on display until March 27.

Watkins Regional Park – If weather does work in our favor, another great outdoor pursuit is a visit to Watkins Regional Park.  The train and carousel aren’t open this time of year, but you can see the animals at Old Maryland Farm and maybe even catch a pony ride.  The Watkins Nature Center will have even more critters that guests can check out along with a squirrel gym that showcases squirrels performing tricks and eating corn.  Pack a picnic for lunch al fresco, then play on the sprawling colorful playground.

Circus of High-Flying Events It’s another Family Saturday at Intersections: A New America Arts Festival taking place at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.  Starting at 11am and continuing into the evening , there will be all kinds of arts and activities for guests to enjoy, from a performance of Adventure Theatre’s “Mirandy and Brother Wind” to acrobatic acts by circus performers to a tap dancing production to a flamenco show.  There will also be opportunities to take part in some movement and art workshops.  Some of the activities are free – check the schedule to see which require tickets and what time they are happening.

Tie & Dye a TextileYour kids can connect with their inner hippies at the Textile Museum’s monthly Arts for Families program.  This Saturday, guests are invite to create their own colorful textiles as they explore tie-dyeing. Learn various fold and tie techniques to create unique designs on cloth to take home. This free activity runs from 2-4pm.  Recommended for ages 4 -12.

Dance Your Socks Off – River Park Nursery School in Capitol Hill is hosting its annual Sock Hop and Silent Auction on Saturday from 4 – 7pm. Folks all over the area are invited to join the party.  For details, check out this post from last week.

Merry Mardi GrasLaissez les bons temps rouler!  The Launch Zone at the National Children’s Museum will transform into New Orleans for a just-for-kids Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday from 11am – 4pm. Kids can make their own jester hats, traditional masks, and all of the other essentials for a traditional Mardi Gras parade.  This is all free, just head on over to the National Harbor and join the fun.

Flying in the Great Hall ­– The National Building Museum’s Great Hall is one of the most magnificent spaces in the city.  I bet it’ll be even more so with model airplanes soaring through it.   Witness the spectacle this Sunday from 11am – 4pm when DC Maxecutors’ model planes take flight.  It should be quite a sight.  All ages are welcome to this free event.

Theatre on Strings – A few productions will be performed at The Puppet Co. this weekend.  Tiny tots can enjoy “Old MacDonald’s Farm” on Saturday and “Penguin’s Playground” on Sunday.  Both start at 10am.  Tickets are $5 and available online.   Tiny Tots shows are recommended for ages 0-4.  Older children will enjoy “Jack and the Beanstalk,” showing both Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am and 1pm. Tickets are $10 and also available for purchase online.

Show Time – Several live family-friendly productions are in local theaters, and tickets are still available for some of this weekend’s performances.  Check out this post to see what’s playing and how to reserve your seats.

Stories in Art –Sculptor David Smith is the subject for this week’s children’s program at the National Gallery of Art. The workshop will start with a reading of “Half of the Elephant,” n elephant on a humorous journey to find his missing half.. From there, the group will explore the work of David Smith, then build a sculpture with wood and metal. Hour-long sessions begin at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm on Sunday. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am that day and will continue until all spaces are filled.  No admission fee required.

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Recreation to Restore Sanity (and a Haunted Walking Tour to Keep Fear Alive)

In case you haven’t heard, there’s this rally thing happening on the Mall tomorrow.  It’s supposed to be a pretty big deal and, word has it, thousands of people will be attending.  If you don’t plan to be among them and want to avoid the crowds and clogged metro in that part of town while you hang with the kids, here are some suggestions for family fun off the rally route.

Justin Roberts at National Geographic Live
When I first heard about this event, I thought I wasn’t familiar with Justin Roberts’ music.  But as I listened to a few of his tunes, I realized the kids and I had been rocking out to some of his songs for years via the kids’ Sirius Radio station we listen to often.  So, I feel okay about recommending the National Geographic Live! show he’s playing tomorrow, October 30.  Seats are still available for both the 12pm and 3pm shows. Tickets are $16, $12/kids 12 and under and can be purchased through the National Geographic website or at the door.  (And PS – While you’re there, check out the Geckos and Wild Music exhibits!)

Kids Euro Festival
There’s just a little over a week left to catch some performances of Kids Euro Fest, the month-long showcase of European art and culture for children.  This weekend you and the kids can take in shadow puppetry from Poland and stage performances from Germany and Slovakia.  Check the schedule for times and note that some of the shows require reservations, though admission is free for all.

KIDS: Room to Play – Build Your Own Infrastructure
I’m going to avoid a bad Ikea joke and just give you the description straight from the website about the KIDS: Room to Play exhibit taking place at House of Sweden through December 5:  ‘Build a skyscraper, construct a highway, launch a ship and play in Pippi Longstocking’s house. We provide the building blocks, vehicles, toys, etc – you provide the imagination. Kids of all ages are invited to House of Sweden to build their own world of tomorrow!’ The exhibit will be open Saturdays 11am – 4pm and Sundays: 12pm to 5pm.

Smithsonian Sans Crowds
Needless to say, it might be best to leave the museum-going on the Mall to another weekend.  But you can still enjoy a Smithsonian kids’ fave – the National Zoo is far enough up town, and with splendid fall weather in the weekend forecast, it’ll be a great time to pay the animals a visit.  Don’t miss the recently opened Elephant Trail and be sure to check the daily schedule to see what’s going on when you visit.

Fall on the Farm
Whether you’re still looking for the perfect pumpkin or just want to visit a farm that sounds like something out of a storybook, head to Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland. While the kids and I have yet to visit ourselves (we’re heading there today on the day off from school), you can read a nice description of the farm here. Admission if $5/person, and hayrides, pony rides, and the cow train are $2/each. Open 10am – 5:30pm (last admission is 4pm) seven days a week through November 7.

Haunted Hill
The newly formed Walking Shtick Tours is offering a kids version of their Haunted Hill tour on Sunday, October 31, at 1pm.  The hour-long walk around Capitol Hill  is geared for kids ages 8 and up, but younger children tagging along with siblings will fare fine. The tour meets at Eastern Market Metro near the Barracks Row historical sign.  Cost for the special kids tour is $20/family (regular tours are $15/person) and reservations are requested but not required.  Visit the Walking Shtick Tours website to make a reservation and learn more about the tours.

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