Tag Archives: Kids Activities in DC

Activities & Events to Celebrate Women’s History Month Around DC

 

March is Women’s History Month, and there are so many great ways to celebrate it around DC, with something for all ages.  See some exhibits, tour local landmarks, support women in sports, enjoy live entertainment, attend a special event, visit women’s businesses… all showcasing women and their accomplishments.  Find out where you can do that over the next month — and beyond!

Women’s Art
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown DC
When: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & Sunday 12-5pm
Admission: $16/adult, $13/DC residents, free/18 & under

Enjoy a whole museum dedicated to art made by women.  The National Museum of Women in the Arts showcases historic and contemporary artwork, with both permanent and special exhibits. And heads-up: The first Sunday and second Wednesday of every month are Free Community Days when there is no entry fee, and that includes Wednesday, March 11. The museum is also hosting more events for Women’s History Month.

Women’s History Month: Native Women Leading the Way
Where: American Indian Museum | National Mall, DC
When: March 7, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free 

Spend the day celebrating the strength, creativity, and leadership of Native women through vibrant performances, meaningful conversations, and family-friendly activities throughout the museum. From Haudenosaunee traditional dance to hands-on artmaking and powerful stories of resilience, this program invites visitors of all ages to experience how Native women have led—and continue to lead—the way.

Women in Aviation Tour
Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD
When: March 8, 11am
Admission: Free

Discover the vital role women have played in powered flight, beginning with Katharine Wright in 1903. Explore the groundbreaking achievements of female pilots with ties to College Park Airport, and engage in a conversation about the opportunities and challenges women face in aviation careers. Recommended for ages 8+.

See a Spirit Match
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: March 13 & March 25
Admission: Tickets start at $27

Enjoy some exciting soccer and support women in sports at a Washington Spirit match! The team’s home opener is on March 13 against the Portland Thorns. And March 25 ithey pay Utah Royals FC.

Women’s History Month Events
Where: KID Museum | Bethesda, MD
When: Throughout March
Admission: Varies by event
At KID Museum — an organization founded and run by women — Women’s History Month is a big deal. Join them to honor and celebrate the achievements of women in the STEM and Maker communities who are shaping the future through innovation and creativity! Attend a special event with author Chandra Donelson on March 15, meet KID makers on other dates, and partake inal kinds of coo activities all month long. See website for details.

Freckleface Strawberry The Musical
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Through March 29
Tickets: $28

See a show based on a book by celebrated actress, Julianne Moore…   Freckleface Strawberry The Musical is a fun and touching family musical. Freckleface Strawberry will do anything to get rid of her freckles – from scrubbing them with soap to caking on makeup… and even wearing a ski mask to school! Will her schoolmates realize that it’s her under the mask? Will Freckleface be brave enough to finally face her complexion in the mirror? With the help of her loveable schoolmates, including an amazingly talented ballerina, a cutie jock, a charming ditz and a totally kooky teacher, Freckleface learns that everyone is different – and that’s what makes everyone special. Recommended fo all ages.

Statue-esque Women
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
Yes, there are some statues honoring women amid the many memorials and monuments around DC — even one on the National Mall! Make it a mission to visit them over the month and see how many you can get to. You can find a map of them here on Curbed.

Libraries Celebrate Women
Where: Public Libraries Around DC
When: Through March
Admission Free

DC Public Library is hosting several activities and events inspired by Women’s History Month at locations across the city. Participate in a scavenger hunt, enjoy crafting sessions, go to a movie screening, and teens can join for self care bingo and trivia. See the calendar for details here.

Women’s History in American History
Where: National American History Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free

The American History Museum houses several exhibits that focus on women, from displays about women’s suffrage to the First Ladies dresses and  more. See all the ways to explore women’s history through the museum here.

Art of Women Tours
Where: National Museum of Asian Art | National Mall, DC

When: Daily, 2-3pm
Admission: Free
Take a docent-led tour at the National Museum of Asian Art of art by the women in their collection highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity.

More Works by Women
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free

The National Gallery of Art is full of remarkable works by women artists, from Georgia O’Keefe to Alma Thomas to Mary Cassat to Faith Ringgold — and so many more. Wander around the museum to explore them or take a tour (while not solely about women, they will cover some of them).

Women’s History Storytme & Craft
Where: Olney Library | Olney, MD
When: March 23, 2pm
Admission: Free

Join The Yellow Roses, a group that aims to empower, educate, and enable youth leadership, advocacy, and service learning, for a special story time and craft session to celebrate Women’s History Month. All ages welcome, and RSVP’s appreciated.

Support Women in the NCAA
Where: Local Colleges
When: Throughout March
Admission: Varies

March Madness applies to women’s teams, too! See some of our local college teams play basketball — as well as other sports. Lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, and gymnastics are also happening this month. Check schedules for nearby schools:
* University of Maryland (Go, Terps!)
* Georgetown University
* George Washington University
* American University
* George Mason University
* Howard University
* Catholic University

Legacies on Call Boxes
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free

Find old fire call boxes and see where several notable women are commemorated. The Wander Women Project, a travel blog that celebrates women’s creations and follows female legacy, landmarks, and heritage trails, has a map to follow, plus more info about all of the women on their website. It’s a fun way to explore downtown and learn about some pioneering women!

Girl Bosses
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free (but plan to spend — and support!)

Fun activities this month: Shopping! And eating!  This is a great time to make a point to patronize women-owned businesses around DC, and there are many awesome, beloved places to do that. Try some unique eats and eateries powered by local women — see recs here and here.  Shop some of DC’s women-owned businesses. I’m also highlighting the best family photographer in the area, an incredible interior designer if you’re in need of a home spruce up, and consignment shops in Old Town Alexandria that are all women-owned.

 

Do you know of any activities or events that celebrate women that you don’t see listed here? Feel free to share in the comments!

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Filed under 2026, DC, Maryland, Spring, Virginia, Winter

What to Expect Behind the Doors at Disney Encanto x CAMP D.C.

[Note:  This post was written by KFDC Contributor Emily Moise, a local writer and mom of three young children.  She always has excellent recommendations for kids’ activities around the DC area as well as products for little ones and more — see all of them here.]

 

The word “immersive” is thrown around often these days, so going into the Disney Encanto x CAMP D.C. experience, I had modest expectations. Those expectations were blown away! It was some kind of Disney World meets Broadway dreamland, and it is the definition of immersive. Here’s what you can expect…

 

Live musical performances. Forget front row seats at the theater…be a part of the show as you sing and dance along with the cast of characters. Expect to hear all of your favorite Encanto songs, and get reeled into the fun by lively performers and guitarists.

 

Intricate sets with integrated play structures. You’ll feel transported to the real Madrigal casita with its’ magical doors and vines of roses. Multiple slides, spinning chairs, rocking donkeys, and more are seamlessly incorporated throughout.

 

A guided tour with Disney-level staff. Arrive ahead of your ticketed time so you don’t miss any of the action. You will be led from room to room, performance to performance. But you are also allowed to roam free, explore, and pretend play with the characters.

 

Endless photo ops. Forewarning: the lighting is tricky, but you will still get so many great photos. And the performers will help you! There is also a family photo room as you exit the experience—these photos can be printed at an additional cost

 

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, perhaps. While the new CAMP toy store and party venue is now a fixture at Tysons Corner Mall, the immersive show space is rotating. Expect five months of Encanto before it transitions to one of these: Trolls, Bluey, or Little Mermaid.

 

You can read more FAQs here, and view more of my experience here.

Disney Encanto x CAMP D.C.
Where: CAMP at Tysons Corner Center | Tysons, VA 22102
When: Grand Opening December 8 with dates through April
Admission: Starts at $32; free/age 1 & under | Purchase tickets in advance

[Note:  You may have seen this included in the KFDC Holiday Gift Guide — surprise the kids with a visit here in 2024, since December is mostly sold out]

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Filed under 2023, 2024, Winter

Scenes from a Visit to the Old Post Office Tower

 

We first went up in the Old Post Office Clock Tower almost 10 years ago.  As mentioned in this post about that visit, I learned about it from a now-defunct deal site, but I didn’t know anyone who had yet been, so it was kind of a great discovery then.  We’ve visited many times since — not only did the Tower become a back pocket place to take out-of-town guests for impressive views of the city, it’s also an easy stroll from the National Mall and the downtown area.

However, until this week, it had been a few years since we visited, as the Tower was closed during Covid and just reopened to the public again in early June. Sasha and I had to run an errand nearby downtown, so we decided to pop in (or should I say up?) and enjoy those city vistas and add a little fun to our outing.

Look for this sign on 12th Street NW to find the entrance

Some things have changed since that first visit I wrote about, so I thought a new post would be a good idea.  It is still operated by the National Park Service, but the building it’s within is now a hotel.  It was the Trump Hotel, but it recently changed hands (sigh of relief!), and is now a Waldorf Astoria.  And you used to access the Clock Tower through the front entrance, but it now has its own entrance at the back of the hotel.

Once inside past security, there’s a long walkway with displays about DC history, the building, and the area where it’s located (did you know it was called “Murder Bay” in the 19th century?).  That leads to the National Park Service area, where a ranger greets and guides guests to the elevator that leads up to the Tower.  It was from the ranger that I learned the NPS was ready to welcome visitors back to the Clock Tower last year, but the Trump organization wouldn’t renew the contract for security at the entrance.  It wasn’t until the Waldorf Astoria took over that security was hired again, and the Tower could officially reopen.

The elevator takes you to the 9th floor, where you can peer down to see the hotel lobby far below and get a good view of the gorgeous glass-paned roof.  From there, you take another elevator to the observation deck.  In the middle is a glass case with all the gears and inner workings of the clock.  [Side note: We once happened to be there when it was time to set the clock to fall back, and they let the kids help turn it — how cool is that?!]

Of course, the main features of the observation deck are the sweeping views of the city from every direction.  You can see so many major structures, and there are displays to help you locate them if you’re not familiar with layout of DC.  Get a glimpse of it all in the photos finishing out this post, but I can assure you these scenes are way better in person.

Old Post Office Clock Tower
Where: Within the Waldorf Astoria Hotel | Downtown DC
Access: Enter at 12th & C Streets NW (on 12th between Pennsylvania & Constitution NW).
When: Daily, 9am – 4pm
Admission: Free

 

A view of the Clock Tower on our way downtown (PS: love the Ukrainian flags lining Pennsylvania Ave along with the US & DC flags)

 

The front of the Waldorf Astoria (but not the entrance to the Clock Tower)

 

North view… so neat to see the rooftop patios

 

South view through plexiglass…museums and more

 

East view, with the Capitol in the distance

 

West view (well, slightly southwest) and the Washington Monument

 

Northwest view… the National Cathedral in the distance

 

Snapping city vistas

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Filed under All ages, DC