Dinos beyond DC at the Maryland Science Center
Happy Long Weekend!
Go-to KFDC posts loaded with inspo for area fun:
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Kid-Friendly Dining
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Celebrate MLK
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
MLK Day may be on Monday, but there are events and activities that pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout the whole weekend. Volunteer opportunities, art adventures, self-guided tours of local sights, and special events are some of the many ways you can celebrate the day. This post has details on all of them.
Museums Beyond DC
Where: Museums around MD & VA
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by museum
With all that’s going on this weekend, DC might be a place you want to avoid, especially around the National Mall. But if you want to enjoy a museum outing, it’s a great time to check out one beyond the District. There are a bunch of museums in Maryland in Virginia that are great to explore with kids — see a round-up of them here.
Inside Action
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
The cold continues, so if you’re seeking indoor places that offer opportunities for active fun and games, there are plenty around DC. From pickleball and roller skating to tennis and ping pong to escape rooms and scavenger hunts to an indoor waterpark, you’ve got options galore!
Let’s Sing Taylor
Where: Warner Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Friday, 7:30pm
Tickets: Start at $35
Let’s Sing Taylor – A Live Band Experience is a tribute to the music of Taylor Swift. They can show you incredible things, including the most faithful and lively covers of Queen Taylor’s expansive and sacred catalog. The show brings the communal experience of celebrating Taylor’s music in a live setting to Swifties near and far.
Welcome to Animationland
Where: National Children’s Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday through May
Admission: $18.95
The National Children’s Museum welcomes Animationland to their Visiting Exhibit Hall starting this weekend. The STEAM-infused exhibition allows young visitors to examine the intersection of science and arts through the creation of their very own animated movies, from the physics of motion and the geometry of photography to the narrative techniques of storyboarding and the imaginative design of characters.
Grey Skies Blue
Where: The Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Fri, 7pm | Sat & Sun, 1:30pm & 4pm
Tickets: $25
Dance and theater merge in SHapeshift’s Grey Skies Blue. Join a group of friends as they uncover personal truths through dynamic movement. Grey Skies Blue follows eight friends over the course of a summer, as they share their own stories through captivating movement, thoughtfully exploring themes of social justice, sexual identity, addiction, and betrayal. Recommended for ages 9+.
What the Constitution Means To Me
Where: Round House Theatre | Bethesda, MD
When: Fri, 8pm | Sat, 2pm & 8pm | Sun, 2pm
Tickets: $50-89
As a teenager, Heidi Schreck traveled across America, earning her college tuition by winning constitutional debate competitions. Now, as an Obie Award-winning playwright, she takes a closer look at the Constitution and its effects on four generations of women in her family. What the Constitution Means to Me is a profoundly personal look at our nation’s most debated document and how it could evolve to fit our modern times. Recommended for teens and older.
Paper Dreams
Where: Imagination Stage | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am & 11:30am
Tickets: $22.50
This charming and dreamy dance-based performance for little ones imagines two friends who live inside a wastepaper basket! Together they discover what imaginative ideas might unfold from a crumpled piece of paper–can mistakes inspire our greatest ideas? Because the show is non-verbal, it can be enjoyed by people speaking all languages and of any age. DC Theatre Arts called Paper Dreams “an enchanting production that…educates and entertains and sparks inquiry into the creative process for young and old alike.”
Cub Corner: Engineering
Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD
When: Saturday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: $5/adult, $2/child
Get ready for some engineering fun during this month’s program at the museum all about aviation. Kiddos can enjoy a special reading of the inspiring Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty. Afterward, they can unleash their creativity by making their own paper helicopters, just like Rosie would! Ideal for learners ages 3-6.
NSO Music for Young Audiences: Old MacDonald’s Symphony
Where: The Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Sat, 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm | Sun, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm
Tickets: $15
The whole farmyard is getting ready for a hoedown—but it needs your help with the farm chores. This immersive show, developed specifically for toddlers, will have audience members laughing and dancing along with Old MacDonald and the farmhands. Join for a silly adventure featuring puppets, storytelling, dancing, and a string quartet from the National Symphony Orchestra. Recommended for ages 0–5. (KFDC Tip: Pair a performance with a visit to the Moonshot Studio — see below.)
Animate Your Vision at Moonshot Studio
Where: The REACH | Kennedy Center, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Get creative at this studio within The REACH at the Kennedy Center, where all are welcome and encouraged to partake in various art projects and activities. This weekend, Moonshot Studio is celebrating animation with zoetropes, flip books, and stop motion animation — visitors can animate their wishes and wants, hopes and dreams for 2025.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, 11am & 3pm | Sunday, 3pm
Tickets: $15/adult, $13/child
Encore Stage & Studio, know for its by kids for kids theatre, presents this production… Once upon a time, a king leaves his twelve daughters in their bedroom each night. In the morning, their shoes are worn out from dancing! Desperate to know what they are up to, the king enlists the help of potential suitors to find out. Dance along with us in this lively production. Recommended for ages 4 and older.
Model Train Open House
Where: Historic Vienna Train Station | Vienna, VA
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admisison: Free
Stop by the Historic Vienna Train Station where you can see and hear HO scale model trolleys and trains including Thomas and some of his friends on display and in operation. It’s a great family activity for the young and young at heart. Hosted by the Northern Virginia Model Railroaders, the station is located at 231 Dominion Road NE in Vienna, VA.
Caps vs Penguins
Where: Capital One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary (look for discounts)
Watch some hockey action as the Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Make a longer outing of it and visit one of the nearby museums before — the Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum are right across the street from the arena. Or plan to grab a bite to eat in the Penn Quarter neighborhood before (or after) the game — this post about kid-friendly eats in DC has suggestions for places to go.
All Downhill…
Where: Around the region
When: Through winter
Admission: Varies
Between the long weekend and snow in the forecast, it’s a good time to get in some skiing! There are a bunch of resorts within a few hours’ drive that are great for young, newbie skiers (and experienced swooshers, too). SkiPA is a good resource for finding slopes to suit your crew. The closest resorts to check out: Liberty, Whitetail, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Bryce, Snowshoe, Roundtop, and Wisp.
Recreation on Ice
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Get outside, be active, and have fun ice skating! Enjoy art as you skate at the Sculpture Garden; skim over the meandering paths at Canal Park; circle the rink at Washington Harbour; glide over the Potomac at The Wharf, or do some shopping then skate at Pentagon Row, Tyson’s Corner, Veteran’s Plaza, Rockville Town Square, or Reston Town Center. This post has details on alfresco (and indoor) ice skating options in the area.
Inside Action
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
If you want to let the kids burn some energy, but aren’t so keen on cold, take them to an indoor play. There are lots of places around the area where they can be active in warm spaces. And many of them have areas for you to stay comfy while they do. This post has info on where to go.
(W)Hoop it Up!
Where: Colleges around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Catch some college hoops action! With so many universities in the area, there’s always exciting play on local courts. Here where you can watch it this weekend:
* Georgetown men vs. DePaul on Friday at 8pm
* George Mason men vs. GWU on Saturday at 12:30pm
* American women vs. Holy Cross on Saturday at 2pm
* Maryland men vs Nebraska on Sunday at 12pm (Go, Terps!)
* Howard men vs. Morehouse on Monday at 4pm (MLK Day)
School’s Out! with Rocknoceros
Where: Jammin Java | Vienna, VA
When: Monday, 11am (Doors open 10:30am)
Admission:
If the kids are bouncing off the walls by Monday, take them to rock out at Jammin Jawa. The kindie rock fave in the DC area will be playing a rousing set of classic singalongs and catchy original songs that will delight music fans of all ages.
Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Monday
Admission: Free!
It’s the first fee free day of the year for national parks, which means there’s no cost for entry where they usually charge to get in. Take advantage of complimentary admission and the day off from school. Some ideas: Hit the trail at Shenandoah or Great Falls, explore Prince William Forest Park, go to Fort McHenry, or visit Harpers Ferry.
Winter Inspo
Where: Around the DMV
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
If you like getting outside no matter what the weather, this post (written during the height of Covid) is full of recs for activities that take place in the fresh air. From hikes to art experiences to seasonal sports to garden explorations to all-season fun, there are plenty fo ways to have fun outdoor. Just be sure to bundle up!
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* In case you missed it in this week’s Five Things, see a list of all the road closures in DC on Monday.
* There are a few live entertainment events coming to EagleBank Arena soon that are especially great for families.
* If you’re looking for a musical theater camp for your kid this summer, check out Theater J’s programs.
* With more snow is in the forecast, it’s a good time to stock up on these.
* Kids book recs for January/February.
* Winter calls for more board games, and we just had a blast playing this one with friends.
* Cioppino sounds like a perfect dish to make this weekend.
* The 30 best places in Europe for traveling with children.
* Haha… yep.
