Tag Archives: National Children’s Museum

April 27, 2026 · 8:57 am

The Best Birthdays Happen at National Children’s Museum

The best birthdays happen at National Children’s Museum! Looking for a party venue where kids can play, explore, and create unforgettable memories? Celebrate your little dreamer’s special day in DC’s favorite place to play with a birthday party designed for hands-on discovery, STEAM-filled fun, and memories that last a lifetime.

Your party gets you all-day Museum access for up to 28 guests, as well as a 90-minute private rental of the Wonder Loft that includes a hands-on STEAM activity and a special shirt for the birthday child. It’s a full day of celebration built around wonder and play, with plenty of time for cake cutting and exploring every corner of the Museum.

Choose Your Adventure
Every party includes one STEAM activity tailored to your child’s interests:
* Science: Ramps and Rollers – Investigate how different shapes roll and slide. Design your own roller to continue the play at home (ages 4 and under)
* Technology: Paper Circuits – Engineer a birthday design that lights up using simple circuit skills (ages 7 and up)
* Engineering: Friendly Fliers – Explore forces by constructing creatures that use wind power to move against gravity (all ages)
* Art: Doodle Designs – Tinker with different art materials and create whimsical art to take home (all ages)
* Math: Data Masterpieces – Collect data on height, width, and length to display your measurements as geometric works of art (all ages)

The Details
Birthday parties are available on Saturdays and Sundays with three start times: 9:45am, 12:15pm, and 2:45pm. The Wonder Loft accommodates up to 28 guests (adults and children), and parties can be booked up to 4 months in advance. You’re welcome to bring outside food and beverages, and the space can be decorated to match your party theme.

Plus, qualifying Museums for All families receive special pricing on birthday parties, making it easier to celebrate in a space designed for wonder and play!

Birthday Parties at National Children’s Museum
Where: National Children’s Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: $750 (plus a refundable $125 incidentals deposit)

Book your party here!

* * *

This post is paid for by National Children’s Museum, however, I only promote events, places, and programs that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

Step Inside Gabby’s Dollhouse at National Children’s Museum

Get ready for a paws-itively magical day! On September 7, National Children’s Museum is hosting a Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Day — a collaboration with DreamWorks Animation and the Association of Children’s Museums. This day-long event includes multiple cat-tastic activations throughout the Museum and a Meet & Greet opportunity with Gabby (registration required).

Gabby Meet & Greet
Multiple Meet & Greet sessions will span the Museum’s hours of operation from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Guests are required to register for the Meet & Greet in addition to purchasing regular Museum admission. Guests can add on a reservation for “Gabby’s Dollhouse Meet & Greet” during checkout when purchasing admission for September 7. Meet & Greet reservations are free, and only one is required per order.

Museum-Wide Themed Activations
Complementing the Meet & Greet, engaging activities will take place throughout the Museum, allowing all guests a chance to experience the joy of Gabby’s Dollhouse. Activities include:

* Gabby’s Dollhouse Storytimes: Jump into one of Gabby’s magical adventures with an interactive read-aloud.

* DJ Catnip Baby Jam + Noise Parade: A cat-tastic spin on the Museum’s musical early learner program and end-of-day parade.

* Scavenger Hunt: A paws-itively exciting challenge to find all of Gabby’s whiskered friends hidden throughout the Museum.

Countdown to Gabby
Can’t make it on September 7? For two weeks leading up to the event, National Children’s Museum will be offering daily pop-up activities inspired by Gabby’s Dollhouse themes. This Countdown to Gabby begins Sunday, August 24.

Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Day
Where: National Children’s Museum | Downtown DC
When: September 7, 2025 | 9:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: Purchase tickets in advance here

* * *

This post is paid for by National Children’s Museum, however, I only promote events, places, and programs that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

Curiosity is Blooming — Add a Play Break to Your Spring Break at National Children’s Museum

The Art + Tech exhibit at National Children’s Museum

Throughout April and May, National Children’s Museum is celebrating the season with expanded hours, new offerings, and spring-themed programs that invite kids and their families to engage in unique, playful, and environmentally-focused learning experiences!

Expanded Spring Break Hours
When: April 12-19
National Children’s Museum will be expanding their normal operating hours to 9am – 6pm daily with a bonus opening on Tuesday, April 15. You can reserve your tickets here.

Story Art Series
When: April 14-18
This is the Museum’s final Story Art Series program inside its tinkering space. With Earth Day around the corner, the program will teach the importance of sustainability and caring for the environment through the repurposing of materials in upcycled art. Inspired by Barney Saltzberg’s “Beautiful Oops!” and “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis, kids will turn various materials from past Story Art Series programs — including yarn, tissue paper, and letters—into something new and beautiful.

Collaborative Cherry Blossom Tree
When: Throughout the month of April
The Cherry Blossom Tree is a temporary community art piece that allows little arborists to tap into their creativity as they tinker with various materials to make unique blossoms to add to the collaborative piece.

“Rose Weaves a Garden” Book Launch and Storytime
When: May 10
Children’s book author and illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh will be reading her new book “Rose Weaves a Garden,” a beautiful story about the power of cultural traditions and multigenerational learning. Museum guests can meet the author and engage in a complementary activity that demonstrates the same art and technique of rug-weaving found in the story. This program is at no additional cost.

Seasonal STEAM Storytimes
When: Wednesdays in April and May at 2:30 pm
The Museum’s weekly early learner program will be focusing on spring-themed stories and extension activities that celebrate the bounty of the Earth! Kids can immerse themselves in the cultural significance behind DC’s beloved cherry blossoms with an interactive read-aloud of “When the Sakura Bloom” by Narisa Togo, or they might learn about environmental awareness through the colorful world of Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax”. Recommended for ages 1-4.

The Weather Worlds green screen exhibit

And don’t miss…

* Spring Tinkering Programs: The Museum’s tinkering hub will feature sustainability-focused activities.

* Weather Worlds + Climate Action Heroes: The Museum’s environmental science–focused exhibits. See firsthand how your actions control the weather in the Weather Worlds greenscreen experience and take a flow quiz to discover your inner Climate Action Heroes persona and how you can positively impact the community and the world. Hot tip: There’s a digital version of the quiz at climate-heroes.org, and you can sign up for monthly missions!

* The Outdoor Sound Garden Exhibit: Located just outside the Museum’s entrance on Wilson Plaza, these colorful floral instruments (that double as public art!) offer visitors a chance to perform as they explore the concepts of rhythm and harmony.

* Visiting Exhibits: Through May 11, experience Animationland and dive into the world of storytelling using storyboarding, sound effects, stop-motion, and more. Then starting May 24, Wild Kratts®: Ocean Adventure! will be coming to the Museum!

* * *

This post is paid for by National Children’s Museum, however, I only promote places, programs, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.