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June 17, 2011 · 7:19 am

Father’s Day Weekend

This weekend's honoree

When I asked my husband what he wanted for Father’s Day, he told me without a tinge of sarcasm, “A nap.” Fair enough. (To be honest, I kind of wish I had thought of that for Mother’s Day.) But we’ll be doing some celebrating along with his special snooze fest and enjoying quality time with our little people who make him the doting dad he is. And with so many great things going on this weekend, we’ll have our pick of fun. From kids art events to a hometown baseball match-up to loads of seasonal activities all around the area, here’s where it’s all happening. Happy Weekend! And Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads!

World Children’s Festival – All weekend long, art and creativity will be just as prevalent on the National Mall as it is in the museums surrounding it. Occurring every four years, the World Children’s Festival is considered the “Olympics” of the International Child Art Foundation. Live performances, art exhibits and workshops, book readings and storytelling, and many more activities representing art and culture from around the globe can be enjoyed Friday through Sunday from 4^th to 7^th Streets on the Mall. And it’s all free to the public. Festivities will run from 10am – 5pm each day, and a schedule of events is available on the website.

Sculpt It! – This workshop at the Corcoran invites families to check out the variety of materials that artists use to create three-dimensional art and get in the studio to design their own creations. The artistic fun takes place on Saturday from 10:30am – 12pm. Registration is $8/child for members, $10/child for non-members.

Become a Pilot Family Day & Aviation Display – The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (the Dulles arm of the Air & Space) is hosting the 7^th annual event on Saturday from 10am – 3pm. At least 50 aircraft, from vintage and recreational to military and homebuilt, will be on on display outside the Center. Visitors can get an insider’s view on flying by talking to pilots and other aviation experts, then test their own piloting skills in flight simulators. Story time and hands-on activities will also be held for kids. Admission is free, though parking is $15.

Baseball Battle of the Beltway – It’s the Nationals vs. Orioles this weekend with games this evening at 7:05pm, Saturday at 1:05pm, and Sunday at 1:35pm. On Saturday, the first 10,000 fans age 12 and under will receive a free kids jersey. On Sunday there’s even — the first 30,000 fans to arrive will get a Nats baseball cap in honor Father’s Day, select baseball players will be available for autographs at 12:15pm, and kids can run the bases after the game. Purchase tickets through the Nationals website.

Father’s Day at Mount Vernon – Spend the day with the father of our country! This weekend, the entrance fee for dads will include a meet-and-greet with “General Washington” as well as complimentary admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, located three miles from the estate on Route 235 South. Open both Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 5pm. Tickets are $15/adult, $7/ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under.

ImaginAsia: Echoes of the Past – Kids can explore the art of Asia at the Freer and Sackler Galleries on both Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. A tour through the museum will include a look at Echoes of the Past, which showcases the art of Xiangtangshan caves. From there, guests will head to a classroom for a project that’s part archaeology, part art. This is a free workshop.

Portrait Story Days – Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday or 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. In keeping with the Father’s Day theme, guests can learn about founding father Benjamin Franklin.

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

Moma Doni Band – Tickets are still available to see a free Father’s Day family concert on Sunday at 11am. The Mama Doni Band is performing at the DC JCC as part of the Washington Jewish Music Festival, and they’re giving away family tickets. They’re going fast, so get yours soon.

Useful posts any day of the week:

The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids – The title says it all.

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun) – Ideas for family fun when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Joys of Summer – Ongoing activities and events that only happen during the season.

Live Entertainment for Families – See what’s on stages this weekend.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, Art, Class, DC, Educational, Festival, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Seasonal, Summer, Theatre, Weekend

Tagged as Become a Pilot Family Day & Avaition Display, Clowning Around, Corcoran Gallery of Art, DC JCC, Faher's Day at Mount Vernon, Family Activities, Freer and Sackler Galleries, ImaginAsia: Echoes of the Past, International Child Art Foundation, Kids Activities, Moma Doni Band, National Portrait Gallery, Portrait Story Days, Sculpt It!, Second-Hand Stars, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, The Puppet Co., Tiny Tots, Washington DC, Washington Nationals vs. Baltimore Orioles, Weekend June 18-19, World Children's Festival

March 25, 2011 · 7:15 am

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 Top – The 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 Market – Celebrate 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 Fun – On 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 National – The 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 Market – If 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: Pocahontas – Drop 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.