Tag Archives: Spring 2018

April 8, 2018 · 6:45 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 9-13

Spend a sunshiny day at the scenic Yards Park

Monday – Let the kids burn some energy at Dynamite Gymnastics Center in Rockville, MD. Tumbling mats, a foam pit, floor beams, trampolines, and more equipment will keep them active during Open Gym time. Sessions take place 12-12:50pm and 2-2:50pm. Admission is $8/child, $12/participating adults.

Tuesday – Get in on a DC “secret” and some playground fun in Upper Northwest DC. Amid a small wooded area at Palisades Park is The Glass Forest, a collection of sculptures made from natural and scrap materials that is a unique must-see (just be cautious of curious little hands around the pieces). It makes for a nice artsy break from a play session at the park. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Enjoy Theatre for the Very Young at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, where Balloonacy is running April 11-16. Showtime is 10am (FYI, times vary by day) and tickets are $12. Plan to have lunch at one of the many nearby eateries after the performance — Maketto, just steps away, is a fave.

Thursday – Wander, play, and explore at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria. Be sure to stop in the Horticulture Building and pick up instructions for a kids’ scavenger hunt to add some extra fun to the outing. Grounds are open dawn to dusk, the Horticulture Building 9am – 4:30pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Go hang out at Yards Park. The recreational space in the Capitol Riverfront is a perfect place to spend a beautiful spring day. Play in the sprays, hang out in the grassy areas, stroll the boardwalk, take in the views, and have a picnic by the water or go for lunch at one of the many nearby eateries. Admission to the park is free. And if weather isn’t conducive to outdoor fun, head to the National Museum of the American Indian where the annual Cherokee Days festival is kicking off for the weekend. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm, and admission is free.

Enter to Win a Day Out with Thomas at the B&O Railroad Museum!

Lots of little train enthusiasts will be excited about this event… Thomas the Tank Engine™ is returning to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, rolling in to the “station” on their annual Day Out With Thomas tour. The crew from the Island of Sodor will be stopping there from April 27-29 and May 4-6. And FOUR lucky KFDC readers can win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to go — two on April 27, and two on May 4!

A Day Out With Thomas ticket includes all kinds of locomotive-themed fun. Along with all-day admission to the B&O Railroad Museum and fun live entertainment, you get to take a scheduled 25-minute train ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine™ and enjoy all of these activities and programs:

• Photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt
• Thomas Imagination Station of interactive play
• Carnival Games
• Moon bounce
• Kid’s climb-on train
• Craft & tattoo stations
• Interactive B&O Railroad Museum exhibits
• Free rides for children on Thomas Power Wheels, Museum’s carousel, Happy Train, & Choo Choo Blueville

Tickets to a Day Out With Thomas are $26 and available for purchase online. Of course, you can also try to win them through the giveaway below.

Giveaway: For a chance to win one of the Family 4-Packs of tickets to Day Out With Thomas on Friday, April 27, 2018 with a 1pm train ride time or Friday, May 4, 2018, with a 1:45pm train ride time (date will be chosen at random), simply leave a comment below. Get an extra chance to win by entering on the KidFriendly DC Facebook Page, too. This giveaway will run through April 16, 2017, then a winner will be drawn at random and announced shortly thereafter. Good luck!

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Annual, Exhibit, Giveaway, Maryland, Special Event, Ticket Giveaway, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Family Activities, Day out with Thomas, DC Special Events, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington, Fun with Kids in Maryland, Spring 2018, Ticket Giveaway

April 1, 2018 · 7:28 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 2-6

Chuck Berry’s Red Cadillac Eldorado on view at the African American Museum…

Monday – Check out the newest art exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man just opened at the downtown museum, and its big, imaginative works originally showcased at the annual festival in Black Rock City are sure to wow viewers of all ages. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm, and admission is free. (FYI: This exhibit is getting a lot of buzz, so be prepared for a crowd — though it may not be so bad on a weekday.)

Tuesday – Explore the magical, diverse world of children’s literature at World Story Time, Washington Revels’ weekly program for children. Journey through books old and new, from different countries and unique cultures; all delightful for kids of any age, but aimed at the 3-7 year-old set. The session runs 10:30-11:30am, and admission is free (but donations welcome). This will take place at Washington Revels Studio Space at 531 Dale Drive in Silver Spring, MD, Tuesdays from April 3 – May 8.

Wednesday – Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture. On four Wednesdays in April, starting with this one, they are testing walk-up admission, so you don’t need advance passes to get in. Hours are 10am – 5:50pm, and entrance is free. Be sure to read the KFDC Guide to visiting the museum with kids before you go.

Thursday – Take a little time trip back to the 18th century at Claude Moore Colonial Farm. The living history farm opens for the season April 4, and visitors are invited to explore and immerse. There is a tobacco barn, farm house, garden, orchard, and animals. You can also interact with a family portraying life as it was back then. Read more about the locale here and here. Hours are Wednesday thru Saturday 10am – 4:30pm. Admission is $5/adult, $3/senior & age 3+, free/2 & under.

Friday – Go see the cherry blossoms! The famous flowers are predicted to be at their best by the end of the week, though the bloom has begun, so you can see some flowering trees all week. Head to the Tidal Basin and National Mall for quintessential views, and enjoy touring the memorials while you’re there. You can also go to an off the beaten blossom path place for less crowds. These KFDC tips for families has all the info you need for a peak viewing experience.