Turtle spotting at Huntley Meadows Park
Baseball, theatre, and museum programs are heavy hitters in the special events arena this weekend. Indoor play, folklife, and berry picking make a showing too. Here’s the scoop on all of them, plus links to even more ideas for ongoing family recreation. Happy Weekend!
Nationals Baseball Family Day – The National Portrait Gallery is hosting the fifth annual Baseball Family Day with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club from 11:30am – 2pm in the Kogod Courtyard. Guests can get photo ops with ball players from 12-1pm and enjoy activities, crafts, and musical performances throughout the free event.
Nationals Game Days – The Nats are busy guys this weekend! Not only will they be greeting guests at the museum, they’re also hosting the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are still available for both games.
Portrait Story Days – The baseball theme continues at the National Portrait Gallery as they host their ongoing program for kids. Drop in to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. On Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm, learn about baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
Stories in Art – One of my favorite museum programs for children begins on Sunday. The National Gallery of Art’s summer drop-in program welcomes kids ages 4-7 to explore Dutch art through storytelling, gallery tours, and hands-on projects. Sessions are hourly starting at 11:30am. Sign-up begins at 11am in the West Building Rotunda, and space is limited. For more details on the program and tips on signing up, see this post from earlier in the week.
Come Play on Capitol Hill – The Playseum is coming to DC! Yes, Barracks Row on Capitol Hill is getting another new business that families will love. Doors open on Saturday for a sneak peak (the Grand Opening is July 14), and all are welcome to check out the new space from 9am – 5pm. Admission will be free all day, though there will be small fees for other optional activities and crafts. The new location is at 545 8th Street SE. While you’re on the corridor, stop by thew new Hello Cupcake or 32 Below for a sweet treat.
Hiking at Huntley Meadows – Our family visited Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria for the first time last weekend and had a fantastic time exploring the woods and wetlands. Wildlife sightings were abundant as we hiked along the paved, dirt, and boardwalk trails. Spotting turtles of all sizes became a game for the kids, and we also saw frogs, great blue herons, cardinals, and a variety of other birds. The entire hike is just over a mile, but we stopped at lookouts and benches to snack along the way to make it a few hours’ outing. A longer review of the park will come soon, but the gist is that I highly recommend it. Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and water, as there’s no shade through the wetlands section of the park. Get directions to the Huntley Meadows here.
Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods – If you can’t make it to Wolf Trap’s wonderful summer theatre series during the week, you can catch it Saturdays at 10am. This week Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets and Robbie Schaefer will take the outdoor stage. Tickets are $8/ages 3 and up (free for 2 an under) and include both shows. Read a review of the series posted earlier this week.
Celebrate Folklife – The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is continuing its celebration on the National Mall through July 11. Enjoy exhibits, activities, demos, and workshops that focus on the nature of Colombia, 50 years of the Peace Corps, and Rhythm & Blues music in the United States. Festival hours are 11am – 5:30pm with special performances taking place later most evenings.
Theatre Fun for the Littlest Ones – Imagination Stage hosts Sunday Fun-Days for kids ages 1-5 at 10:30am. The lessons in multi-sensory play are centered around children’s books, this week is “What Makes a Rainbow.” Sessions are $10, register in advance online. The Puppet Co. will also have performances for the youngest audiences (ages 0-4) at their Tiny Tots series this weekend. Penguins Playground is will be performed on Saturday, and Old MacDonald Farm on Sunday. Showtime for both is 10am. Tickets are $5 and available for purchase online or at the box office.
Take Your Pick – Head to a local farm to harvest some summer produce. Berries and peaches are the main crops ready for picking, but other fruits and veggies are available at a few spots. This post lists local farms that welcome visitors to pick their own, and it doesn’t hurt to check websites or call ahead to make sure you’re favorites are ripe.
Family Recreation Staples – Check out these posts for ongoing family fun:
Joys of Summer
The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids
Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)
Family Entertainment
