Thanksgiving 2015 | KidFriendly DC

Tag Archives: Thanksgiving 2015

November 22, 2015 · 7:15 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: November 23-27

There’s no place like Watkins Regional Park

Monday – Let little ones burn some energy during an open gym session at Sport Bounce of Loundon, where a massive roomful of giant inflatables is a blast for kids. Open gym time is 10am – 1pm, and admission is $10/ages 2 and up, $6/18-23 months. And while open gym occurs every weekday, the time varies, so be sure to check the schedule if you go a different day.

Tuesday – Discover American Indian culture with all kinds of hands-on pursuits at imagiNATIONS, the family activity center at the National Museum of the American Indian. Weave a big basket, play in a teepee and models of native dwellings, do some arts & crafts, hear bird calls of the wild, read kids books in the library, and much more. Museum hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Go over the rainbow and beyond at Watkins Regional Park. The adorable Wizard of Oz themed playground will keep kids frolicking for hours. While you’re there, stop by Old Maryland Farm to visit the animals and the Watkins Nature Center to view some cool creatures and birds. Park hours are dawn to dusk, 9am – 4pm at the Farm, and 10am – 5:30pm at the Nature Center. Admission is free.

Thursday – Get out for some pre- or post feast fun — this post has a bunch of ideas for activities on the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday – I’m taking a cue from REI and recommending you #OptOutside on Black Friday. The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids has tons of suggestions for fun al fresco.

Where to Play on Thanksgiving Day

It’s festive and fun at the Pentagon Row Ice Rink

How about a side of fun to go with your Thanksgiving turkey? If you’re going to be in town for the holiday and looking for pre- or post-feast activities, plan ahead with these ideas.

*Visit a Smithsonian museum or the National Zoo. They are all open on Thanksgiving from 10am – 5:30pm, except for the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery which are open 11:30am – 7pm. (I highly recommend the WONDER exhibit at the Renwick!) The National Gallery of Art is open, too, from 10am – 5pm.

*Experience Season’s Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden on opening day! Get an idea of what to expect in this post from a couple of years ago about the annual holiday exhibit.

*Spend Thanksgiving morning with The Great Zucchini at Jammin’ Java. Showtime is 10:30am, general admission is $5.

*Get gliding and enjoy some active fun on what’s forecast to be a beautiful day. You can skate under the sky at one of several ice rinks in the area that are open on the holiday. Find info for them here.

*Go on a holiday hike. Rock Creek, Great Falls, Roosevelt Island, Huntley Meadows, and Turkey Run are all great places to do some pre-feast tramping. This post has even more recs for local walks in the woods.

*Get into the holiday spirit at Christmas on the Potomac, the Gaylord National Resort’s spectacular seasonal attraction.

*Dance off the turkey dinner at the Kennedy Center. The evening’s free Millennium Stage performance features a Thanksgiving Day Swing Dance Party with music by Jive Aces and swing lessons by Jean Veloz. The dancing and show is 7-9pm, but lessons start at 6p.

*Take an evening drive or stroll through a holiday light display – several in the area have started dazzling visitors with twinkling designs.