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.
