Who needs chocolate when you've got something this sweet?
You’d think with all I’ve posted about Valentine’s Day, I’d be a huge fan of cupid and his holiday. Truth be told, I don’t actually celebrate it for myself (which is somewhat strange, since as mentioned before, my husband and I actually met on February 14). However, I do celebrate it with the kids, as I love the tradition of passing out little Valentines to classmates, and when Owen brings home a handmade card from school that says “I Love Mommy” my heart just melts.
If you’re also a sucker for Valentine’s Day when it comes to the kids (or even yourself), there are tons of ways to get into the spirit this weekend. And if you’re looking for some non-love-themed family pursuits, there are plenty of those to enjoy, too. Happy Weekend!
The Power of Chocolate – The National American Indian Museum is hosting a two-day celebration of one of the world’s favorite flavors. Festivities will include performances by local dance troupes, demonstrations by Panamanian artisans, presentations by experts at MARS Chocolate North America, live food demos with the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe executive chef Richard Hetzler, and hands-on activities for families, including paper mola making. For specifics, see the full schedule. The free event is happening on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4:30pm.
All You Need is Love – Kids have their choice of Valentine’s Day workshops and events this weekend. From learning about the heart to creating Valentine hearts, there are plenty of ways to celebrate love. For details on all of them, see this post from a couple of weeks ago.
Central Asian Festival – This month’s Arts for Families program at the Textile Museum welcomes guests to a festival featuring Central Asian music and food along with hands-on art and textile activities. Enjoy a fun exploration of Central Asian dance led by members of the Silk Road Dance Company. Take part in an energetic dance circle or test your ability to work with others by animating a huge dancing dragon inspired by Uzbek legends. The free event runs from 12-4pm on Saturday.
Celebrate Black History Month – A Family Day at the Air & Space Museum, an exhibit at National Geographic, stamp collecting at the National Postal Museum, reading about Rosa Parks, and special tours at Mount Vernon are just a few ways kids can celebrate and observe Black History Month. For details on all of them, see this post from last week.
Puppetry Festival – The McClean Community Center’s Alden Theatre is hosting a day dedicated to puppetry on Saturday. Guests can enjoy two puppet shows starting at 1:30pm, then make their own puppets at puppet creation stations. Admission is $12, $10/McLean district residents. Purchase tickets through the Alden Theatre website.
Rockville Winter Festival – Celebrate the season at the Rockville Town Center with fun for the whole family. Life-sized ice sculptures of kids’ favorite characters, live music, outdoor winter games, Disney on Ice ticket giveaways, and more. Festivities are from 12 – 4pm. The complete schedule of events is available on the website.
Tot Trails at Port Discovery – Celebrate the grand opening of the Baltimore children’s museum newest permanent exhibit. Tot Trails was created with the littlest explorers – infants and toddlers — in mind. Both Saturday and Sunday will be full of programs and activities for families, from moon bouncing and Valentine-making to story time and clown performances. See this post from a few days ago for more details.
Theater Time – Several children’s stage productions are in local theaters, and tickets are still available for some of this weekend’s performances. Check out this post to see what’s playing and how to reserve your seats.
Stories in Art – Pop Artist Jim Dine is the subject for this week’s children’s program at the National Gallery. The workshop will start with a reading of “The Tin Forest,” a story about an old man who followed his dreams, transforming a junkyard into a magical place. From there, the group will examine the unique materials used by Jim Dine then create their own imaginary forests. Hour-long sessions begin at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am that day and will continue until all spaces are filled. No admission fee required.
