Tag Archives: Valentine’s Day Activities DC

March 1, 2018 · 5:56 pm

The Weekend Round-Up: March 2-4

See model airplanes soar at the National Building Museum on Sunday



Some upbeat news as we wind down the week: The National Park Service just announced peak cherry blossom bloom dates: March 17-20. Spring will be here before we know it! In the meantime, here are some great ways to enjoy one of the last weekends of winter. Happy Weekend!

Women’s History Day
Where: DAR Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Women’s History Month at the DAR Museum and join them to recognize powerful American women who left their mark on history! Explore the exhibits, archives, and library as you learn about female explorers, scientists, artists, activists, authors, spies, and more through hands-on activities. Decorate a “Votes for Women” sash like Alice Paul. Conduct chemistry experiments like Alice Ball. Travel around the “world” like Nellie Bly. And crack a code like Mary Bowser. See the website for more details.

Intersect with the Performing Arts
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center | H Street NE, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Varies – see the website
It’s the second weekend of the Atlas’ annual INTERSECTIONS festival that presents tons of fantastic performances in music, theatre, dance, film, and spoken word with several exhibitions especially for families. See Theater for the Very Young: Inside Out. Enjoy Shakespeare for the Young with The Tiniest Tempest. Really Spicy Opera presents The Princess Pirate Party Musical. Take in Billosophy: For Kids by Dreamcatcher Entertainment. And learb about Black History through interactive music and storytelling with the Culture Queen at the Free Café Concert. These are just the most kid-friendly shows — the whole line-up throughout the Festival is worth checking out by adults.

Shake Up Your Saturday
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free, but registration required
Join the Folger’s family program that takes place the first Saturday of every month. In this “Printer School” session, kids can learn the art of book printing. Ages 5-7 go at 10-11am, and ages 8-14 at 11am – 12pm. Go here to sign up. And be sure to read more about the Folger Shakespeare library in this new KFDC post.

Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade CANCELLED due to weather
Where: Old Town | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 12:15pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Irish holiday a a bit early in Old Town Alexandria. Pre-parade festivities, including a classic car show and dog show, begin in the morning, and the annual procession kicks off at 12:15pm at Alfred and King Streets, then winds through Old Town, showcasing elected officials, Irish Ambassadors, military commanders, scout troops, high school bands, and local celebrities.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Watch a book fave come to life with Pinkalicous the Musical at BlackRock Center for the Performing Arts
* Reserve free tickets for Traveling Lantern’s Pinnochio, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* See Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre (Update: all shows cancelled this weekend)
* The Prince and the Pauper – A Bollywood Tale is on the Imagination Stage
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Beauty and the Beast
* And Penguins’ Playground is the Tiny Tots performance for littles there on Saturday
* It’s a symphony for children as the NSO presents Two Divas and a Bear at the Kennedy Center

Weekend Walk-In: 3D Sculpture
Where: American Visionary Arts Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5
Join the museum for their hands-on, drop-in, once-a-month art-making workshop in the AVAM classroom! Education staff will help you explore new creative territory & make a project inspired by one of their beloved visionary artists. During this session, create a 3D sculpture inspired by the mystery of the heart! Supplies & boundless inspiration provided, and all ages are welcome.

Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: $17.50/ages 10-17, $19.50/adult
Join Watson Adventures on a unique Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt that kids and adults will love! Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together (but all-adult teams are allowed to compete separately) Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Read about this super fun adventure in this KFDC post.

Lunch with Ferdinand
Where: Arlington Cinema Draft House | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, 12:45pm & Sunday, 1:15pm
Admission: $8 (plus food & drinks)
Catch an Oscar nominated flick and enjoy a good meal at a screening of Ferdinand at the Draft House! The animated flick about young bull who escapes from a training camp in rural Spain is family-friendly and getting lots of love from critics. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Great Indoors
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
As the mercury drops a bit this weekend, you might be seeking out fun indoors. The Great Indoors post just hit a milestone and now lists 100 suggestions for things to do, most them mainstays around DC, and just about all of them tried and tested by KFDC.

Clifton STEM Fair
Where: Lord of Life Preschool | Clifton, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5
Bring the whole family and solve THE GREAT STEM MYSTERY for a prize! Vendors who specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, as well as Art will be there throughout the school with fun activities for kids 2-12. Enjoy entertainment by Peter McCory “The One Man Band,” and food and bake sale items will be available for purchase (cash only). GIRL SCOUTS: They will have a STEM fun patch available this year, included in the price of admission! The preschool is located at 13421 Twin Lakes Dr in Clifton, VA.

Flying in the Great Hall
Where: National Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Partake in some super fly activities at the Building Museum. All ages can drop in on Sunday to watch as the DC Maxecuters demo all kinds of model planes in and across the Great Hall. Of course, you can enjoy all the other NBM offerings the rest of the weekend (admission fee required for some).

Chesapeake Critters CANCELLED due to power outage
Where: Buddie Ford Nature Center | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday,11am – 12:30pm
Admission: $15
Did you know Alexandria is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed? Kids and their families are invited to meet (and touch!) some of the live critters living in the bay. A marine biologist will be at Buddie Ford to discuss their roles and impact on this important ecosystem! Registration required for each child – sign up here (search fro Chesapeake Critters). Parents/guardians are free. Read more about the wonderful nature center in this KFDC post.

Sensory-Friendly Purim Celebration
Where: Washington Hebrew Congregation | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: $5/family + canned good to donate
Does your child cover their ears in a crowd? Do they avoid loud noises? We will minimize the noise and other sensory input but maximize the fun! Join us for crafts, an interactive reading of the Purim story (megillah), a mitzvah (good deed) project and treats to take home. Best for ages 4-8. Costumes encouraged but not required. Pre-register as space is limited.

The Rumpus Room: A Family Dance Party
Where: U Street Music Hall | U Street, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: $10, $30/4-ticket pack
Hit the dance floor with the Rumpus Room, a daytime dance party for families, with sounds provided by DJs Marc Meistro and Steven Faith (who are parents themselves). Created by DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their kids, the Rumpus Room adapts the club environment — think disco ball, lights, and of course music — into safe family-friendly fun. Get ready for a disco filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles. The soundtrack will be a mix of G-rated dance hits and classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. They provide the shakers, hula-hoops, beach balls and other props. You go to dance! Designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome. Drink specials for adults!

Doktor Kaboom: “It’s Just Rocket Science”
Where: The Old Firehouse, | McLean, VA
When: Sunday, 2pm
Admission: $15, $10/MCC district residents
Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. Sporting chrome goggles, orange lab coat, motorcycle boots and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with his explosive comedic style of science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain! Recommended for ages 7+.

Purim Carnival
Where: Edlavitch DCJCC | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $23/family
Celebrate Purim with games, arts and crafts, hamantaschen cookies, songs, and a play! You can also give back to the community by preparing sandwiches for Martha’s Table and costumes for Only Make Believe, a non-profit that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities.

Recreation on Ice
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
There aren’t that many outdoor skating weekends left this season season, so take advantage while you can! Enjoy art as you skate at the Sculpture Garden; circle the rink at Washington Harbour; glide on the newest area rink at The Wharf; or do some shopping then skate at Pentagon Row, Tyson’s Corner, Veteran’s Plaza, Rockville Town Square, or Reston Town Center. This post has details on both alfresco and indoor ice skating options in the area. And a heads-up that Canal Park closed early this season!

Cool Hikes
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Bundle up for a walk in the woods. See buds about to bloom and get excited for spring, tramp in places with scenic views, hike and explore history at interesting locales, and enjoy a day of active fun. This post has a a bunch of recommendations for good walks in the woods with the kids.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* In case you missed it last weekend, KFDC just turned 8, and I’m celebrating in some new ways.
* Looking to get a head start on some spring cleaning? Spekless Cleaning is offering KidFriendly DC readers $30 off their first service. Visit their website and use code kidfriendlydc.
* The giveaway for a chance to win a week of summer camp with RDUTennis ends this Sunday.
* The Town of Occoquan is hosting a Community Peep Contest, and anyone is welcome to build a diorama and enter to win!
* The father of a Parkland shooting victim shared his moving eulogy for his son with WaPo’s On Parenting blog.
* This news and this, too, are encouraging. This, not so much.
* As a mom of an almost-teen, I loved this post on parenting them. (Thanks to Darcy from No Monsters in My Bed for sharing it.)

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Seasonal, Special Event, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend, Winter

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February 22, 2018 · 6:40 pm

The Weekend Round-Up: February 23-25

Entertainment abounds at the Atlas as the theater kicks off its annual INTERSECTIONS Festival



This week was short, but long… you know what I mean? It’s been emotional, with so much to digest and contemplate. But it’s also been a bit hopeful, thanks to some amazing, inspiring, courageous kids. Happy Weekend!

Intersect with the Performing Arts
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center | H Street NE, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Varies – see the website
The Atlas is kicking off its annual INTERSECTIONS festival that presents tons of fantastic performances in music, theatre, dance, film, and spoken word with several exhibitions especially for families. See Theater for the Very Young: Inside Out. Enjoy Shakespeare for the Young with The Tiniest Tempest. The In Series presents Bastian & Bastiana, a family fairytale opera. Take in Billosophy: For Kids by Dreamcatcher Entertainment. And shake those sillies out with Mr. Skip at the Free Cafe Concert. These are just the most kid-friendly shows — the whole line-up throughout the Festival is worth checking out by adults.

Magic of Spying: Tradecraft Trickery
Where: International Spy Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 12pm
Admission: $10 ($9/members)
In the real-life world of espionage, spies often call upon the art of magic and illusion to distract the enemy, make evidence disappear, and escape unnoticed. Join professional magician, Peter Wood, as he demonstrates the art of misdirection, sleight of hand, and other illusions used by skilled spies. This one of a kind performance, custom-designed for the Spy Museum, is guaranteed to fascinate children and adults alike. For ages 7 and up.

Celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year
Where: Textile Museum | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Join the Textile Museum to celebrate the Year of the Dog! Enjoy music performances, create colorful zodiac animals from paper, and design your own jewelry inspired by the traditions of China’s Guizhou Province. While you’re there, visit the galleries to see the exhibition Vanishing Traditions: Textiles and Treasures from Southwest China during its opening weekend. All ages are welcome.

Black History Month Walking Tour
Where: Woodlawn Manor | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Enjoy free, educational events that highlight the stories, struggles, and successes of African Americans. Activities include guided tours of the park, the screening of a PBS documentary about the park, and the annual spoken word poetry event, “Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom.”

More Ways to Celebrate Black History
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
February is Black History Month, and there are events and activities throughout the DC area to celebrate it. Museum programs (including an entire museum!), special tours and exhibits, story time sessions, and more will be enlightening and fun for all ages. See where they’re happening this weekend.

Fool for All
Where: Gallaudet University | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 12- 2:15pm
Admission: Free
Join the Faction of Fools Theatre Company for the 9th Annual “Fool for All” Festival: Tales of Pith & Pesto. Among the festivities that celebrate Commedia are a kids’ workshop offering a primer on the theatre tradition, where participants will learn about stock characters and how the plays are made. There is also a kids’ mask-making session, offering aspecial look behind the masks of Commedia and a chance for students to create their very own.

Family Workshop: Mass-Produced Art in Ancient China
Where: Freer|Sackler Gallery | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am & 1:30pm
Admission: Free (but registration required)
Push your art-making skills to the next level and learn about how to make copies of your art. Begin with an educator-led tour of Art and Industry: China’s Houma Foundry. Then, return to the studio to create a pattern block and mass-produce your design with teaching artists from FutureMakers. This program is designed for children ages 6-12 and adults to enjoy together. Free registration is required — email AsiaWorkshops@si.edu with your name, session and number of registrants (include youth and adults).

Flights of Fancy Story Time
Where: National Air & Space Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am & 1:30pm
Admission: Free
Take little ones to story time at the National Air & Space Museum, where staff read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. This weekend, guests can hear The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bidner. Each session includes a hands-on activity along with the story. Of course, plan to tour the rest of the Air & Space, a fave of museum-goers young and old, while you’re there.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Reserve free tickets for Stephen Christoff: Colonial American Music, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* See Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre
* The Prince and the Pauper – A Bollywood Tale is on the Imagination Stage
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Beauty and the Beast
* And Dragon Babies is the Tiny Tots performance for littles there on Sunday
* SteveSongs is playing two Saturday shows at Jammin Java
* Make it a date night or take older kids to Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Hamlet

Roll with It
Where: DC Armory | Southeast DC
When: Saturday, 4:30pm (doors open at 3:30pm)
Admission: $15
DC Rollergirls, the National Capital Region’s only women’s flat-track roller derby league, are kicking — or make that, rolling — off another season of hard-hitting skating. The event will start with the DC All-Stars taking on skaters from the Charlottesville Derby Dames. In the second half, the Rollergirls’ National Maulers will face off against Charlottesville’s B-level team.

Check It Out: A Library & Pop-Up
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
This newish Saturday program at the Hirshhorn helps children experience the Museum! Find the cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art-meets-reading adventure with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.

Experience the Seasons
Where: Trellis House | North Shaw, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Check out a pop-up art installation at North Shaw’s newest apartment community. Immerse in each season as you walk through floor-to-ceiling installations that envelop you in a multi-sensory experience. Breathe in subtle scents, touch stimulating textures, and soak up larger-than-life representations of quintessential seasonal sights in the District. Extend your individuality into the installation through the interactive elements. (Update: See readers feedback about this in the comments below.)

Dance Your Socks Off
Where: River Park Nursery School | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 4-7:00pm
Admission: $40/family (+5 at door), $15/individual
River Park Nursery School’s annual Sock Hop is always a fun-filled, family-friendly event. Featuring entertainment by local musical celebrity Mr. Skip, food, games, and a silent auction, enjoy activities for all ages and an opportunity to support preschool education on Capitol Hill. And if you are interested in the school for your 3, 4, or 5 year old, the event is a great way to meet current and alumni families and get to know the wonderful teachers.

Movie at the Museum: Oseam
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Recommended for ages 10 and up, this movie by a South Korean filmmaker is presented in honor of the Olympics. Adapted from a fairy tale by the writer-poet Jeong Chae-bong, this is the story of a five-year-old boy, Gilson, traveling in search of his mother. Believing that she will be found in the place where the wind starts, Gilson sets out on a trek with his blind older sister. When the youngsters are met by Buddhist monks who take them in, their journey progresses from a physical search to a spiritual quest. With visually stunning, hand-drawn animation, Oseam presents themes of beauty, tragedy, and never-ending love that underscore the tenets of Buddhist tradition.

College Hoops
Where: Universities around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
March Madness is right around the corner, and you can start getting psyched up for it at a local basketball game. With so many universities in the area, you can always see some good on-court action Here are some games to catch this weekend:
* Maryland men vs. Michigan on Saturday at 12pm (Go, Terps!)
* American men vs. Bucknell on Saturday at 2pm
* George Mason women vs. La Salle on Saturday at 2pm
* Howard men vs. Delaware State on Saturday at 2pm
* Howard women vs. Delaware State on Saturday at 2pm
* George Mason men vs. UMass on Saturday at 6pm
* GWU women vs. Richmond on Saturday at 2pm
* Maryland women vs. Nebraska on Sunday at 12pm (Go, Terps!)

Purim Carnival
Where: Agudas Achim Congregation | Alexandria, VA
When: Sunday, 10:30am – 1:30pm
Admission: See details below
Celebrate Purim with the Agudas Achim Congregration. This year’s medieval times-themed carnival will feature all your favorite Purim games, prizes, face painting, arts and crafts, a moon bounc,e and more! Popcorn, cotton candy, and lunch for purchase. Tickets: All you can play and bounce for $25. Individual game/bounce tickets: $.075 per ticket or 30 tickets for $15. Most games are 2 tickets to play. The first hour (10:30-11:30am) is open to children ages 0-5 only. Starting at 11:30am, the carnival is open to all children.

Wheaton Family Theatre Series
Where: Wheaton Interim Library
When: Sunday, 2:30pm
Admission: Free
Dance you way through books at the Wheaton Interim Library on Sunday afternoon as Interact Story Theatre presents this Family Literacy Fiesta. Kelly King, Artistic Director of Contradiction Dance Theatre, will lead kids and families on an exploration of a kid-friendly folk tale through creative movement and dance. Kids get to practice literacy and language skills while moving, dancing, and sharing stories with families and friends. What a fun way to dance away the winter blues! The free event is best for ages 3 and up.

Nature Explorations, Inside & Out
Where: Rock Creek Park | Northwest DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Spend a day exploring at Rock Creek! Visit the Nature Center and catch a planetarium show on Saturday at 1pm and 4pm. If weather permits, hike from there to Peirce Mill, where you can check out its inner workings. Visit horses at the Horse Center (though pony rides are not offered this time of year). Or just wander along the trails in the woods and enjoy the nature around you.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Watson Adventures’ next Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt is coming up next weekend. These often sell out, so sign up soon.
* Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a week of summer camp with RDUTennis!
* You’ve probably already heard about the March for Our Lives, but mentioning it just in case.
* This may be the most poignant cartoon I have ever seen.

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Festival, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Music, Nature, Outdoor, Seasonal, Special Event, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend, Winter

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February 8, 2018 · 5:55 pm

The Weekend Round-Up: February 9-11

Making the rounds at Fort Dupont Ice Arena



Happy Weekend!

Indoor Picnic & Movie Night
Where: National Cathedral | Northwest DC
When: Friday, 6pm
Admission: Suggestion donation of $5 ($10/household)
Bring your friends, dinner, and a blanket for DC’s largest indoor picnic — enhanced in 2018 with a large-screen movie. Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be shown at 6pm, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be screened at 8pm. This is part of the extraordinary experience of Seeing Deeper, returning to Washington National Cathedral for the third year in a row.

DIY Valentine Cards
Where: National Postal Museum | NoMa, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Love is in the details at the National Postal Museum’s annual Valentine’s Day Card Workshop. We’ve attended this event several times, so I can tell you firsthand it’s one to love. They’ll have pretty papers and neat Valentine-themed supplies, all you need to bring is your creativity to decorate your card. For more about the museum, see this KFDC post.

Feel the Love
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Love is in the air — and at places all around DC this weekend! Events and activities to celebrate Valentine’s Day range from story time and crafts to nature programs to tea time. And they’re sure to be especially sweet. This post has the scoop on all of them.

NOAA Open House
Where: NOAA | Silver Spring, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Explore your world and learn how NOAA takes the pulse of the planet every day and then uses that information to predict the weather, manage fish, and conduct many other critical activities. Visit the NOAA Silver Spring, campus for all kinds of of free, fun activities, including engaging talks by NOAA experts, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities for ages 5 and up. Meet and talk with scientists, weather forecasters, hurricane hunters, and others who work to understand our environment, protect life and property, and conserve and protect natural resources. There are also special tours for ages 7 and up. Note: A government-issued photo ID is required for adults. Check the website for a list of acceptable forms of ID.

Mardi Gras Family Day
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 11m – 4pm
Admission: Free
It’s the museum’s 50th anniversary, so they are pulling out all the stops at this event. For the first time ever, the museum will hold its annual Mardi Gras event in their own 2,500 square foot main gallery! That means more space for exciting art workshops, clowns, magicians, living statues, fortune tellers, face painting, balloon art, Marie Laveau (storyteller),  live music, a family-style “second-line” parade down Bourbon Street’s red carpet, vendor’s marketplace, food vendor and more! NOTE:  A shuttle will run to and from the Anacostia Metro Station (green line) every half hour from 10:45am to 4:30pm — it meets across the street from the Metro Station in the Shannon Place circle.

African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Each February, Black History Month, the National Air & Space Museum celebrates the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space exploration. Join them on Saturday at the Chantilly arm of the museum for presentations, hands-on activities, and stories. Learn about African American astronauts, pilots, and scientists of the past and present and their accomplishments. Listen to guest speakers share their personal tales of triumph. It’s a day of activities that will challenge families to be pioneers in space and aviation!

More Black History Month Events
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
February is Black History Month, and there are events and activities throughout the DC area to celebrate it. Museum programs (including an entire museum!), special tours and exhibits, story time sessions, and more will be enlightening and fun for all ages. See where they’re all happening here.

Ice It
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
In the spirit of the Olympics, get out on the ice! Practice your triple lutzes and camel spins or work on giving Maame Biney some competition. If it’s raining, skate indoors at Fort Dupont Ice Arena in DC, Cabin John or Herbert Wells Ice Rinks in Maryland, or Kettler in Ballston. Head outside if it’s nice: Enjoy art as you skate at the Sculpture Garden; skim over the meandering paths at Canal Park; circle the rink at Washington Harbour; glide along the area’s newest rink at The Wharf, or do some shopping then skate at Pentagon Row, Tyson’s Corner, Veteran’s Plaza, Rockville Town Square, or Reston Town Center. This post has details on all these ice skating options in the area.

Gear Drive & FREE Boogie Babes
Where: The Residences at Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Donate baby gear you no longer need to a family in need and stay to boogie down! On Saturday morning, bring your gently used strollers, pack-n-plays, and baby carriers to The Residences at Eastern Market and contribute to the Greater DC Diaper Bank’s Nursery Project. Plan to stay and enjoy a FREE weekend Boogie Babes concert by Rainbow Rock!

Chinese New Year Celebration
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Help “awaken the lion” and ring in the New Year! Enjoy a variety of activities and demonstrations including traditional paper cutting, an art scavenger hunt, building red lanterns, and panda-themed crafts. Performances by special guest artists from Chengdu, China, will include traditional music, Sichuan Opera, and acrobatics. Don’t miss out on Chinese food and beverage specials in the Courtyard Café.

Family Day: The Arctic Melt
Where: National Academy of Sciences | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Join Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) for a day of family fun discovering the Arctic landscape and its inhabitants. Through hands-on activities, children and families will explore Diane Tuft’s stunning photography exhibit, The Arctic Melt: Images of a Disappearing Landscape, and make connections to the Arctic environment, climate change, and conservation. Participants are encouraged to bring an old t-shirt to make a reusable shopping bag. National Academy of Sciences is located at 2101 Constitution Avenue NW.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* It’s opening weekend for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre
* See a couple of classics on stage as BlackRock Center for Performing Arts presents Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny
* Digging up Dessa, recommended for ages 10+ is at the Kennedy Center
* The Prince and the Pauper – A Bollywood Tale is on the Imagination Stage
* This weekend is the last chance to see Tales of Beatrix Potter at The Puppet Co.
* And Snow Show is their featured Tiny Tots performance for littles
* Reserve free tickets for Gemini Children’s Theatre:Little Mermaid’s Pollution Solution, this week’s Saturday morning at the National performance.
* Little ones will love Inside Out at Imagination Stage

Date Night Theatre
Where: Sidney Harman Hall & Arena Stage | Penn Quarter & Southwest, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
If you’re looking for entertainment sans kids, here are a couple of recommendations: Hamlet is Shakespeare Theatre Company’s current production, and this modern version puts an interesting spin on the classic. At Arena Stage, Sovereignty highlights the history, struggles, and truths of the Cherokee Nation in this play that’s also part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival. (PS: Both shows could be enjoyed by older kids, too, about middle school ages and up, just be aware that Hamlet runs nearly three hours.)

As the Wheel Turns
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12pm
Admission: Free
Learn about the power of water and its connection to food on a mill tour with Friends of Peirce Mill or a National Park Service Ranger at this historic site in Rock Creek Park. Ages are welcome to drop in. Read more about Peirce Mill in this KFDC post.

Warming Stories
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am & Sunday, 11:30am
Admission: Free
Join the National Gallery of Art for a cozy winter weekend of animated shorts from Weston Woods Studios, where books come to life through film. This program includes Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon, Ed Young’s Seven Blind Mice, Mac Barnett’s Extra Yarn, and Peter H. Reynolds’s The North Star.

Chocolate: From Blossom to Beverage
Where: National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
So, it’s not a Valentine’s Day activity, per se, but the timing of this festival focusing on chocolate likely isn’t a coincidence. Join the NMAI to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved foods. Hear the stories of cacao, help create an interactive mural telling the story of chocolate, enjoy music of the marimba, and learn about the process of turning cacao into chocolate.

College Hoops
Where: Universities around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
With so many colleges in the area, there’s always some good NCAA basketball going on during the season — and it’s a really fun time for families. Here are some games to catch this weekend:
* Maryland men vs. Northwestern on Saturday at 12pm (Go, Terps!)
* American men vs. Lehigh on Saturday at 2pm
* George Mason vs. GWU on Saturday at 4pm
* GWU women vs. Dayton on Sunday at 12pm
* George Mason women vs. UMass on Sunday at 2pm

Lunar New Year Celebration
Where: Freer|Sackler Gallery | National Mall, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Ring in the Year of the Dog with the museum dedicated to Asian at their fourth annual Lunar New Year celebration! Discover the richness of arts and culture in Sichuan Province, home to China’s beloved giant pandas. Experience interactive food and art demonstrations, live acrobatic and puppetry performances, and creations by local and international artists. And enjoy the six reimagined Chinese art exhibitions in the Freer and the innovative Resound: Ancient Bells of China in the Sackler.

5th Annual Waterfowl Festival
Where: Black Hill Visitors Center | Boyds, MD
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family for a day filled with activities, demonstrations and exhibits to celebrate the wondrous water birds that call Little Seneca Lake home. Enjoy an original DUCKumentary, lectures on bird conservation, gorgeous carved wood decoys made right before your eyes and make-and-create opportunities for even the littlest birders. Join guided birding excursions to catch a glimpse of marine ducks, swans and maybe even the Black Hill bald eagles!

Mid-Winter Play Day
Where: Takoma Park Community Center | Takoma Park, MD
When: Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
Put some play in your Sunday afternoon with Let’s Play Takoma and the Takoma Park Recreation Department. The variety of indoor entertainment will hokey pokey dancing, board games and crafts, and at least 20 more activities for all ages.

The Ins & Outs of DC
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Weather will lkely factor into your weekend planning so these posts will come in handy. The Great Indoors lists 90 ideas for places to go inside. And The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids, well, the title really says it all.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Get a discount to Something Rotten at The National Theatre — use the code BARD for seats starting at $39 each!
* If you’re looking for kids classes and camps for summer, spring break, after school, even weekends, check the Classes & Camps section of the site, where you can find links to all classes and camps that have been featured on KFDC!
* Current Boutique is a great place to consign and secondhand shop for women’s clothes. Three Four locations in the area — Alexandria, Arlington, Bethesda, and 14th Street.
* Just finished binge watching this on Netflix and might watch it again, it was that good.

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Holidays, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Outdoor, Seasonal, Sports, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend, Winter

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