My favorite Mother's Day presents
With all of the special honorees in mind, this round-up includes pursuits that moms will enjoy just as much as their babes. (For the more kid-focused ventures, let dad take over while mama hits the spa… hint hint, Levi!) And be sure to have a gander at the outdoor list for ways to take advantage of the weather while you celebrate the day. Happy Weekend! And a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!
Street Arts in the Park
Where: The Yards Park
When: Saturday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Judging by the performance we caught last weekend and all the great things I’ve been hearing from people who have been lucky enough to catch the festival throughout the week, this is going to be da bomb! Head to the Yards Park to celebrate the conclusion of Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, the Kennedy Center’s week-long series of free performances around the city. Spend the day with a huge cast of eclectic characters and astounding artists — there will be all kinds of free performances and workshops all day long. Go here for the day’s schedule.
Bike DC
Where: Throughout DC and NoVa
When: Sunday
Admission: Adults start at $30, ages 13 – 19 starts at $15, free for ages 12 and under
Take a Mother’s Day bike ride! Once a year, bicyclists have a special opportunity to explore and enjoy Washington and Arlington on two wheels. Parts of Pennsylvania Avenue and the George Washington Parkway will be closed for this non-competitive ride through the area. Choose the full 24-mile route or the shorter family route (recommended for young children). See the website for specifics.
Mother’s Day at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Admission: —$15/adults, $14/seniors, $7/ages 6-11, free for 5 and under
Join the “Mother of Our Country,” Martha Washington, and her granddaughter “Nelly” as they celebrate this special weekend with visitors. Listen to “Lady Washington’s” reminiscences of motherhood and her sage advice to her youngest granddaughter. While supplies last, Martha Washington will hand out lavender sachets of her own recipe for
mothers.
Garden Fest
Where: Enid E. Haupt Garden
When: Friday 11am – 1:30pm, Saturday 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The beautiful Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle will be buzzing as Garden Fest connects people and plants through educational demonstrations and engaging hands-on fun. This year’s theme, “Gardening for Healthy Living,” will feature live music and a variety of activities for children and families. Kids will dig plant-inspired art activities, plant science at the Curiosity Zone, dancing, and a garden scavenger hunt. Adults can enjoy the same, plus vegetable growing demos, gardening book sales and signings, flora displays, and many other horticultural exhibits.
LEGO® Master in Action
Where: National Building Museum
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Meet and talk with LEGO® Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker as he completes the White House model for the LEGO® Architecture: Towering Ambition exhibit. Adam will lead tours of the exhibition at 2:30pm and 3:30 pm on both days. Along with the LEGO celeb encounter, there willl be LEGO® design challenges for guests — become your own LEGO® master and build with thousands of bricks in the Great Hall.
Shortcut to Europe
Where: EU Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Avoid the steep airfare and jet lag, and explore The Continent from this side of the pond. Passport DC invites you to join European Union embassies and the EU Delegation for a day of international food, dancing, kids entertainment, exhibitions, vacation planning, and more. Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the embassies, some of which are among Washington’s historic and architectural treasures. Free shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day, and some embassies are convenient to Metro for walking. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies will conduct security checks.
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Where: Jammin’ Java
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: $10
Beloved by millions of families for their high-energy music videos on the Nick Jr. channel’s Jack’s Big Music Show, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band returns to the DC area for the first time since 2007, with a show for the whole family at Jammin’ Java. If you’re not familiar with the band, read more about them and sample some tunes on their website.
Last Call for Suprasensorial
Where: Hirshhorn Museum
When: All weekend
Admission: Free
The final days of Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color and Space, are this weekend, and I highly recommend experiencing it if you haven’t yet. It may not have been created with kids in mind, but many of the installations can be appreciated on several levels, including from a child’s perspective. All of the displays are interactive in some way, and a few are exceptionally fascinating — and quite fun. Read more about it in this post. UPDATE: A KFDC reader just let me know that the exhibit has been extended until August 19. (But I still think it’s a great activity for this weekend.)
Imagination Playground
Where: National Children’s Museum Launch Zone
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
You’re invited to drop in for a play date at the Launch Zone! Children can experience a fantastic day of playing and building with the new Imagination Playground. Their imaginations will guide them as they build castles, pirate ships, and more out of foam blocks and loose parts – the opportunities are endless!
Go Postal for Trains
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Saturday, 12-3:30pm
Admission: Free
Drop in and ride the rails with the Postal Museum to celebrate National Train Day! Sort railway mail, make a transportation-themed stamp collection, learn about Owney the railway mail dog, and watch model trains whiz by courtesy of Rappahannock Model Railroaders.
May Fair
Where: Turtle Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Friendship ‘Turtle’ Park’s annual spring carnival is its largest event of the year. There will be pony rides, games, face painting, food, and more. Entertainment will include Turley the Magician, Mad Science, and a performance by Groovy Nate. For more info, see the Turtle Park website.
Art & Asparagus Mother’s Day Weekend
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $8/child, $10/adult
Forget the flowers for Mother’s Day this year and replace them with a unique – and tasty – bouquet of asparagus, fresh from the farm! The veggies will be at their peak, so Great Country Farms is offering them along with other special treat. The whole family can enjoy a theatrical performance put together just for Mom by Theaterpalooza (Saturday Only). And while the children are challenging themselves in them farm’s five-acre play area, Mom can walk among local artists and admire their talents. On Sunday, there will be a special brunch at the Stables at Bluemont Vineyard, just across the street from GCF. See the website for details.
Horse Around at the Movies
Where: AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center
When: Saturday, 11am (box office opens at 10:30am)
Admission: Free
In recognition of the Preakness Stakes to take place just up the road in Baltimore, the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring are hosting a free screening of the charming 1961 horse classic, MISTY. Be sure to stick around after the screening when movie goers will be able to meet live horses outside the theatre, courtesy of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police! There will be more horse-themed movies throughout the weekend (though not free), several appropriate for children — go here for the schedule.
Super Science Saturday
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am -3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Super Science Saturday at the Dulles arm of the Arm & Space Museum. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration. This month’s program will focus on Astronomy.
Gyotaku Fish Printing
Where: National Museum of Natural History
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free
It’s Second Saturday Arts & Sciences at the Natural History Museum. During this month’s session, try your hand at the art of Japanese fish printing. Learn the techniques of this traditional art form as well as the basic anatomy of fish. Then take your “catch” home with you.
Berry Good
Where: Schlagel Farms
When: Daily 8am – 7pm
Admission: Free (but you gotta pay for the berries you pick)
Schlagel Farms in Waldorf, Md, always begins their pick-your-own season ahead of other area farms, and their berries are ripe and ready now. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Greehouse flowers and other bedding plants are also for sale.
Best in Shows
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
Rapunzel at Imagination Stage. Five Little Monkeys at Adventure Theatre. Tiny Tots and Pinocchio on the puppet stage (ticket discount here). Emily Loves to Bounce and an NSO Family Concert at the Kennedy Center. Details on all of them in this post about live entertainment in late spring.
