Tag Archives: Washington National Cathedral

Giveaway! Celebrate the Season with Family Joy at the National Cathedral

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Experience Family Joy at the Washington National Cathedreal this weekend! On Saturday, December 10, bring the whole family and get swept up in the sounds of the season. This one-hour musical program is a holiday tradition that has something for all ages, including a kids-only sing-along. Host Michael Mercier guides kids through experiencing choral, brass, and organ holiday music. Joseph Flummerfelt is guest conductor, and special guests include Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Choir and American Youth Philharmonic Brass Ensemble. The show is sign-language interpreted.

Tickets to Family Joy are $25/adults, $15/kids, or $75/Family 4-Pack. Receive a discount on a 4-pack (2 adults and 2 children) using the code SAVE at check out. The show sign-language interpreted.

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Giveaway: Want a chance to win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to Family Joy! at the Washington National Cathedral this Saturday? Simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite holiday song. To be eligible you must subscribe to the KFDC blog — free sign-up is to the upper left. The giveaway will run through Thursday, December 8 at 12pm (noon), then a winner will be drawn at random and announced shortly thereafter. Good luck!


This post is sponsored by Cathedral Choral Society, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.


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Filed under All ages, Annual, Christmas, DC, Giveaway, Holidays, Live Entertainment, Seasonal, Weekend

Giveaway: Enter to Win Tickets to “Family Joy” at the National Cathedral

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Join the Cathedral Choral Society for a special Christmas concert! On December 12, celebrate the warm spirit of the season in a majestic setting as they present Family Joy at the Washington National Cathedral. This one-hour program is perfect for families with young children, and includes Christmas favorites and festive carol sing-alongs to tunes like “Joy to the World,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and “Jingle Bells.” And the group will be in good company, as they’re joined by the Children’s Chorus of Washington and American Youth Philharmonic Brass Ensemble.

Tickets are $25/adults, $15/youth, or $75/family 4-pack and can be purchased on the Cathedral Choral Society website. Or you can try to win them through the giveaway below. To stay in the loop, like their Facebook page or follow @CathedralChoral on Twitter.

Giveaway: Want to win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to Family Joy! at the National Cathedral? Simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite Christmas carol. To be eligible you must also like the Cathedral Choral Society on Facebook and be a subscriber of the KFDC blog (see free sign-up to the left). The giveaway will run through Sunday, December 6, then a winner will be drawn at random and announced shortly thereafter. Good luck!


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Filed under All ages, Annual, Christmas, DC, Giveaway, Holidays, Live Entertainment, Music, Seasonal, Sponsored Post, Weekend, Winter

Spring Flowers & Year-Round Attractions at the National Cathedral

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There are certain weekends throughout the year that you can count on being packed with awesome annual events. On one hand, that’s a great thing — who doesn’t love having their pick of terrific things to do? On the other hand, it’s frustrating, because you have to pick, and opting for one means you’re missing out on the others.

The first weekend of May presented just that scenario. There was the Around the World Embassy Tour, Flower Mart, Glen Echo Family Day, Cheverly Truck Touch, and Space Day among many other fun happenings. And for us, between the kids’ sports and a baby shower taking up most of Saturday, it was practically impossible to make it to any of them.

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Except for one. Flower Mart, the National Cathedral’s annual spring family festival, also takes place on Friday. And as luck would have it, the kids were off from school that day, so we made a plan to spend it at one of Washington’s premiere seasonal events.

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Both the National Cathedral and the public benefit from Flower Mart. Funds raised help maintain WNC’s beautiful grounds and gardens, and those who attend the event get to enjoy tons of great festivities and exhibitions. Spread out around the grounds are plant and flower sales, plus a variety of other vendors offering everything from art and housewares to accessories and handmade children’s clothes to tasty treats and gourmet foods. You can browse a used book sale, take the kids on a carousel, and see a puppet show. Food trucks and stands make lunch and snacks easy. And inside the Cathedral, there are gorgeous flower displays contributed by the embassies.

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There’s a whole Children’s Area with carnival rides and games, with something for all ages — moon bounce, inflatable slide, whirly rides, bungee jumps, a climbing wall, and more. Tickets are cheap, though some of the lines can be slow-going, but the kids generally had a blast there.

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On top of all this, there are the National Cathedral’s permanent attractions that visitors are welcome to explore. You can view the magnificent interiors — both guided and self-guided tours are available. Stained glass windows and gargoyles are especially interesting for kids. The observation gallery on the seventh floor also showcases interesting architectural designs and stunning birds-eye views of DC. On that same level, “Though the Earth Be Moved” exhibit reveals the impact of the 2011 earthquake on the Cathedral, displaying large chunks that broke off from the tower and illustrations detailing how it happened.

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Outside, the grounds also make for a nice stroll. The Bishop’s Garden is lovely and includes plants found in medieval gardens, that are native to the area, and some referenced by the Bible. And nearby is a statue of George Washington and Olmsted Woods & Pilgrim Way.

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And while you’re there, take the kids to the Beauvoir School playground. A short walk behind the Cathedral along 34th Street, it’s open to the public when school is not in session. With several great wooden climbing and sliding structures, swings, a kid-size basketball court, a small soccer pitch, and…drumroll…a ZIPLINE, it’s a nice addition to a National Cathedral visit, but can easily make for its own fantastic outing.

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There’s even more at the National Cathedral especially for children, including a scavenger hunt and a scaled down chapel, that you can read more about on the website. And there are many programs and special events open to the public throughout the year — see the calendar for details.

The Washington National Cathedral is located at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW. It’s accessible by car and public transportation (Metro & bus). Hours are 10am – 5:30pm Monday – Friday, 10am – 4:30pm Saturday, and services are 8am – 5pm Sunday. Admission is $15/adult, $10/ages 5-17, free for 4 and under. Tour times vary, so be sure to check schedules if you plan to take one.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Festival, Free, Outdoor, Play, Seasonal, Spring, Weekdays, Weekend

This Weekend, Mom Has Dibs

On this very special of weekends, there are several kid ventures that moms will enjoy just as much as their babes. (For the stuff that’s geared toward little ones, let dad take the helm, while you go get a mani-pedi.) Here’s a quick run-down of this weekend’s family fun. And to all the moms: Happy Mother’s Day!

National Train Day
Get on board for the 3rd Annual National Train Day. Saturday, May 8, Amtrak is celebrating with a day full of events for train enthusiasts of all ages. From 11am – 4pm, there will be exhibits, activities, and live entertainment throughout Union Station.

Flower Mart
Do some pre-Mother’s Day celebrating with the kids at Flower Mart, an annual spring festival to benefit the gardens and grounds of Washington National Cathedral. There will be plenty for both children and grown-ups to enjoy: an antique carousel, live music, puppet shows, plant & book sales, rides & games, delicious food, and more. This free event is happening Friday, May 7, 10am – 6pm and Saturday, May 8, 10am – 5pm.

EU Embassies Open House
Channel your inner Clark Griswold with this European tour! On Saturday, May 8, Cultural Tourism DC presents “Shortcut to Europe” as part of Passport DC, a month-long celebration of international culture and heritage. Join the Embassies of the European Union for a day of music & dance, art exhibits, childrens activities, food & drink tastings, and more. (Come on, you know you want to don some lederhosen and dance with the best of ’em!) Free shuttle buses with two routes will drop visitors off at various embassies. Visit the website for a full schedule of events.

Garden Fest
The Smithsonian Castle will be buzzing this Saturday, May 8, as Garden Fest brings people and plants together for an annual celebration. Kids will dig the insect release, plant-inspired art activities, stilt walker, tattoo station, and live music by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra. Adults can enjoy the same, plus floricultural demos, gardening book sales and signings, orchid displays, and many other plant and gardening exhibits. The event is from 10am – 4pm. Admission is free.

Space Day
If the National Air & Space Museum ranks high on your kid’s list of favorite places, then take note: Saturday, May 8, is Space Day at the museum. Guests will have the chance to meet astronauts and space experts, communicate with the International Space Station, learn how to build a flyable model rocket, create Lego s…pacecraft, design a satellite, and enjoy more cool astro-related activities. The free event runs from 10am – 3pm.

Truck Touch Silver Spring
If you couldn’t make it to Truck Touch in Cheverly last weekend, you can get in on it this Saturday, May 8, at Silver Spring Nursery School. Construction vehicles, a fire engine, motorcycle, recycling truck, the Book Mobile and more cool vehicles will be open for exploration from 10am – 1pm. Food, live entertainment, facepainting, crafts, and a book fair will also be part of the fun. Admission is $3, kids under 2 are free.

Babies, the Movie
Babies, the documentary that follows the first year of four infants from different parts of the globe, opens this weekend, just in time for Mother’s Day. The E Street Cinema is having a Special Rattle and Reel Screening (babies welcome!) on Saturday, May 8, at 10:30am.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, Babies, Festival, Live Entertainment, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Trains, Union Station, Weekend