Take advantage of the season — go skiing!
Don’t let the cold deflate your enthusiasm for weekend fun! Kick off the good times with a special event at the Spy Museum, then run with it at one of many activity picks: ballet at the museum, a car or boat show, an ice carving fest, a day on the slopes, live entertainment, a nature center visit, indoor play, a Charm City jaunt, and more. Take a time out to browse the The Great Indoors post with over 70 ideas for outings inside. With the help of KFDC, you’re sure to score big with the kids. Happy Weekend!
Spy Fest
Where: International Spy Museum
When: Friday, 6-10pm
Admission: $14
Is your child the next 007? Find out at the Spy Museum’s annual event! Kids ages 5 and up can get an inside glimpse of the secret world of espionage at the Spy Museum’s annual event. Special spy-related activities, SPY snacks, a scavenger hunt, and prize competitions will make it an especially thrilling evening. (Note: One adult required for every five KidSpy agents.)
Washington Ballet & American Art
Where: Kogod Courtyard
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
Bring your little ballerinas to the American Art Museum on Saturday for a special treat! That’s when the The Washington Ballet will be in the Kogod Courtyard to perform excerpts from the upcoming Sleepy Hollow. Septime Weber will also be there to discuss the production, plus there will be a scavenger hunt and a tour of the art that inspired the ballet.
Winter Ice Fest
Where: Village at Leesburg
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
The kids will think Elsa has left Frozen for Leesburg at this 2nd annual ice carving celebration. This action packed day of fun with the family will feature some of the best ice sculptors in the US competing for 1st place. Watch as they transform blocks of ice into lifelike sculptures. While you’re there,, enjoy s’mores from local scout troops, warm up with hot , pose for pics with Washington Capitals cheerleaders and mascot Slapshot, and shop and dine at more than 55 boutiques, stores, and restaurants. Sculptures will be illuminated at 5pm.
Washington Auto Show
Where: Washington Convention Center
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $12/adults, $5/ages 6-12, free for 5 and under
The annual Washington Auto Show has zoomed back into town. And if there’s any “grown-up” event that is equally fun for all ages, this is it. The Auto Show is like a Truck Touch, but with automobiles — more than 700 of them! — on display for guests to check out. Other activities, like Ride ‘n Drives and celeb appearances, give guests even more to do and see. And especially for kids is a Family Activity Zone and pop-ins by some of their favorite characters along with the auto-fun. This post about one of our experiences at a past show has more about what to expect.
Hit the Slopes
Where: Liberty Mountain
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Take advantage of winter and enjoy a quintessential seasonal activity — skiing! Liberty Mountain is one of the more convenient places to go with the kids, especially if they are newbies. Just over an hour from DC in PA, it’s easy to get to for a one-day venture on the slopes, the runs aren’t too difficult, and kids can do a couple of hours of ski school (be sure to sign up in advance). Get the scoop on their children’s programs here.
Baltimore, Hon!
Where: Charm City attractions
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Zip up I-95 for some fun in our sister city, where there are several great places for kids to play and discover — all indoors. Explore the exhibits and loads of hands-on activities at the Maryland Science Center. See some of the quirkiest, coolest art ever at the American Visionary Art Museum. Play the day away at Port Discovery. Get an eyeful of the underwater world at the National Aquarium. Or learn about Baltimore’s early business days at the Museum of Industry.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Be among the first audiences to see Petit Rouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Adventure Theatre
* It’s the last chance for little ones to enjoy interactive theatre with Inside Out at Imagination Stage
* Join the Circus! at The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park
* Mother Goose Caboose is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theatre
* See Mockingbird at the Kennedy Center
* Marsha Goodman-Wood will be entertaining kiddos with her originial tunes at Avalon Theatre on Saturday morning
A Boatload of Fun
Where: Baltimore Convention Center
When: Friday Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $12/adults, free for kids 15 and under
The annual Baltimore Boat Show drops anchor at the Baltimore Convention Center his weekend, featuring more boats than ever to check out, plus fun for all ages. There will be hundreds of new boats, from luxury cruisers and fishing boats to family runabouts and pontoons along with dozens of booths boasting the latest in marine accessories and electronics. For some activity, the Progressive Boat School led by the Annapolis School of Seamanship will offer free interactive boating education, and in another area visitors can try Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP). And the smallest of sailors and boaters will enjoy activities in the Kids’ Zone.
Back to Nature
Where: Local nature centers
When: Through out the weekend:
Admission: Free
If you’re jones-ing for a nature fix, but aren’t keen on tolerating the weather to get it, head to a nature center. Rock Creek Nature Center, Watkins Nature Center, and Potomac Overlook Nature Center are a few of our faves. Or find one near you with the help of The Natural Capital blog.
Indoor Play
Where: Local indoor play areas
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Various by venue
Go out — or make that in — and play! Even on the most dreary days there are places to go and run, bounce, climb, swing, flip, and slide — all in the warmth and comfort of the indoors. This post has a bunch of recommendations for playground-style fun out of the cold.
