Tag Archives: Weekend March 26-27

The Weekend Round-Up: March 26-27

cherryblossom_2016

TechQuestAA_300x250ad

Whether you’re kicking off or winding down Spring Break this weekend, you’ll be getting started or finished on a super fun note. Easter, cherry blossoms, and spring are big highlights, and this round-up is stocked with fantastic ways to celebrate and enjoy all of them. Happy Weekend!

DC in Bloom
Where: Several Locations
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free

The city is at its prettiest this time of year when the cherry trees are in bloom, and they should be at their best this weekend. The National Mall and Tidal Basin are sure to be teeming with blossom oglers, but braving the crowds is worth it, in my opinion. If you’re planning to partake in the blossom experience over the next couple of days (or anytime, for that matter), be sure to check out these tips for viewing the famous flowers before you go.

Cherry Blossom Family Day
Where: National Building Museum
When: Saturday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: Free

The National Building Museum is hosting their annual event to celebrate the cherry blossoms. And they’re doing it with a nod to the National Park Service’s Centennial Anniversary. The day will feature hands-on fun and games focused on parks, planning, landscape design, and architecture. Activities will include folding origami masterpieces, designing a memorial for the National Mall, constructing a tatebanko diorama, meeting DuAro (Kawasaki’s robot), trying on traditional Japanese clothing, and learning more about the National Park Service’s milestone celebration.

Bird Egg-stravaganza
Where: Woodend Nature Sanctuary
When: March 26, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $10/child

Join the Audubon Naturalist Society for a nature-themed egg hunt at their Bethesda headquarters. Children can search for eggs along the Woodend Nature Sanctuary trails. Afterwards, they can cash in their eggs for prizes, participate in crafts, and enjoy other nature themed activities.

Bunnyland
Where: Butler’s Orchard
When: Saturday, 9am – 4pm
Admission: $9/child, $7/adult

One of the more popular spring festivals in the area, Butler’s has all the trappings for seasonal fun: bunnies, eggs, and other Easter-related treats to get young guests in the holiday spirit. Attractions include hayrides down the Bunny Trail, egg hunts, the Rubber Ducky Derby, giant slides, and a small petting zoo. Face painting and pony rides are also usually offered for an extra fee. Concessions are available, and there are also plenty of picnic tables if you prefer to pack a lunch.

Adventure & Easter in the Trees
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by age

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring is now open for the season! Kids as young as 5 years old can experience fun and adventure on the ropes courses and zip lines in the park’s aerial forest, the largest in North America. Children ages 5-6 and an accompanying adult have access to two of the easier courses. Older kids can do even more. A Sunday bonus: They’re hosting an Easter Egg Hunt with eggs hidden all over the park, every one of them with prizes inside, including free climbing tickets. Guests can find up to three colored and one gold egg per paid admission. It’s a pricey venture, but worth it, especially for a special occasion. Read more about Sandy Spring in this post about one of our experiences there.

A Presidential Egg Hunt
Where: Madame Tussauds
When: Saturday, 8am, 8:30am, & 9am
Admission: $25/adult and three children

If your kids are early risers, then keep this event in mind: A fun and educational “eggs-ploration” through American History at the wax museum! Tons of eggs will be hidden throughout the Presidents Gallery, and once children have collected the empty eggs, they can then trade them in at the end of the hunt for an Easter gift bag full of goodies. Guests can also enjoy a meet & greet with the Easter Bunny, an on site petting zoo, plus Easter crafts and face painting! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased online.

Champagne Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt
Where: Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC
When: Sunday
Admission: $74/adult, $35/child

If you want to get fancy for the holiday, celebrate Easter with an extravagant Champagne brunch and a waterfront egg hunt on a beautiful sprawling garden, plus visits from the Easter Bunny at one of the city’s swankiest hotels. Enjoy a lavish buffet-style meal at Muze with multiple live cooking stations spread throughout the restaurant. Children can hunt for eggs hidden throughout the hotel’s stunning garden overlooking the Tidal Basin, accompanied by the Easter Bunny. There will also be fun-filled activities in the hotel’s supervised Little Fans Clubroom.

More Egg-cellent Celebrations
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by event

Many places around the area are hosting egg hunts, Easter bunny visits, and more spring fun to celebrate Easter and the season. Even if you’re not big on the holiday, there are attractions beyond bunnies and candy-filled eggs for the whole fam. See this post for a list of them.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue

* See Adventure Theatre’s delightful production of James and the Giant Peach
* Catch a performance of Beauty and the Beast at The Puppet Co.
* And Bunny Business is the featured Tiny Tots show there
* Little ones will ove Boxes, Boxes, Boxes at Imagination Stage
* Jammin’ Java is hosting a Spring Fling featuring local kids fave Rocknoceros on Saturday morning
* The Washington Ballet presents Hamlet just opened at the Kennedy Center
* This weekend is your last chance to see Romeo & Juliet at Synetic THeatre, beautiful, wordless production that is perfect for a date night.

Astronaut Academy
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free (but parking is $15)

Experience the Air & Space Museum’s new Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy. The free alternate reality game challenges you to become an astronaut-in-training for a future trip to Mars. Choose what role you will play on the mission; engage in fun interactive activities; and explore the science, technology, engineering, and math skills you will need as a member of the next generation of space travelers. Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the Museum’s fascinating artifacts. Read more about the adventure on the website. Best for upper elementary and middle school visitors and their families.

Spring Fest
Where: McLean Community Center
When: March 26, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $5, free for 2 and under

Spring Fest is a special event that includes self-guided arts and crafts projects, entertainment and the opportunity for your children to get a professional photo with Bunny. Remember to bring your Easter basket for our parent/child Easter egg hunt. Registration is required for all participants, and sign up soon, as space is limited. Recommended for ages 3-8.

Lolly Palooza
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $5/adult, $3/child

Annmarie has been celebrating the seasonal re-opening of their magical Fairy Lolly playground with extra-special activities all week, and the fun will continue this Saturday. Drop in sometime 11am – 4pm — on Monday for music making fun. Check in at the Murray Arts Building, then head over to the Fairy Lolly for magical play. Afterwards, stop by the artLAB and the Nature Nook for even more activities! Get a glimpse of Annmarie in this post about one of our experiences there.

Environmental Film Fest
Where: Various locations
When: Through Saturday
Admission: Varies by film

Films from across the globe are being screened around the DC-Metro area for the final days of the 24th annual Environmental Film Festival. And there are a couple family-oriented flicks among them on Saturday. Little movie-goers can watch a series of animated shorts at Southwest Library and Oddball will screen at Avalon Theater. There are even more films that kids will likely enjoy (and learn from) and others to consider for a grown-up. View the website for showtimes and details.

All Aboard!
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks
When: Through April 1
Admission: $2

Ride the rails through the woods and grounds of two great local play areas. The miniature trains at Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park are open for the season! During Spring Break, from now through April 1, they’ll be taking passengers everyday 10am – 6pm. After that, they’ll be open weekends only until June 1, when daily rides are offered again.

Get Out!
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity

It’s going to be a glorious DC weekend, so get out and take advantage of activities outside. Take a hike, hit a playground, explore a garden, visit animals, or see what else there is to do al fresco in this post with tons of ideas for outdoor fun.



Leave a Comment

Filed under All ages, Animals, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Farm, Festival, Free, Holidays, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Music, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Spring, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

Weekend Outlook: Snow, with a Cherry Blossom on Top

Surely, I’m not the only one who has been staring at the weather forecast in disbelief.  That can’t be a picture of a little white cloud surrounded by tiny snowflakes on Sunday.  Not only does this not bode so well for the kite festival that I’ve been looking forward to for weeks, I just packed up all of our winter coats for storage in the basement for what I thought would be the next few seasons.  Plus, OldMan Winter just announced his hiatus for the better part of the remaining year.

But I’ll keep the glass half full (like mine literally will be by 5pm today) as I get to my picks for family fun.  Snow may not be the ideal weather scenario, but plenty of great indoor activities will be happening to override any meteorological disappointment.  However, if that forecast turns around, I highly recommend the kite festival.  Happy Weekend!

Celebrate the Bloom – The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off on Saturday with a Family Day and Opening Ceremonies at the National Building Museum.  On both Saturday and Sunday, there will music and activities on the National Mall, including the Blossom Kite Festival on Sunday, if it doesn’t get snowed out.  Find out more about the best family events and get tips for viewing the spring blossoms.

Under the Big TopThe Greatest Show on Earth is at the Verizon Center now through March 27. Barnum 200 – Barnum’s Funundrum features 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids — a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it.   Tickets are still available, and I found a promo code on Go Out & Play – save $8 by entering the code 8MOM when buying your tickets at Ticketmaster.com.  If you purchase your tickets the day of the show, you can save $4 with the code 4MOM.

Boogie Down at Eastern MarketCelebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the Boogie Babes! The Festival’s Music of Spring program includes a Children’s Stage at the Market’s North Hall where many Boogie Babes regular performers will entertain kids throughout the day. On the schedule:  Saturday – 10:30am Mr. Skip, 1:30pm The Banjo Man, 4pm The Singing Lizard.  Sunday -10:30am The Banjo Man, 1:30pm Mr. Skip, 4pm John Henry, The Guitar Playing Man.  Suggested $10/family for the performer.

It’s Showtime – Along with the circus, a few more family shows will bring uniqe entertainment to the area this weekend.  Strathmore will host “Imago Theatre: Zoo Zoo”; an NSO Family Concert, “The Trumpet of the Swan” will play at the Kennedy Center, and the Gardens Figure Skating Club presents “Alice in Wonderland on Ice.”  Tickets are still available for all of them.  For details on these performances and more, see this post on spring shows.

Bowie Baysox Free Family FunFest – Get ready for baseball season with minor league team, the Bowie Baysox.  Their 12th annual Free Family FunFest will take place on Saturday from 10am – 2pm rain or shine.  Festivities include free rides, games, inflatables, music, and face painting.  Plus, there will be special appearances by Louie, the Oriole Bird, Dora, and the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS department with vehicles on display.  More details are available on the Out by Ten blog.

South African Family FunOn Saturday from 12 – 2:30pm at the African Art Museum, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of South Africa as Lesole Dance Project performs a variety of South African dances, including gumboots, which originated in the gold mines; the fast-paced and colorful pantsula; and the indlamu, known as “the warrior dance.” Discover the beauty of South African wall painting among the homesteads and houses of the Ndebele peoples and create your own Ndebele-inspired design. Join storyteller Lucretia Anderson as she weaves old and new tales from South Africa.  This is a free event.

Have a Ball this Saturday at The NationalThe audience gets into the act at this with Globe Trotter Alumnus and basketball star, Spencer “Spinny” Johnson, celebrated for high scoring, integrity, and trick-shot artistry. Spinny gives a dynamic display of digital dexterity and invites anyone to step up and join in. Behind dazzling fast-action tricks are inspiring lessons in respect, goal-setting, and self-confidence. Performances are at 9:30am and 11am.  Tickets are free, but required. Distributed day of on first-come, first-served basis.

Maury at the MarketIf you have a sitter for Saturday evening, consider attending Maury at the Market, a silent auction and reception to support PTA programs at Maury Elementary, a DC public school on Capitol Hill.  From 7-10pm, Eastern Market’s North Hall will be transformed into a swanky party venue where guests can mix and mingle, enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and bid on a variety of fantastic auction items.  Tickets are $30 at the door.  See this post for more details.

Space for Children at House of Sweden – The Swedish Embassy welcomes families to experience what sounds like a unique exhibit on weekends through April 24.  Two rooms of “interactivity creativity” celebrate the parent-child bond and encourage creative play. The free exhibit is open Saturdays from 11am – 4pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  Read more about it on the Embassy’s website.

Tiny Tots –Two puppet shows for the littlest ones will be performed at The Puppet Co. this weekend: Baby Bear’s Birthday on Saturday and Second-Hand Stars on Sunday.  Both start at 10am.  Tickets are $5 and available online or at the box office.   Tiny Tots shows are recommended for ages 0-4.

Portrait Story Day: PocahontasDrop in at the National Portrait Gallery on Sunday from 1 – 4pm to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This week, learn about Pocahontas, the Native American chief’s daughter who married English settler John Rolfe.



3 Comments

Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Monuments & Memorials, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Spring, Weekend