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.
