Tag Archives: Weekend May 5-6

The Weekend Round-Up: May 4-6

“The Force will be with you. Always.” Even at the Nats game on May the 5th.




If you subscribe to receive KidFriendly DC emails, you may have received a slightly incomplete version of this round-up earlier (oops). Both will help you have a great weekend, but this one might make it a tad better. Happy Weekend!

May the Force Be with the Nationals
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary

I can’t help but point out that the Nats missed a great opportunity here: Star Wars Day is on Saturday, but Friday is May the 4th! (Oh well, next year.) Our home team is hosting the Phillies all weekend — Friday (7:05pm), Saturday (4:05pm), and Sunday (1:35pm). There will be a Max Scherzer bobblehead giveaway on Friday, costumed characters and special nods to the Force on Saturday, and a chance for kids to run the bases after the game on Sunday. If you plan to go, be sure to check out these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.

Flower Mart
Where: National Cathedral | Glover Park, DC
When: Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free

The annual festival, in its 79th year at the National Cathedral, is a wonderful way to spend a spring day . While plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, and boutique booths will likely be of more interest to grown-ups, there is also music and entertainment, games and rides, tasty foods, the All Hallows Guild antique carousel, and many more fun activities to delight kids as well. While you’re there, be sure to visit the awesome Beauvoir School playground. Admission is free, though concessions and some activities will cost a fee. Read about one of our experiences at the event.

Greek Festival
Where: Saint George Catholic Church | Bethesda, MD
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free (fee for food)

Go Greek for a day at the annual Saint George Greek Festival! Savor the cuisine and culture with traditional Greek fare and loads of family activities, including folk dancing, music performances, a marketplace, kids corner, cooking demos, raffles, and more! See the website for the weekend schedule.

Around the World Embassy Tour
Where: 50+ Embassies | Embassy Row & Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free

You might get to hear music from the Phillipines, sample snacks from Nicaragua, and see an African dance performance – all in one day! Cultural Tourism DC presents its annual Around the World Embassy Tour, an open house to embassies from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. The free event showcases art, music, traditional dress, and culinary delights from nations across the globe. It’s also your chance to check out the interiors of those mansions along Mass Ave & International Drive that you usually just admire from the street. A heads-up that there could be lines to get in some embassies, so be prepared. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies might conduct security checks. Read about one of our globetrotting-in-DC experiences and get a glimpse of what to expect. And I suggest stopping by the Mexican embassy — it’s Cinco de Mayo!

Day Out with Thomas
Where: B&O Railroad Museum
When: Friday – Sunday
Admission: $22-26

All aboard, little engineers! Thomas the Tank Engine™ will be able to talk to his fans when he returns to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore! Take a 25-minute train ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy a full day of live entertainment, activities, and family fun.

Truck Touch

Where: Silver Spring Nursery School | Silver Spring, MD

When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm

Admission: $5, under 2 are free


Kids can explore all kinds of cool vehicles, including Montgomery County construction trucks, a fire engine, rescue vehicles, a school bus, a Metro bus, and more. Also enjoy live music from local favorites Mr. Gabe and RockStarts, as well as yummy food and drinks, arts & crafts, games and face painting. And returning again this year is the popular Silent Auction, where you can bid on lots of amazing items. Park at the CHI Center (10501 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring), then head one block South to SSNS at 10309 New Hampshire Ave.

The Tiniest Tempest
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 12pm
Admission: Free

It’s Shakespeare for the This interactive program uses puppetry to introduce young children (ages 4 to 10) to one of William Shakespeare’s most magical plays–The Tempest. This special production, called The Tiniest Tempest will engage young children in the storyline as professional puppeteers and storytellers recreate the play’s main characters including Miranda, Prospero, Antonio, Alonso, Caliban, and Ariel. A stick puppet of William Shakespeare helps begin the story.

Revolutionary War Weekend
Where: Mount Vernon Estate, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $18/adult, $9/ages 6-11, free/5 & under

See hundreds of Continentals, Redcoats, Hessians, cannon, and cavalry in action on the estate. Throughout the weekend, learn more about life in the 18th century, discuss military techniques, and watch battle re-enactments. Wander through the encampment and meet the soldiers. This family-friendly event features a youth muster on the bowling green and even meeting General Washington! (Note: The above admission prices are online rates; they are slightly more at the door.)

Shake Up Your Saturday
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free, but registration required

Join the Folger’s family program that takes place the first Saturday of every month. In this session kids ages 5-14 can learn about the types of rare books that are at the Folger before exploring the Reading Room at 12pm. Go here to sign up. And read more about the Folger Shakespeare library in this KFDC post.

Art & Me: Solving Art Mysteries with Science
Where: Freer|Sackler | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 12:30pm & 1-3:30pm
Admission: Free

Visit the special exhibition Secrets of the Lacquer Buddha, and explore how art and science collide to solve mysteries that can teach us more about the past. Then, return to the studio to experiment with professional tools with conservator Ellen Chase. Make your own examination kit to practice your new skills at home! Recommended for ages 3-5 with adult companions.

Family Archaeology Day
Where: Needwood Mansion | Rockville, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: $10/person or $20 /family

See and experience what parks archaeologists do. Event features a 19th century slave quarters dig exhibit, mansion tours, a simulated archaeology dig for children, storytelling, old-time games and crafts. Bring a bag lunch and stay for the day.

Sensory-Friendly Avengers
Where: Regal Rockville Center Stadium | Rockville, MD
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: $6.50

Join Regal for the latest My Way Matinee movie, Avengers: Infinity War. Marvel fans canennjoy the film that is shattering box office records for the biggest worldwide opening of all time. My Way Matinee gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie once a month with the sound turned down and the lights turned up. Watch the Avengers trailer here.

Room for Children
Where: House of Sweden | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free

Newly updated with new books, games, and crafts, the Room for Children is a Swedish library and arts studio for children up to 10 years old, designed to stimulate their desire for books, music, storytelling and self-expression. On Saturday, Swedish artist Karin Lithell will lead children ages 3-10 in an art workshop — all supplies provided. Plan on staying for storytime to experience Swedish children’s literature at 2pm.

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

* Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt at Adventure Theatre is a fun, fantastic adventure for young audiences (review to come soon!)
* Go Outside the Lines at the Atlas Performing Arts Center for Arts on the Horizon’s show latest shoe for ages 2-5
* Ease on down the road to Ford’s Theatre for The Wiz
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
* And Imaginary Friends is the featured performance for littles there on Sunday
* Robin Hood is on the Imagination Stage

T(w)een Theatre Scene : Snow Child
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary

The latest production at Arena stage is recommended for tweens and teens, but slightly younger children may enjoy it as well. The musical is as beautiful as it is entertaining with a great bluegrass score, amazing puppetry, and a story that is played out masterfully by the talented cast. Read a full KFDC review here.

Racing Art
Where: Around the Inner Harbour | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 9am – 7pm
Admission: Free

You might see giant pink poodles and other outrageous works of art “race” down Baltimore streets at the American Visionary Art Museum’s 20th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. This year’s theme is “Mysteries and Tall Tales,” inspired by the museum’s current mega-exhibit The Great Mystery Show. Kinetinauts (the pilots of the moving sculptures) will compete for the Grand East Coast National Mediocre Champion, awarded to the competitor who finishes exactly in the middle (that is the BEST). Vehicles are wacky and whimsical, straight from a lunatic genius imagination and constructed out of all kinds of materials. They may be a small one-person machine or a 50-foot feat of engineering navigated by many. This is one of those spectacles you just have to see for yourself.

International Family Equality Day
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free

Celebrate the beauty and importance of family diversity at the National Zoo. Enjoy family-focused activities, including field games with prizes, special animal enrichment demonstrations and live entertainment. See the website for the schedule of events.

The Legend of King Solomon
Where: E Street Cinema | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Sunday, 10:30 AM
Admission: $15.50/adult, $6.90/13 & under

In this animated family adaptation of the Biblical story, the young Solomon must save the kingdom of Jerusalem from the evil devil Asmodeus. After he is banished into the Arabian Desert, Solomon teams up with the beautiful Princess Naama of Petra and the Queen of Sheba as they seek to put an end to Asmodeus’ tyrannical thirst for power.

Truck Touch
Where: Tikvat Israel Congregation | Rockville, MD
When: Sunday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: $5/ages 2 and up

Explore fire trucks, police cars, emergency vehicles, and other cool things that go! $5 entry per person age 2 and over. Jump on the moon bounce and buy snacks, lunch, or a tasty treat (all food is kosher) for an extra fee.

20th Anniversary Celebration
Where: Breastfeeding Center | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free, donations welcome

Join the The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington this Sunday, May 6, from 1-4pm to celebrate their 20th Anniversary! Don’t miss the panel discussion led by Julia Beck, featuring IBCLC Torey Potter, midwife Michelle Clasuen, and authors Kimberly Seals Allers and Katherine R Lewis. There will also be plenty of fun for toddlers and kids too! The Breastfeeding Center is located at 1020 19th St NW, Suite 150.

First Sunday Wolf Trap Hikes: Walk and Learn
Where: Wolf Trap | Vienna VA
When: Sunday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free

Join trail volunteers and staff for a free guided hike on the first Sunday of each month for Wolf Trap First Sunday Hikes. February 4th will will be the first Sunday hike of 2018. The hikes start at the Filene Center Main Gate (Box Office) and last about 2 hours. Select walks will focus on different topics: history, biodiversity, wild flower and woodland shade gardens, birds, and general flora and fauna. Times and topics vary and traditionally follow the Wolf Trap Trail loop (2.7 miles). Dress appropriately for a hike and weather.

Model Rocket Launch
Where: Goddard Space Flight Center | Greenbelt, MD
When: Sunday, 1-2pm
Admission: Free

Join the monthly model rocket launch at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Anyone is welcome, and if you’ve got a model rocket to fly, bring it along (though there are some restrictions – see them here). The program takes place the first Sunday of every month at 1pm. Read more about it in this post.

Movie on the Potomac: CoCo
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Sunday, 6pm
Admission: Free

Wind down the weekend with an outdoor movie screening by the water. National Harbor will again host Movies on the Potomac, including a Sunday evening family movie, from May through September. Gather in front of the Plaza Screen to watch fan favorite films from over the years. — this week it’s Coco! Movie-goers are encouraged to bring chairs and order take-out from one of the many restaurants right around the plaza.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Find great ideas for celebrating Mother’s Day around the DC area.
* Morini Piccolo is a new food stand from Osteria Morini on the docks at Yards Park. They offer a small menu of antipasto, panini, and drinks from the restaurant’s menu along with a lovely riverside view.
* This virtual reality installation is a must-experience, but be sure to read about it first — it’s not for young children, and not even for all older kids.
* thredUP is a great way to buy and sell secondhand clothes and accessories for women and kids online.
* The National Building Museum announced this year’s Summer Block Party installation, and it sounds really FUN!


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Filed under 2018, All ages, DC

The Weekend Round-Up: May 4-6

Big fun on a big rig at Cheverly's Truck Touch last year

 

Explore the world right here in DC, get up close and personal with some of the coolest rides on the road, celebrate la dia, root for the hometeam, walk among butterflies, catch a live show… These are just some of the ways to enjoy family time over the next few days. And along with the list of ideas for weekend fun with the kiddos, here’s one more suggestion just for the grown-ups: Margaritas under the Supermoon. Happy Weekend!

Truck Touch
Where: Cheverly Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5/ages 1-12, free for adults
Over 20 vehicles will be on display for young motorists-in-the-making to explore at Cheverly Weekday Nursery’s annual fundraiser. Children can sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck, honk the horn of a dump truck, run around inside the trailer of an 18-wheeler, check out the inside of a police car, stand on the back of a garbage truck, and get behind the wheel of many more cool rides. And the fun doesn’t end there—games geared toward little ones, concessions, balloons, and more will also be available. The event will be held in the Cheverly United Methodist Church parking lot. All proceeds benefit the nursery school and Mother’s Day Out.

Around the World Embassy Tour
Where: More than 40 Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Sample Australia’s famous vegemite, experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, play classic Venezuelan games — all in one day! Passport DC invites the public to an open house of more than 40 embassies from six continents. The free event will showcase art, music, children’s activities, culinary delights, and more. It’s also your chance to check out the interiors of those huge mansions along Mass Ave that you usually just admire from the street. Free shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day (see route on the website), and many embassies are convenient to Metro for walking. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies will conduct security checks. For more tips on making the most of your day, go here.

Flower Mart
Where: National Cathedral
When: Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The annual spring festival, in its 74th year, at the National Cathedral will take place today and tomorrow. While plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, and boutique booths will be of more interest to grown-ups, there will also be tasty foods, music and entertainment, games and rides, the All Hallows Guild antique carousel, and other fun activities to delight kids as well. Admission is free, though concessions and some activities will cost a fee. Proceeds from other sales benefit the Cathedral’s gardens, grounds and woodlands. See the website for the entertainment schedule.

Music by the River
Where: The Yards Park
When: Friday, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly through Sept. 14)
Admission: Free

The Yards Park annual Friday Evening Concert series begins tonight! From now through the summer, wind down every week with free music in the fantastic riverside setting. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner (or purchase food there) to sit in the lovely tiered grassy area and watch bands play on the boardwalk stretching along the Anacostia River. And don’t forget about the fountains that welcome kids to play (swimsuits and change of clothes recommended).

Cinco De Mayo Festival
Where: National Mall
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Celebrate the day with the Maru Montero Dance Company as they host the 20th annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival to celebrate Latin American dance, music and crafts. Live performances will include salsa, Mexican folk dancing, mariachis, and other dance and music. The children’s pavilion will host arts and crafts activities where young people can make piñatas, braid hair, build dancing puppets, and enjoy a day of fun activities. For more info, see the festival website.

Space Day
Where: National Air & Space Museum, National Mall & Dulles
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, parking is $15 at Udvar-Hazy
Have some out-of-this-world fun at the Air & Space Museum on the National Mall and in Dulles as they celebrate the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery to the Museum’s collection. In DC, guests can learn about some of Discovery’s accomplishments, including its most significant payload-Hubble Space Telescope; find out from Astronaut Patrick Forrester what it is like to live and work in space; and meet the shuttle’s most famous passenger-Buzz Lightyear. There will also be opportunities to learn how space suits are made, do hands-on activities, and listen to stories about space. At the Udvar-Hazy Center, visitors can see the shuttle in its new home in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, learn about some of the shuttle’s most significant missions, and meet astronauts Pam Melroy, Stephen Bowen and Tom Jones. Guests can also check out Space Shuttle Lego kits, enjoy show-and-tell demos of amateur radio satellites and storytime, try simulated space shuttle landings, and do more hands-on activities.

Family Day
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Saturday, 12-3:30pm
Admission: Free
You may know the story of the Hindenburg disaster, but did you know it was a flying post office? Learn about the luxurious life on board the Hindenburg, the postal clerks who processed mail in transit, the mail that survived the crash, and more in hands-on activities and a fascinating tour with curator Cheryl Ganz. This event is presented in connection with the Museum’s exhibit Fire & Ice: Hindenburg & Titanic.

Nats vs. Phillies
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 1:05pm, Sunday 8:05pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Phillies this weekend, and there are promos that families in particular will enjoy for the afternoon games. Harris Teeter Family Fun Packs are available for for both games, kids ages 4-12 can run the bases after the final out on Saturday.

Wings of Fancy
Where: Brookside Gardens
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm (runs through September 12)
Admission: $4/ages 3-12, $6/adults
It’s opening day of Brookside’s yearly live butterfly exhibit. See butterfly species from around the world in the park’s South Conservatory. Of course, the butterflies aren’t the only reason to visit gardens in Wheaton; its 50+ acres are gorgeous, with an amazing variety of flora, all kinds of plant collections, a cute little children’s garden, a Nature Center on premises, and open grassy spaces. Go here to see what’s in bloom now.

Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America
Where: Kennedy Center & other DC venues
When: May 6-12
Admission: Free
The Kennedy Center presents this week-long series of free performances and events at the Kennedy Center as well as locations around Washington. The program includes large-scale spectacles, street musicians, parade culture, puppetry, circus arts, chalk drawings, clowning, and more . From a circus-punk marching band and political puppet theater to jugglers, contortionists, and stunt dogs, the electric energy of live interactive performance invades the streets of Washington. On Sunday at 6pm, Happenstance Theatre, a Chicago-based circus-punk marching band Mucca Pazza, will brings its sweet sounds indoors, using trombones, marching drums, accordions, and more to get the audience moving.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Rapunzel at Imagination Stage. Five Little Monkeys at Adventure Theatre. Pinocchio and Tiny Tots on the puppet stage. A Kinderkonzert at the Kennedy Center. This new post about live entertainment in late spring. This brand new post about live entertainment in late spring has details on all of these shows and more.

International Children’s Festival
Where: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Here’s another opportunity from Passport DC to go global this weekend. In it’s 6th year, the International Children’s Festival lets children of all ages travel the world in a single day. More than 20 embassies will be represented at the Meridian International Center with fun entertainment and hands-on activities to help introduce kids to different world cultures.

Happy Birthday, Launch Zone!
Where: National Children’s Museum
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

The National Children’s Museum is celebrating three years of the Launch Zone, and you’re invited to join in the fun. Be a part of the festive birthday celebration, complete with hands-on art projects, special guests, giveaways, and more. As a special reverse birthday present from the NCM to you, see the unveiling their new Imagination Playground, a breakthrough playspace that encourages child-directed, unstructured free play!

Hike And Yoga Adventure
Where: Meet at Rock Creek Nature Center
When: Sunday, 10-11am
Admission: Free

lil omm students and their families are invited to join a hike and outdoor yoga adventure! Hayley (and her friendly dog Lulu) will guide families through wooded trails in Rock Creek Park and pause along the way to align bodies like the surrounding nature-inspired findings. Meet outside the Nature Center at 5200 Glover Road NW at 9:45. Pre-registration is required. Participants should wear comfy walking shoes and bring water. No mat needed.

And don’t forget to check out the indoor and outdoor lists for even more ideas!

 

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Sports, Spring, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend