DC Thrifty Mom’s
FREE THINGS TO DO
This Weekend
in Washington DC Metro Area:
February 7 & 8, 2015
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
***Visit our Calendar for more FREE & Cheap happenings.***
Learn How to Build a Heart Box
Home Depot
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 9:00 am ∙ FREE!
Come learn how to build a heart box in time for Valentine’s Day
Hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 – 12. Thank you for registering online to help Home Depot better plan their craft kit quantities needed.
Weekend Walks in the Woods – Free Family Nature Walks!
Woodend/Chevy Chase Sanctuary
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 9:00 am ∙ FREE!
Take an hour out of your schedule to enjoy spending time with your family outdoors. Join our Master Naturalists on the first Saturday of each month from 9-10 am for a nature hike around Woodend Sanctuary. This FREE monthly program, Every First Saturday, has a unique and exciting natural history theme. Programs are appropriate for family members of all ages and no registration is necessary. Please come prepared to hike in sneakers and don’t forget your water bottle. Meet at the amphitheater by the main house.
Saturday Morning at the National - Synetic Theater: Music Box
The National Theatre
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE, Tickets Required: first come-first seated.
Helen Hayes Award winner Synetic Theater returns with a delightful collection of short stories packed with physical comedy and lively music!
Tickets distributed 30 minutes before each show. One ticket per person in line. The performances are best appreciated by children four years and older.
Summer Camp and Activity FAIR Presented by KOJAM Productions, Inc.
Tysons Corner Center, Center Court
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission!
Overnight Camps, Day Camps, Summer Programs, Enrichment Programs, Foreign Language Camps, Computer Camps, Music Camps, Dance Camps, Drama & Theater Camps, Educational Activities, Gymnastics Camps, Horseback Riding Camps, Sports Camps, Martial Arts Camps, Swimming Camps, Extreme Sports Camps . . . They will all be there!
Camp FAIR offers families a “one stop shop” for summer fun!
There will be special performances next to Bloomingdale’s so come early and stick around for some fun entertainment!
Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show
The Show Place Arena
Saturday, February 7 & Sunday, February 8 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission & Parking!
At the Home Show, their goal is simple: to inspire, motivate and excite you for your upcoming home improvement – whether it’s a minor renovation or a major remodel.
It’s Everything For In And Around Your Home!
Chocolate Lovers Festival 2015
City of Fairfax
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 10:00 am & Sunday, February 8 ∙ 12:00 pm
The Chocolate Lovers Festival, an annual two-day festival held on the first full weekend of February, features activities for all to enjoy. NOTE: Some events require a fee, and other events are FREE to all visitors. Click here for Event Schedule, which indicates the FREE events.
Drop-in Art Activities: Friends Forever
The Walters Art Museum
Saturday, February 7 & Sunday, February 8 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
We’re celebrating love this month, so grab a loved one’s hand and join us as we explore a theme that artists have used as inspiration throughout history! Build a monument for someone you love, write love-filled letters, and create a special box to keep items you love safe.
Join museum educators as they help families create artful projects related to the collection, special exhibitions, and family programs. Check out our monthly themes and visit often to participate in a different project each weekend! Every Saturday and Sunday! No registration required – drop-in, make, and take a fantastic piece of art home with you!
Eyes in the Sky: Game of Drones
SPY Family Event at the National Building Museum
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Drones have been in the news quite a bit but few people really know how they are designed, built, and operate. Join the International Spy Museum, The National Building Museum, and the DC Area Drone User Group to discover the secrets of drones. Local drone makers will demonstrate their designs and show families the inner workings of their drones as well as their special spy skills. At 1:00 PM, a spy mission challenge will take place in which drone makers will guide their drones through a series of secret spy surveillance missions to discover which is the stealthiest.
Smithsonian Black History Month Family Day
American History Museum
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Bring the whole family to the Smithsonian’s kickoff celebration of Black History Month! Visitors can take a special family tour of the exhibition Rising Up: Hale Woodruff’s Murals at Talladega College, take part in an art-making activity, listen to music inspired by the work of one of America’s greatest painters and teachers, Hale Woodruff. The day ends with a presentation of Hale Woodruff’s genealogy by Ms. Karen Bennett Harmon, the artist’s great-niece. Ms. Shauna Collier of Smithsonian Libraries will introduce the program and moderator audience questions and answers. Note: Drop-in Exhibition Tour, Rising Up: Hale Woodruff’s Murals at Talladega College throughout the day.
African American History Hike
Meet at the Peirce Mill (5200 Glover Road NW)
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Not afraid of a chill in the air? Want to combine your hike with history? Join Park Volunteer, Lisa Struckmeyer for an African American history hike through Rock Creek Park, Feb 7th; meet at Peirce Mill at 11:00 am. Dress for a 2.5 -3 mile, moderate hike and pack a lunch if you like! Lisa will cover African American history broadly, for perspective, and specifically with regard to Rock Creek Park’s only African American land owners, prior to government acquisition.
Celebrate Black History Month 2015
Josiah Henson Park
Saturdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Visit Josiah Henson Park each Saturday in February to Celebrate Black History Month. The park is located in North Bethesda, MD on the historic Isaac Riley Farm where the Reverend Josiah Henson lived and worked as a slave from 1795 to 1830.
Free Guided Tours – “A Walk in Father Henson’s Footsteps” ∙ Time Team America Documentary – “The Search For Josiah Henson”
Portrait Story Days: George Washington Carver
Portrait Gallery
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 1:00 pm & Sunday, February 8 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Young visitors and their families may drop in to listen to a story about poet, writer and art collector George Washington Carver, an American botanist and inventor, and complete a hands-on activity. The story will be read at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Explore the Past: President’s Day
DAR Museum
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE; RSVP appreciated
Are you feeling presidential? Test out what it’s like to be President of the United States while you explore two of our most famous presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Make a hat like the ones they wore, and use a quill pen to sign documents like they did. Then, look back on the childhoods of these two presidents by finding out the things they learned and games they played before they grew up to be famous. This is a free drop-in program.
Valentine’s Day Card Workshop
Postal Museum – Atrium on the level 1
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Love is in the details at the annual Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at the National Postal Museum.
Come out and create heart-felt handmade cards and visit the museum’s stamp store to send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark!
Sumi Ink Workshop: Ink Aliens and Other Unthinkable Creatures
DC Library – Southeast Branch
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 1:30 pm ∙ FREE, but register here
Come learn a new method of creating art. Based on Japanese Sumi Ink drawings, we will adapt the practice of using our breath to draw with a drinking straw instead of a bamboo reed and experiment with form and line, ultimately creating undersea creatures, aliens, and insects using nothing more than our breath and a drop or two of ink.
This program is part of a series of workshops with the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.
Crafternoon: Make-a-Valentine
DC Library – Takoma Park
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE
Make something nice for someone special in your life. In addition to crafting lovely paper valentines, we will also show you how to make and send an audio recording of a love poem for someone. Record your own poem or choose from a selection of poetry anthologies we’ll have available.
Anti-valentine content will also be available. Program at Southeast Branch on Sunday, February 8 at 2pm.
Black History Month Celebration
DC Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Branch – Children’s Room!
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE
Come celebrate Black History Month! Fun activities and books for children ages birth to 12.
Book Party: ‘Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome’
DC Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Branch
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE, but reserve your ticket here
You’ve heard him, heard his message and have no doubt been inspired. Kid President, along with his partner Brad Montague, will be around for an incredible afternoon with their new book, Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome.
Under African Skies
Rock Creek Park – Nature Center
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 4:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Sure we know about the stars and constellations in the northern hemisphere, but below the horizon each night in the southern hemisphere, there’s a different view of space. Join a ranger for a unique look at sub-Saharan Africa’s night sky and star stories in honor of Black History Month. The African American “Night Sky to Freedom” will also be discussed. Recommended for ages five to adult. NOTE: This program repeats every Sunday, through February 22.
DC Youth Slam Team Semi-Finals
Portrait Gallery – Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 4:00 pm ∙ FREE and open to the poetry-loving public
Twenty teenaged poets from the D.C. area will perform their original poetry in the Kogod Courtyard in this elimination-style performance poetry competition. The top scoring youth poets, as determined by judges from the audience, will earn a spot in the Grand Slam Finals and a chance to become members of the 2015 DC Youth Slam Team. This is not an open mic event. All performing poets qualified earlier in the year. Follow the team at @DCyouthSLAM
Revelations Workshop with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 5:30 pm ∙ FREE!
One of America’s favorite dance companies offers a special group workshop for beginners. Learn choreography from Revelations, the company’s most iconic work. Master Teacher for Arts in Education and former dancer with the Alvin Ailey company, Nasha Thomas-Schmitt teaches excerpts from the sections “I’ve Been ‘Buked,” “Wade in the Water,” and “Rocka My Soul.”
Black History Gospel Celebration
Hillcrest Heights Community Center
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Join us to celebrate Gospel music’s contributions to black history, with performances from local church choirs and dancers. Refreshments will be served.
Black Artists of DC: Opening Reception
Publick Playhouse
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 6:45 pm ∙ FREE!
Established in 1999, Black Artists of DC is comprised of artists at different stages of artistic development. Their work spans all media, subject matter, and style, with membership inclusive in age, gender and ethnicity.
The common bonds between the artists is their African descent, love of art, a commitment to people, and an intuitive understanding that there can be a profound bond among artists of African descent in the Diaspora.
Waterfowl Festival
Black Hill Regional Park – Nature Program
Sunday, February 8 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Bring the whole family for a day filled with activities, demonstrations, and exhibits to celebrate the wondrous water birds that call Little Seneca Lake home during the winter. Try your hand at carving a decoy. Make a bird bonnet to look like a hooded merganser or a bufflehead. Learn from experts about waterfowl conservation and ways you can help. Join guided birding excursions to catch a glimpse of marine ducks, swans, and maybe even the Black Hill eagles!
No registration required! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All Ages; Free
5th Annual Mid-Winter Play Day
Takoma Park Community Center
Sunday, February 8 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Come join Takoma Plays and the Takoma Park Recreation Department for an afternoon of fun indoor play at the 5th Annual Mid-Winter Play Day. This fun FREE event is for people of all ages. View the Schedule of Events, which includes Bach to Rock, Soca Motion Fitness Caribbean, Sky House Yog & More!
Festival: Expressions Of A People
Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center
Sunday, February 8 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
A free Black History celebration featuring musical performances, children’s activities, workshops, and entertainment for the entire family. Past performers at this popular event have included gospel singer Robert Pearson, The Oxon Hill High School Gospel Choir, The Yancey Brothers, Baba Jamal Koram, The Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Performance Troupe, a cappella singing group Nu Era, and many more. Children will enjoy mask-making, face painting and a caricaturist.
African American Inventors
Montpelier Arts Center
Sunday, February 8 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Patricia Sluby, author of “The Inventive Spirit of African Americans” and “The Entrepreneurial Spirit of African Americans” will discuss well known and not so well known inventions attributed to African Americans. She will also discuss the creative spirit and the “ah” moment that precipitated inventions and the perseverance required to complete the patent process. Mrs. Sluby will also sign copies of her book available for sale. Light refreshments available after the program.
Family Sundays – Furniture Fancy
Baltimore Museum of Art
Sunday, February 8 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE; No registration required!
Express your inner artist in a hands-on art-making workshop or come on the last Sunday of the month for informal chats with a gallery educator about a single work of art in the collection. February 8: Make Miniature Furniture
Family Workshops are held in the Temporary Education Classroom located on the second floor.
Imagination Stage at Anacostia Arts Center – $5 tickets when purchased by Feb 9th!
Saturday, February 14 at 10:00 am, 11:15 am, and 1:30 pm
Use coupon code “friendsnfamily” for $5 tickets when purchased by February 9th.
BRING THE KIDS - INSIDE OUT from Imagination Stage
It’s bedtime. But instead of getting ready for bed, two children use their imaginations to turn their room into a wonderland of mess. While playing dress-up, a glove becomes a dancing fish, a shirt becomes a fantastical creature, and a sock dance rocks the closet.
This adorable participatory event includes a “free play” session using some of the items from the show.
For ages 1-5 and their caregivers. (Note this is not a drop-off event.)
Tickets are $10 (Just $5 when you purchase by February 9 with code “friendsnfamily”.)
Book online at www.anacostiaartscenter.com
Thank you Congressheightsontherise.com for sharing this deal!
Join your favorite Disney characters at Verizon Center as Disney on Ice transports you to Worlds of Fantasy. This action-packed ice show brings four magical Disney stories to the rink. From Disney’s Cars, you’ll see racing hero Lightning McQueen and his tow-truck pal, Mater; from The Little Mermaid, Ariel and her under-the-sea friends; from Toy Story, space ranger Buzz Lightyear and his Wild West friends, Woody and Jessie; and from Tinker Bell, Peter Pan’s magical pixie and the Disney Fairies. From wheels to waves, Sunnyside Daycare to pixie dust, the Disney magic comes to life in this skating spectacular.
***Washington, D.C.***
Verizon Center, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Date and Time of Performance:
Wednesday, February 11th @ 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 12th @ 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. [Discount Available!]
Friday, February 13th @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 14th @ 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 15th @ 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday, February 16th @ 12:30 p.m.
TICKETPLACE.ORG Sells Discount Tickets to Theatre & the Performing Arts throughout Metro Washington DC.
Here’s a sampling of the family-friendly deals available:
Aladdin! (and his wonderful lamp)
The Puppet Co. Playhouse
From ancient Persia comes this lavish and entrancing tale, true to the original “one thousand and one Arabian nights,” full of genies, wizards, magic caves, exotic princesses, and an elephant! Half life-size rod puppets and exciting special effects make this production exciting theater.
Recommended: K-Grade 6
Running Time: 50 minutes
Imago Theatre: Frogz
Strathmore
The spellbinding Imago Theatre thrilled Strathmore audiences in 2011 with the “Felliniesque mayhem” (Variety) of its brilliant physical comedy and stunning stagecraft. The company returns with its best-known show, Frogz— a double hit on Broadway in two smash engagements at the New Victory Theatre. Enjoy “familyfriendly entertainment” that’s “lively, inventive, mysterious, thrilling, truly goofy fun” (Boston Globe)!
Petite Rouge A Cajun Red Riding Hood
Adventure Theatre MTC
Based on the classic fairy tale and adapted from the book by Mike Artell and Jim Harris, a red-hooded duckling named Petite Rouge and her sidekick cat lead the Big Bad Gator on a wild “duck” chase through New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Will they make it to Grandmere’s house with a basket full of Cajun goodies?
Recommended for Ages 4 and up
Godspell
Olney Theatre Center
Told through an exciting array of music and dance, the parables of Jesus Christ come to life in this modern take on a timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, and love. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).
Enjoy your weekend!
*****
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