DC Thrifty Mom’s
FREE & Cheap THINGS TO DO
This Weekend
Black History Month Events, Lunar New Year Celebrations, & MORE!
in Washington DC Metro Area:
February 28 & March 1, 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.***
8th Annual ROOTING DC
Wilson High School
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 9:00 am ∙ FREE – A donation of $10 is suggested
Rooting DC is a FREE, all-day gardening forum that aims to provide education about urban food production and consumption, to cultivate health and preserve the environment. The program includes dozens of interactive workshops, cooking and food preservation demonstrations, and panel discussions focusing on youth gardening, nutrition, sustainable growing techniques, and healthy food access. The event also hosts 60+ green businesses and nonprofits from throughout the region at an information fair. Check out the full workshop lineup.
Saturday Morning at the National – Rainbow Puppets: The Really BIG Dinosaur Show
The National Theatre
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE, Tickets Required: first come-first seated.
Imagine that dinosaur fossils could talk… what amazing stories they could tell! Rainbow Puppets takes kids on a musical romp through prehistoric times featuring a dinosaur beauty pageant, a dancing T-Rex, and a long-necked dinosaur who measures 16 feet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail!
Tickets distributed 30 minutes before each show. One ticket per person in line. The performances are best appreciated by children four years and older.
Discover Engineering Family Day
National Building Museum
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE! ($5 donation suggested)
Become an engineer for a day!
Every February, the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn ideas into reality. Celebrate Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. Explore thermodynamics, electricity, aerodynamics, and more with engineers at more than 25 activity tables and demonstrations made especially for kids.
Discover Engineering Family Day is a FREE, drop-in program. Program and activities are most appropriate for children ages 6 to 12 with adult supervision. Registration is not required.
It’s Miller Time
Rock Creek Park – Peirce Mill
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
Imagine millstones grinding away. Be sure to uncover the reasons why conditions are not suitable to run the mill in the dead of winter. Peirce Mill and Peirce Barn will be open for special events this winter. Tour the mill and learn how the mill operated. and what millers would do during the winter months.
African American Pioneers in Aviation Family Day
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE but $15 parking
Each February, the Museum celebrates the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space exploration despite the overwhelming obstacles they had to overcome. Visitors enjoy presentations, hands-on activities, and stories, and may have the opportunity to meet astronauts, fighter pilots, and others who will share stories of their challenges and accomplishments. They also learn about inspiring historic figures like Bessie Coleman through reenactments or story times.
2015 LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre at Rockville Civic Center Park
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
The City of Rockville will celebrate Lunar New Year on Feb. 28. This free event features multi-generational performances, colorful and traditional displays, activities and samples of Asian cuisine.
musiKids – Weekend Family Matinee
Avalon Theatre
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $8.00 / $6.50 for Avalon members (Children under 2 are free)
Come join musiKids in a brand new Adventure Day – “Down on the Bayou”! This interactive musical show will have children singing and moving to songs inspired by the colorful creatures from the bayous of Louisiana. Learn how to snap like an alligator or jump like a rabbit! musiKids Adventure Days encourage kids to sing and move along with each and every song. Recommended for children ages 18 months to 6 years old.
Drop-in Art Activities: Treasure Boxes
The Walters Art Museum
Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1 ∙ 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!
Peace, Love, & Party – Family Day at Fairlington
Fairlington Community Center & Park
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
Celebrate togetherness creating memories as you enjoy dancing, craft stations, making a heart-healthy snack, wellness games, face painting, free blood pressure screenings by Virginia Hospital Center, and all things love!
All Arlington Friends & Families Welcome! This event is a drop in program. Registration is not required. Youth ages 10 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Most activities are geared towards families with children.
KID Museum
Davis Library – Bethesda
Saturday,February 28 & Sunday, March 1 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $8 per person – free with museum membership
THIS WEEKEND AT KID:
Chinese New Year Celebration – Saturday, February 28 Includes: Lucky Red Envelopes & Dragon Puppets (12–4pm), Chinese Folk Dance (2pm), and Kung Fu! Martial Arts Demonstration (2:30 pm)
Lids for KIDs: Hip-Hop Caps -REGISTER
Saturday, February 28. 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm. Ages 8 & up. $5 members. $14 non-members ($6 plus $8 admission).
Hip-hop is both a style of music and a cultural expression that includes dance, visual arts and fashion. Learn about hip-hop, listen to some music, and create your own hip-hop cap using stencils, fabric dye, and bling. Get funky with it!
Zither Me Timbers: Make a Table Zither – REGISTER
Saturday, February 28. 11:00 am ∙ Sunday, March 1. 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm Ages 8 & up. Free with admission.
A zither is a stringed instrument that lays flat and is played with the fingers. Zithers can be any size, but we are going to build a massive “table zither,” big enough to cover a KID Museum work table. Learn how stringed instruments function and then get to work hammering wood, stretching strings, and finally… making music.
Saturday Song Circle – The Wheels on the Bus
Imagination Stage
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 10:30 am ∙ $6*
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years.
Though these workshops are recommended up to age 3, we know your 4 & 5 year-old children will enjoy them, too!
*All patrons entering the theatre must have a ticket. Lap tickets are available for $5 and should be purchased for children 12 months and younger who do not take a seat.
Black History Month Storytime & Activities
Barnes & Noble – select locations
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE Storytime and Activities
In celebration of Black History Month, Barnes & Noble is offering a special Storytime featuring two notable figures with the titles I am Rosa Parks and I am Jackie Robinson.
Pushcart Players: Alice in Wonderland
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 11:00 am & 2:00 pm ∙ $5-$15
Lewis Carroll’s zany and fantastical tale comes to life when this Emmy-nominated troupe returns to the Hylton Center with Alice in Wonderland. Filled with pure nonsense and madcap characters that everyone knows and loves – from the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter to the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts – this intriguing tale about a curious and imaginative young girl has enchanted readers for many generations. Pushcart Players now brings young Alice’s adventure to the stage in this delightful adaptation, complemented by whimsical music, vibrant costumes, and spectacular scenic elements. “A polished and knowing theater company and a felicitous event for children.” (The New York Times)
Aladdin! (and his wonderful lamp)
The Puppet Co. Playhouse
Thru Sunday, March 15 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $10 [Discount]
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.
Running Time: 50 minutes ∙ Recommended: K- Grade 6
Petite Rouge A Cajun Red Riding Hood
Adventure Theatre MTC
Thru Sunday, March 8 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $19 [Discount]
Take a toe-tapping trip to the bayou in this family-friendly, Zydeco-driven musical soaked in N’awlins hot sauce! 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?
Adapted from the book by Mike Artell
Book, music & lyrics by Joan Cushing
Directed and Choreographed by Michael J. Bobbitt
Assistant Director Danny Tippett
Featuring Kurt Boehm
Recommended for Ages 4 and up
National Invasive Species Awareness Day
Natural History Museum
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
What is an invasive species? How do invasive species get around? What is their impact? Discover this and more during National Invasive Species Awareness Day at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Come meet experts who research different types of invasive species and participate in our interactive experiences. Great for all ages!
Gadgets & Gears Day
Maryland Science Center
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE with paid museum admission
Calling all engineers, builders, and inventors! Celebrate National Engineers Week at the Maryland Science Center with robots, drones, remote controlled cars, 3D printing, nanotechnology, and more. Gadgets & Gears Day will be full of challenges and discovery related to the design process, the role of the engineer, and the future of different technologies in the field.
Verizon Black History Month Open House 2015
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Celebrate Black History Month with an open house at the museum. Join friends, neighbors, community innovators and business leaders for a day full of interactive tours, activities and entertainment. Sponsored by Verizon. Free!
Celebrate Black History Month 2015
Josiah Henson Park
Saturday, February 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”
Spoken Word Poetry Event at 3 pm – The month-long festivities conclude with an annual spoken word poetry event, “Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom.” Participants of all ages and races are welcome to create and share their own “sounds of freedom” in the form of original poetry, song or other artistic expressions. A reception with light refreshments immediately follows.
Black History Month Family Program: Meet Benjamin Banneker!
Montpelier Mansion
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ $4-$5
Explore Black History with this family program. Meet Benjamin Banneker, as played by Bob Smith, who will visit and tell us about his work as an astronomer, mathematician, almanac writer and farmer. Participants will create related crafts and other activities.
Portrait Story Days: Harriet Tubman
Portrait Gallery – First floor, Education Center, room E151
Saturday, February 14 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Young visitors and their families may drop in to listen to a story about Harriet Tubman and complete a hands-on activity. The story will be read at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Children’s Theatre: ”All Tangled Up”
Workhouse Arts Center
Saturdays, February 28 & March 7, 14, 21 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ $9-$13
Rapunzel has let herself down from her tower without waiting for Prince Charming! She has changed her own fairy tale! As soon as she arrives at the cottage of a good and powerful wizard named Magical, she learns that the Fairy Tale Community is going to be upset for changing the story! Can Magical and his famous talking cat, Whiskers, set things right before it is too late? Join us to find out! Running time 75 minutes with one intermission, appropriate for all ages.
Feel the Heritage Festival
Charles Drew Community Center
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Celebrate Black History Month at Arlington’s 23rd annual Feel the Heritage Festival on Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 1-6 p.m. at Drew Community Center. This FREE event will feature a variety of activities, including live music and dance, a “Hall of History” with photos and artifacts from Arlington’s historically African-American churches and organizations, free children’s activities, delicious soul food and a great selection of vendors.
The African American Experience at Peirce Mill
Rock Creek Park – Peirce Barn
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 1:30 pm ∙ FREE!
The family that owned Peirce Mill and the surrounding farmland had the second highest number of enslaved people held by one family in Washington DC at the time of the Civil War. Ironically, the Peirces descended from Quakers, a faith whose adherents were some of the strongest anti-slavery activists. Steve Dryden, author of “Peirce Mill: Two Hundred Years in the Nation’s Capital,” will discuss the slaveholding legacy at the mill and what is known about the people who were freed when the District became the first jurisdiction below the Mason-Dixon Line to end slavery
Wiley and the Hairy Man
Imagination Stage
Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1 ∙ 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm ∙ $10+* [Discount]
Written by Suzan Zeder; Music by Harry Pickens; Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
This traditional tall tale tells of Wiley who lives in fear of the Hairy Man who lurks in the swamp. When Wiley’s Momma attempts to prepare him to confront the wicked trickster, he pays little mind. As Wiley ventures into the swamp, he is forced to think on his feet in order to outwit his opponent. Will Wiley succeed in banishing the big bully from the territory. Best for Ages 6-12.
*All patrons entering the theatre must have a ticket. Lap tickets are available for $5 and should be purchased for children 12 months and younger who do not take a seat.
FREED Historical Reenactment
DC Library – Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Branch
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
In honor of Black History Month and the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, you are invited to travel back in time and experience the lives of the Female RE-Enactors of Distinction (FREED), a historical group portraying freed women and men of the Civil War era who contributed to our history.
This distinguished group will transport you with their mission to celebrate the accomplishments of the African American Civil War soldiers and the women who supported their fight freedom.
Please RSVP to attend on Eventbrite. Light refreshments will be served.
Build-it Studio
DC Library – Southwest Branch
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Children ages 6-12 are invited to join us in creative, hands-on fun building structures using everyday materials.
(Children under 9 years old must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.)
NOTE: STEAM Saturdays at Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library, 2:30 pm & STEAM Team at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library – Central Library, Sunday at 2:00 pm.
Ukulele Joy: A Strum-Along Jam Session with The Sweater Set and Louisa Hall
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Bring your ukulele (an instrument that came to the Hawaiian Islands from the Iberian Peninsula, derived from the Portuguese braguinha string guitar) for a strum-along from 5 to 6 pm, followed by a performance with D.C. uke stars The Sweater Set and Louisa Hall. The show closes with a full audience strum- and sing-along! Strum-along participants should know chords C, F, G, and A minor.
The Light from Inside
Imagination Stage
Saturday, February 28 ∙ 7:30 pm & Sunday, March 1 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ $10*
Raven is a trickster and Eagle is a hero, but who will succeed in getting the Light from the house of the Sky Chief and bringing it to the People of Darkness? Based on a traditional tale from the Pacific Northwest, The Light from Inside shows how each one of us can find the power of the Light within.
*All patrons entering the theatre must have a ticket. Lap tickets are available for $5 and should be purchased for children 12 months and younger who do not take a seat.
Bob Brown Puppets
Tiny Tots – Baby Bear’s Birthday
The Puppet Co. Playhouse
Sunday, March 1 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $5
You are invited to a BIG birthday bash! Please join Baby Bear as all of his special Teddy Bear friends perform their very best circus tricks as a great, big birthday surprise. Reminder: Everyone needs a ticket, including infants.
Running Time: 30 minutes ∙ Recommended: 0-4 ∙ Another performance on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Sunday Fun Day – Where the Wild Things Are
Imagination Stage
Sunday, March 1 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $10*
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3.
Though these workshops are recommended up to age 3, we know your 4 & 5 year-old children will enjoy them, too!
*All patrons entering the theatre must have a ticket. Lap tickets are available for $5 and should be purchased for children 12 months and younger who do not take a seat.
Wagon Ride
Oxon Hill Farm
Sunday, March 1 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Take a scenic wagon ride through the park and learn about the environment and the park’s history. This program is offered to organized groups, such as schools, camps, and home school organizations. It is also available to drop-in visitors. Groups of five or more participants must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance (except for weekends, when no reservations are required. Wagon ride is dependent on weather conditions. Visitors must be at the tractor and wagon by 11:00 am to participate. Afterwards, stay for the Sunday Shoreline Sweep-up (1:00 PM to 3:30 PM) - Every first Sunday of the month, join Ranger Steph and your fellow park-lovers as we clean up the trash that finds its way onto the banks of Oxon Cove. Spend your afternoon in the fresh air, getting some exercise and making a visible difference. Earn service hours needed for your organization. Wear old clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. We will provide work gloves. Come alone or bring a group. Meet in the parking lot. This event is canceled if weather is inclement.
Free Community Day
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Sunday, March 1 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Visit us on Community Day for FREE admission to the museum—take this opportunity to explore our collection and current exhibitions.
DAY OUT WITH THOMAS 2015: THE CELEBRATION TOUR {GIVEAWAY}
B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore
April 24 – 26 & May 1 – 3, 2015
Little engineers everywhere are invited to join Thomas the Tank Engine™ when the #1 Engine pulls in the B&O Railroad Museum for Day Out with Thomas™: The Celebration Tour 2015, presented by HIT Entertainment and sponsored by MEGA Brands.
This year, Thomas & Friends celebrates 70 years of friendship. All aboard the Best Friends Express for an unprecedented year of Thomas-themed programs.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enjoy your weekend!
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Nicole
DC Thrifty Mom
P.O. Box 55074
Washington D.C. 20040
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