A Peruvian dance performance at last year’s Around the World Embassy Tour
Between the beautiful weather and many fantastic events and activities going on, you’re practically guaranteed a super weekend. And along with this list, be sure to check the Everyday Page for even more ways to have fun around DC with the kids. Happy Weekend!
Around the World Embassy Tour
Where: More than 40 Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
You might get to hear live Australian didgeridoo music, sample Nicaraguan rum, see a Peruvian dance show, and enjoy the rich tradition of Nepalese storytelling – all in one day! On Saturday, 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 will showcase art, music, traditional dress, 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. The tour runs from 10am – 4pm. 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 about the event, read about our experience there last year.
Flower Mart
Where: National Cathedral
When: Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The annual spring festival, in its 75th year at the National Cathedral, will take place today and tomorrow. While plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, and boutique booths will likely be of more interest to grown-ups, there will also be music and entertainment, games and rides, tasty foods, 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.
Space Day
Where: National Air & Space Museum
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Space Day is a favorite at the National Air and Space Museum where visitors enjoy STEM-inspired hands-on activities, meet astronauts, and learn about space from experts from the Museum and NASA. All of the activities take place amid the awe-inspiring collection of historic aviation and space artifacts in the Museum on the Mall.
Glen Echo Family Day
Where: Glen Echo Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the seasonal opening of the park’s beautiful Dentzel Carousel. Along with rides on the merry-go-round ($1.25/ride), guests of all ages can enjoy a slew of activities. Magic shows, dance performances, arts & crafts, face painting, photo exhibits, and balloon animals are just some of the usual favorites. The full schedule of events is available of the Glen Echo website.
Cheverly Truck Touch
Where: Cheverly Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5 (under 18 months are free)
Over 20 vehicles (including a helicopter!) 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, moon bounce, concessions, balloons, and more will also be available. The event will be held in the Cheverly United Methodist Church parking lot (2801 Cheverly Avenue, Cheverly MD 20785). All proceeds benefit the nursery school. Read an early KFDC post about our take on these events here.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Catch a performance of The Jungle Book at Adventure Theatre
* Cinderella: The Remix is playing on the Imagination Stage
* Enjoy theatre on strings at The Puppet Co., where Pinocchio is on the main stage and Clowning Around and Old McDonald’s Farm are the featured Tiny Tots show.
* See Once on this Island during its final weekend at Olney Theatre
* Join a Latin Family Fiesta Workshop and Concert by Dali Quartet at BlackRock Center for the Arts
* NSO Kinderclassics: Bears, Bear, Everywhere! will be performed at the Kennedy Center
* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is at Ford’s Theatre through May 17.
* Rocknoceros is playing the Saturday morning show at Jammin’ Java.
Opera in the Outfield
Where: Nationals Park
When: Saturday, 5pm
Admission: Free
How about opera where there’s usually baseball? The Washington National Opera presents Opera in the Outfield for the 6th year with a simulcast performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flut on Saturday evening. The show starts at 7pm, but gates open at 5pm for “pregame” activities for the entire family, including Taiko drumming demos, a costume dress-up station, photo ops with the Babe Ruth statue, face painting, chances to win prizes, and more. Get there early for a seat on the field, otherwise there will be plenty of seating in the stands.
Kinetic Sculpture Race
Where: American Visionary Art Museum
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: Free
You might see giant pink poodles and other outrageous works of art “race” down Charm City streets at the American Visionary Art Museum’s 16th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. 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 piloted by many. This is one of those things you really have to see for yourself.
Waterfront Fiesta
Where: Pierce’s Park in Baltimore
When: Saturday, 1:30-6:30pm
Admission: Free live entertainment, cost for drinks
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Baltimore’s Waterfront with live music, festive food, and kid-friendly attractions at Pierce’s Park. Even more, catch the Kinetic Sculpture Race as the amazing, outrageous works of arts past the park as they head toward the finish line. Adults can purchase a $20 unlimited drink wristband, and a Kids Fiesta Package that includes a boxed lunch, sombrero, and maracas is $10.
DC MEETMarket
Where: Logan Circle
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The monthly outdoor community market held on the first Saturday of every month is back with something all ages can enjoy. Along with over 40 local vendors selling their goods, there willfun, colorful crafts for kids and a live mariachi band. And as always, the market is free, open to the public, and always family and pet-friendly.
Kiddie Academy Grand Opening
Where: Kiddie Academy of DC-West End
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Kiddie Academy of DC-West End recently opened its doors for year-round and summer programs, and they are celebrating the launch of the new location with a Grand Opening event this weekend! Families are invited to check out the new facility, learn about their programs, and enjoy a variety of activities for all ages. Expect arts and crafts, dance demonstrations, face painting, balloon sculptures, a clown, raffles, and more!
Literary Hill BookFest
Where: Eastern Market North Hall
When: Sunday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Head to the Literary Hill BookFest at Eastern Market (225 7th Street, SE) for a great afternoon of discussions, readings, and signings with Capitol Hill’s best writers of memoirs and fiction, politics and poetry, history and sports, food and fantasy, and books for kids!
ABC’s of Family Biking
Where: Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan (215 G Street NE)
When: Sunday 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Want to get the family two wheelin’ together? Kidical Mass DC, WABA and DDOT Safe Routes to School is bringing back the “ABC’s of Family Biking” to help interested families learn more about the tools and resources available to help them bike together and offer fun activities for all ages. There will be a sShow & Tell for parents about biking with kids, a display of bikes and equipment used to transport kids, a “swap or sell” for secondhand family biking gear, balance bike races for young riders, a cargo bikes obstacle course, and free bike repair clinics from The Bike House.
Spring Fling
Where: Hill Preschool/Ebenezer Park
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: $5/children 2 and up
The Hill Preschool on Capitol Hill is holding its annual Spring Fling. Festivities will include bounce houses, face painting, live music, toddler tattoos, and more. The event will be held in Ebenezer Park next to Ebenezer Church at 400 D Street SE.
Scouting for Bricks
Where: Heritage High School
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: $5, ages 2 and under are free
LEGO entusiasts will love the Second Annual Scouting for Bricks event at Heritage High School in Leesburg where amazing LEGO creations will be on display. And if you loved the LEGO Movie, you will love to see in person the creations of Fans of LEGO including LEGO trains, Mindstorms robots, and the Great Ball Contraption. Over 2,500 people visited Scouting for Bricks last year, and this year will be even better as they’ve added more exhibitors and more vendors of specialized LEGO products.
Spring Family Day Open House
Where: Artisphere
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
In what has become an annual tradition in celebration of spring, Artisphere will host a day of free fun and interactive art for the entire family on Sunday! Spring Family Day offers families the opportunity to participate in activities throughout the entire 62,000 square foot cultural center. A variety of arts, crafts and games will be accompanied by live entertainment, including two performances of Happenstance Theatre’s Pinot & Augustine, two musical sets by The Grandsons Jr., splotch monster making with artist Steve Loya, and more. All three Artisphere art galleries – the Terrace, the Works In Progress Gallery and the Mezzanine Gallery – will also be open to the public.
Model Rocket Launch
Where: Goddard Space Flight Center
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 on the website). The program takes place the first Sunday of every month at 1pm. Read about a firsthand experience here.
Garage Sale
Where: DCJCC
When: Sunday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Looking for a great deal on baby/toddler/preschool items such as strollers, scooters, toys, books and gently used clothes? Stop by the DCJCC Preschool Garage Sale. All proceeds support the preschool, and all unsold items will be donated to A Wider Circle. The DCJCC is located at 16th & Q Streets NW.
3-2-1 Blastoff!
Where: Barstons Child’s Play in DC
When: Sunday
Admission: Free
Join the popular toy store for a Build-and-Launch Rocket Workshop at their Washington, DC, location. Children will learn about the science behind rocketry, and build and test their own straw rockets. Workshops will take place 1-2pm for grades K-2, and 2:30-3:30pm for grades 3-5. Call 202-244-3602 or stop in to the DC location at 5536 Connecticut Ave. NW to sign up.