What could have been a dreary snow day stuck inside the house turned out to be one of the most memorable and fun times had this winter. Yes, we joined the much publicized sled-in at the Capitol yesterday. And while we didn’t spearhead the charge (thanks for that, Tim Krepp and Lyndsey Medsker!), it was a thrill to join friends and neighbors for a stand-up-(or would that be slide down?)-for-what-we-believe-in moment, a perfect, lighthearted way to show our kids that, in some instances, it’s okay to question the rules. And as we all share stories, images, and videos of our children from local and national new sources covering the feel-good story of the week, I’m reminded why I love this city so much. (All that said, I still can’t wait for the sun and slightly warmer weather that’s coming along with these recommended activities.) Happy Weekend!
Intersections Festival
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by Performance
It’s the final weekend of the Atlas Performing Arts Center’s 6th annual festival of the arts, and there will be several performances and activities for the entire family to enjoy: Sunny and Licorice from Arts on the Horizon, a free Boogie Babes show, a performance by Pace Setters Dance, a theatre and percussive dance show from The Phenix, free cafe concerts on Saturday, and even more. Visit the Intersections website for show times, descriptions, and ticket info.
theNEWmovement
Where: THEARC
When: Sunday, 3pm (reception at 4pm)
Admission: $15
Join The Washinton Ballet for the recently launched series, theNEWmovement: rising stars of The Washington Ballet Studio Company featuring TWB’s Studio Company, an aspirant dancer group poised to become the dance stars of the future. Sunday’s one-hour program of funky, fancy and energetic choreography will feature music by Jay-Z, “musical explorer” Debruit, and scores taken from classics including Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, ALICE (in wonderland), Swan Lake, and Giselle.
An Anniversary for Abe
Where: Lincoln Memorial & Washington Monument Grounds
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address with activities that honor the 16th POTUS. See a reenactment of the event at the Lincoln Memorial during a ceremony from 9:30-11:30am. Then enjoy family activities highlighting life in Washington during the Civil War. The Washington Monument grounds will be the scene of four activity stations from 12-5pm that will explore different aspects of life in the capital city during the war.
Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Where: Old Town Alexandria
When: Saturday, 12pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Irish holiday a a bit early in Old Town Alexandria. Pre-parade festivities begin at noon, and the annual procession kicks off at 12:30pm at Alfred and King Streets, then winds through Old Town, showcasing elected officials, Irish Ambassadors, military commanders, scout troops, high school bands, and local celebrities.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Encore Stage & Studio’s production of The Three Musketeers opens this weekend (look for a deal on tickets)
* Wiley and the Hairy Man is on the Imagination Stage (look for a deal on tickets)
* Into the Woods is also at the the Bethesda theatre
* Catch a performance of Petit Rouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Adventure Theatre (look for a deal on tickets)
* Happenstance Theatre’s The Maestro is this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show
* Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp are entertaining audiences at The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park
* And Dragon Babies is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theatre
* AndyRoo and the AndyRooniverse is playing the Saturday morning show at Jammin’ Java
Are You Ready for Some Futbol?
Where: RFK Stadium
When: Saturday, 3pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The DC United kicks off the new season at home with a match against the Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon. Right now, you can get a Home Opener Bundle, which includes a tickets + an Adidas beanie for $25. And if you need to catch up on the local soccer scoop, check out the DC United website for a refresher.
Journey to Space
Where: National Air & Space Museum
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $9/adult, $7.50/youth
Go on a 3D adventure with NASA at the Air & Space Museum’s newest IMAX movie! Journey to Space 3D lets you travel with the astronauts to explore the outer limits. See how they prep for missions and live and work in space. Learn about the importance of the International Space Station. And discover what NASA and the space community are working toward now.
Recreation on Ice
Where: Local Ice Rinks
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by rink
The weather might not be a good indicator, but the ice skating season is quickly winding down. The next week is your last chance to glide at many local outdoor rinks (a couple have already closed for the season). If you want to get in some double axle practice, work on your speed skills, or just make a few leisurely rounds on the ice, see where you can do so in this post listing local rinks.
Persian New Year Celebration
Where: Freer | Sackler Gallery
When: Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Dance, play, and feast your way into the Persian New Year at the Freer and Sackler Galleries. The museums’ seventh annual Nowruz celebration features free attractions for all ages, including “fire” jumping, storytelling, face painting, calligraphy, crafts, a photo booth, games, and more.
Kids in the Kitchen
Where: YMCA National Capital
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The Junior League of Washington is hosting their annual spring event that showcases ways kids can eat smart and make healthy lifestyle choices. Enjoy a fun-filled day of games, crafts, hands-on learning, and exciting prizes – all to celebrate and promote nutritional literacy. Local chefs will present healthy cooking demos, fitness experts will lead kids in high-energy exercise sessions, and certified nutritionists will be on hand to answer questions. The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Mobile Dental Van will also provide free dental screenings for kids up to age 12.
STEM Symposium
Where: The Nysmith School
When: Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Admission: Free, registration requested
This all-day free event will include exciting exhibits, inspiring speakers, and panel experts who will highlight just how vital it is to engage parents, students, teachers, corporate/government execs and non-profit representatives alike in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education and careers. Activities for the day will include hands-on experiments for children, government and industry exhibitors, student science fair projects and panel discussions with STEM stakeholders. Attendees will also be able to find information about government and industry STEM-related high school and college internships. The Nysmith school is located at 13625 EDS Drive in Herndon, Va.
Portrait Story Days & Discoveries
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 1-4pm & Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the Portrait Gallery to listen to a story about Susan B. Anthony and complete a hands-on activity. The story is usually read at 1, 2 and 3pm on Saturday and at 2, 3 and 4pm on Sunday. When you’re done there, pick up a Portrait Discovery Kit to explore the museum. For more about the program, see this post about one of our experiences there.
The Ins & Outs of DC
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Along with special events suggested above, DC is full of mainstay attractions that are just as exceptional as the one-off happenings. Looking for ways to stay active and entertained, yet still warm? Then The Great Indoors post, a list of over 60 ideas for places to go inside, should have you covered. And if you find exploring in the cool air exhilarating, The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids, has a bunch of recommendations, too.