Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (3/28 - 3/30)
It's Cherry Blossom Season and yes, I did make it down to the Tidal Basin for the 1st time!!! It actually wasn't as bad of a crowd as I previously thought but blooms hadn't peaked fully yet so we'll see. We hit up a couple of spots on the National Mall including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Washington Monument Grounds, the MLK Memorial and even slid past the Wharf for dinner at Kinfolk, which was AMAZING to say the least. This coming weekend is another big hitter for the season and includes the Blossom Kite Festival at the Washington Monument, Bloomaroo at The Wharf at a special Family Day at the GWU Museum at Textile Museum featuring Japanese Fashion on Saturday (3/29). Stay tuned for my line-up of these and more kid-friendly picks for the festival. For now, here's this weekend's listing of things-to-do...
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events
Top picks in this list have the heart symbol ♥ at the end of the listing!
This Weekend through April 20, 2025
Earth to Space Festival at the Kennedy Center
For three weeks, EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky will fill the Center with musicians and astronauts, poets and researchers, visual artists and engineers, actors and environmentalists, architects and astronomers, dancers and scientists, filmmakers and space designers. There are plenty of kid-friendly events with this festival including a family concert, dance group, movie screenings and more! Tap the image above for more info!
Friday, March 28, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | The Next Giant Leap: Lunar Quilts Exhibit at the Kennedy Center
- [For Adults] 10:00 am | Spring 2025 Early Childhood Education Job Fair at THEARC Black Box in SE
- 10:30 am | Storytime for the Spectrum at Shepherd Park Library
- Packed full of sensory friendly activities!
- 12:00 pm & 7:30 pm | Sister Act at Ford’s Theatre ($) (Best for ages 12+)
- 1:00 pm | Friday Movie ~ Wicked at Southwest Library
- 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- Check out the C.S. Lewis and the Myth that Became Fact exhibit while there!
- 3:00 pm, 4:05 pm, 5:10 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:20 pm & 8:25 pm | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($) ♥
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 4:00 pm | Movie Matinee ~ Shrek at Bellevue Library in SW
- 4:00 pm | Crafternoon at Woodridge Library (Best for ages 8-14)
- 4:30 pm | Anime Manga Club at Parklands-Turner Library in SE
- 5:00 pm | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center ♥
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 6:00 pm | DPR-MPD Late Night Hype at Emery Heights Community Center. in NW
- [Opening Weekend] 7:00 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 7:30 pm | Washington Spirit vs. Bay FC at Audi Field ($)
- 7:30 pm | New York City Ballet: Coppélia at The Kennedy Center ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 11:00 am | Family Farm Tours at Old Maryland Farm ($)
- 2:00 pm | Teen Zone at Bowie Library (Best for ages 13-17)
- 4:00 pm | Family Game Night at Mount Rainier Library
Montgomery County
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | Applause Unlimited presents: The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- 12:00 pm | Fake Cake Box Decorating at Dov & Company in Potomac ($)
- 4:30 pm | Personal Finance for Teens at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
- [Opening Weekend] 7:30 pm | Sleepova at Olney Theatre Center ($) (Best for ages 13+) ♥
More Maryland Events
- 1:00 pm | Author Meet & Greet – Idris Goodwin & Lorraine Nam: “Your House is Not Just a House” at Enoch Pratt Free Library – SE Anchor Branch in Baltimore
- 2:00 pm | Planetarium at Severn Library
- 3:00 pm | Reel Talk: Wicked Sing-A-Long at Savage Branch Library in Laurel
- 5:00 pm | Mommy &. Me | Daddy & Me Paint Night at Joyful Studio in La Plata ($)
Virginia
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Beatley Friends’ Book Sale
- 6:00 pm | Campfire Safety for Families at Huntley Meadows Park
- 6:30 pm | Family Bingo Night at William Ramsay Recreation Center ($)
More Virginia Events
- 6:00 am | Cherry Blossoms at Sunrise Photography Workshop at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna ($) (Best for ages 12+)
- [For Adults] 1:00 pm | Sheriff’s Free Safety Seat Inspections at Target in Chantilly
- 7:00 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($) ♥
Saturday (3/29) In Washington, DC
- 9:00 am | 27th Annual National Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk at the National Japanese American Memorial
- 10:00 am | Open Studio: Imaginary Worlds at Hirshhorn Museum ♥
- Compare and contrast how artists Joseph Cornell and OSGEMEOS—twin Brazilian artists Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo create imaginary worlds with found objects. Use this kid-friendly guide to visiting the museum to prep for the visit!
- 10:00 am | First Studio: Art, Story & Workshop at The Kreeger Museum in NW ($) (Best for ages 3-5)
- 10:00 am | The Next Giant Leap: Lunar Quilts Exhibit at the Kennedy Center
- 10:00 am | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center ♥
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 10:00 am | Blossom Kite Festival at the Washington Monument ♥
- Rain date is Sunday! Enjoy kite demonstrations and competitions, arts & crafts, and so much more.
- 10:15 am | Crafty Tales: Maud Lewis at Merry Pin in NW
- Free drop-in craft based on a book/artist
- 10:30 am | Design Your Martian Space Suit at The Kennedy Center ♥
- 10:30 am – 9:20 pm (every hour or so) | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 10:30 am, 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- Check out the C.S. Lewis and the Myth that Became Fact exhibit while there!
- 11:00 am | New York City Ballet Family Dance Workshop at The Kennedy Center (Best for ages 10 & under)
- [Just Added] 11:00 am | Tech + Art Hackathon Series at Jelleff Recreation Center (Best for ages 3-12) ♥
- 11:00 am | Family Day: Japanese Fashion at the GWU Museum & Textile Museum ♥
- Demonstrations of traditional dance and music as well as “kirigami” crafts.
- 11:00 am | The Wild Robot Screening at Woodridge Library
- 11:00 am | The National Theatre Live! Presents: Paper Dreams at Tenley-Friendship Library in NW ♥
- This charming performance imagines two friends who live inside a wastepaper basket. Together they discover what imaginative ideas might unfold from a crumpled piece of paper. Can mistakes inspire our greatest ideas?
- [Opening Weekend] 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 12:00 pm | Sakura Taiko Fest at Sylvan Theater in SW
- 12:00 pm | Drop-in Arts & Crafts at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
- 12:00 pm | Chunky Knit Throw Blanket Making Workshop in SE ($) (Best for ages 13+)
- [Cancelled] 12:00 pm | Super Friends Saturday at Anacostia Park ♥
- Skate, sing your heart out at Love Song Karaoke, make wellness crafts, play games, grab snacks, and take home a free family portrait. Free shuttle from Anacostia Metro (parking garage side).
- 1:00 pm | The Wild Robot Screening at Cleveland Park Library in NW
- [Waitlist] 1:00 pm | Spider-Man and the Spiderverse-Cosplay with Us at MLK Memorial Library
- Dress up in your favorite costume and learn about the world of Spiderman!
- 2:00 pm | The Wild Robot Screening at Petworth Library in NW
- 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm | New York City Ballet: Coppélia at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 2:00 pm | Cheikh Ibra Fam Concert at the National Museum of African Art
- 2:00 pm | Sesame Street Live! Say Hello! at Warner Theatre ($)
- 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | Sister Act at Ford’s Theatre ($) (Best for ages 12+)
- 3:00 pm | Teen Studio: Animated Imaginations, Part 1 at Hirshhorn Museum ♥
- Inspired by the mesmerizing zoetrope by twin artists OSGEMEOS, we’ll dive into the magic of motion. Get ready to create your own character design and craft a unique story. To register, email [email protected].
- 4:00 pm | Bloomaroo at The Wharf ♥
- Live music, face paint, performances food & more! Kids can decorate a koi kite, crafts, and get a balloon animal.
- 5:30 pm | Sensory-Friendly Evening at the Garden: Orchids at U.S. Botanic Garden
- 7:30 pm | DC United vs. Columbus Crew at Audi Field ($)
- 9:00 pm | Interspecies Love Letter: Sky Paintings for EARTH to SPACE at The Kennedy Center ♥
- Extraordinary sky painting created with large-scale projections and a fireworks display over the Potomac River
Saturday (3/29) In Maryland & Northern VA
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:00 am | Fitness in the Parks Spring Kickoff at Watkins Regional Park
- 11:00 am | Community Pop-Up at Beltway Plaza Mall
- 12:00 pm | Black History in Prince George’s County, 1780’s-1960’s at Vera Cope Weinbach Park Building in New Carrolton
- 12:00 pm | It’s a Princess Party! at Indian Queen Recreation Center ($)
- 1:00 pm | Game Day: Family Feud at Upper Marlboro Library
- 3:00 pm | Ready 2 Read Storytime for Women’s History Month at Bladensburg Library (Best for ages 3-5)
- 3:30 pm | All Ages Family Show at Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar ($) ♥
- 4:30 pm | Water Lantern Festival at Spirit Park in Oxon Hill ($)
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Storytime in the Garden at Brookside Gardens ($) (Best for ages 3-7)
- 10:00 am | PIKE kids at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda ($)
- 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Mother Goose at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 1-5)
- 10:30 am | Celebrate Nowruz with Nomad Dancers at Potomac Library
- 10:30 am | Parachute Party Family Storytime at Aspen Hill Library
- 12:30 pm | Clay Pendants Painting Workshop at Dov & Company in Potomac ($)
- 3:00 pm | Strings in the Wild at Westfield Wheaton
- Mini concert at the Mall
- 3:00 pm | Celebrate Earth Day with a Movie: DisneyNature’s “Earth” at Wheaton Library
More Maryland Events
- 11:00 am | HBCU Day at the Reginald Lewis Museum in Baltimore ♥
- Includes College admissions counselors conducting on site admissions (bring your transcript!), panel discussions on HBCU activism, Greek Step Show performances & educational sessions!
- 1:00 pm | Happy Birthday, Barbie! at Severna Park Library
- Celebrate Barbie’s Birthday with fun, crafts, and top it off with the Barbie Movie!
- 2:00 pm | Easter Bunny Visit at sweetFrog Laurel
- 2:00 pm | Author Visit with Elizabeth Lilly at Waldorf West Branch Library
- She is the author and illustrator of “Geraldine” and “Let Me Fix You a Plate,” and the illustrator of Joshua David Stein’s “The Catalogue of Hugs” and Jonathan Stutzman’s “Soon, Your Hands.”
- 7:00 pm | HoCo HaHa’s Circus/Magic Variety Show at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia ($) (Best for ages 7+)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 9:00 am | Tossed & Found Rummage Sale in Crystal City
- 10:00 am | 2025 Arlington Teen Summer Job Fair at Thomas Jefferson Community & Fitness Center
- 11:00 am | Talkin’ Bout Turtles at Potomac Overlook Regional Park ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- Turtle race!
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($)
- 6:30 pm | Walking Animals Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- 7:00 pm | Teen Takeover: March Madness at Walter Reed Community Center
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Beatley Friends’ Book Sale
- [For Adults] 10:30 am | Parenting Professional Development Series ~ Time Management Triage at Burke Branch Library
- 11:00 am | Family Friendly Wood + Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop ($)
- 11:30 am & 2:00 pm | Bird Flu – Beaks, Snouts, Mouths & You! at Burke Branch Library ♥
- The 11:30 am session is geared towards kids & the 2:00 pm session is geared towards adults!
- 1:00 pm | Nailed It! Cupcake Decorating Class at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 4-9)
More Virginia Events
- 8:00 am | Kids Trout Fishing Derby at Sugarland Run Trail in Herndon ($) (Best for ages 2-15)
- 9:00 am | Anniversary Sale at The Toy Nest in Falls Church
- 9:00 am | Bluebell Booth at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville
- Includes a a kid-friendly flower identification activity to complete along your hike!
- 10:00 am | Primitive Basics at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($) (Best for ages 6+)
- Learn ancient techniques of starting a fire, working on a dug out canoe and using a bow and arrow.
- 10:30 am | Unhuggable Animals at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- Learn the ecological importance of some of our park’s native animals in hopes of instilling a new appreciation and wonder about these misunderstood misfits.
- 10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($) ♥
- 11:00 am | Family Fishing at Lake Fairfax Park ($)
- 1:00 pm | Maker Lab at Herndon 2nd Anniversary
- Celebrate the second anniversary of the Maker Lab at Herndon Library and explore the variety of tools and technology available to use. There will be hands-on STEAM activities, make & take crafts, button making, knitting, origami crafts, and other exciting maker activities!
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center ♥
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 10:00 am | The Next Giant Leap: Lunar Quilts Exhibit at the Kennedy Center
- 10:30 am | Design Your Martian Space Suit at The Kennedy Center ♥
- 10:30 am – 8:15 pm (every hour or so) | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 11:00 am | Discovering Earth from the Stars: Aneeshwar at NASA at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Join Aneeshwar Kunchala, the Kennedy Center’s Youth Ambassador for the Arts and Environment, for the world premiere of his new documentary produced by the Kennedy Center. After the film screening, enjoy a conversation with Kunchala and special guests!
- 1:00 pm | National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: Earth to Space at The Kennedy Center ($) ♥
- 1:30 pm | New York City Ballet: Coppélia at The Kennedy Center ($)
- [Opening Weekend] 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 2:30 pm | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- Check out the C.S. Lewis and the Myth that Became Fact exhibit while there!
- 3:00 pm | DC Defenders vs. Birmingham Stallions at Audi Field ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 12:00 pm | Sakura Sunday at National Harbor ♥
- 4:30 pm | Water Lantern Festival at Spirit Park in Oxon Hill ($)
Montgomery County
- 9:30 am | Storytime: Karen Leggett Abouraya for Zamzam at People’s Book Takoma
- 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Mother Goose at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 1-5)
- 11:00 am & 2:30 pm | Intro to Coding Sunday Workshop at KID Museum in Bethesda ($) (Best for grades 2nd – 8th)
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | Applause Unlimited presents: The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- [Opening Weekend] 1:30 pm | Sleepova at Olney Theatre Center ($) (Best for ages 13+) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Story Hour featuring “Sleepova” at Olney Library ♥
- To celebrate the production of Sleepova, the Olney Theatre Center is sponsoring an afternoon of stories at the library, hosted by guest storyteller Kike Ayodeji.
- 2:50 pm | African American Authors Book Discussion: “Flipping Boxcars” by Cedric Kyles at Germantown Library (Best for teens)
- 3:00 pm | Leah Cypess for “The Truth About the Tooth Fairy” at People’s Book Takoma
- A charming new chapter book series about a young Orthodox Jewish girl out to discover the truth about all the magical mysteries in her world, perfect for fans of Marya Khan and Zoey and Sassafras.
- 4:00 pm | Local Author Talk – “Magda, Standing” – Historical Fiction at Chevy Chase Library
- A teen girl in an immigrant German family in 1910s Pittsburgh, determined to complete her education and escape the confines of home and tradition, finds that nursing with the Red Cross in WWI and during a pandemic transforms her sense of self and of community.
Virginia
Arlington County
- 9:00 am | Tossed & Found Rummage Sale in Crystal City
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move: Celebrating Spring Family Fun Series at Metropolitan Park ♥
- Modeling Clay Creatures with live music!
- 1:00 pm | Park Volunteering at Long Branch Nature Center (Best for ages 12-17)
City of Alexandria
- 1:00 pm | Beatley Friends’ Book Sale
- 1/2 price sale!
- 1:00 pm | Nailed It! Cupcake Decorating Class at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 9-12)
More Virginia Events
- 11:00 am | Spring Discovery Hike at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($)
- 11:00 am | Blossom Bash at Tysons Corner Center ♥
- Enjoy performances from the Washington Wizards Dance Team and Washington Commanders Command Force, live chalk art featuring 20 local artists, food and beverages specials and tastings, live music, face painting, giveaways, festival parade entertainment and more!
- 12:00 pm | Kiddo Rave at Shipgarten in McLean
- 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Puzzle-Palooza at Herndon Community Center ($)
Monday, March 31, 2025
$10 Community Day at Port Discovery Children's Museum
Visit Port Discovery in Baltimore, MD for just $10 per person and enjoy 3 floors of fun, plus special performances and activities! As you see above, we LOVE Port Discovery. There are endless things to do during a full day of fun. Definitely best for younger kids under 10 but there are a few pockets for older kids as well. Tap the heading above to purchase tickets.
Design a Safe Community Workshop at the B&O Railroad Museum
In this workshop, students will use craft paper to design a community using 2D and 3D objects with safety in mind. Students will need to include fire stations, hospitals, schools, and all the safe road and railroad signs they think their community needs. Happening at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD at 11:00 am. This activity is included with museum admission, which is $12 - $20/person. Tap the heading above for more info!
This Week's Book Recommendation
