Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

Day Out with Thomas is at B&O Railroad Museum for it’s final weekend in town. Little Engineers and families take a 25 minute train ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy a full day of live entertainment, activities, and family fun! NEW this year and for the first time ever children will be able to meet Thomas’ animal-loving friend Nia in the form of a ten-foot inflatable—perfect for photo ops! Nia comes from Kenya and is a reliable friend who is always ready to lend a helping hand! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of Thomas’ best pals. 

Definitely a sign that summer is on the horizon as it’s the weekend of Flower Mart’s in DC!
–National Cathedral Flower Mart: May 3-4, 2019
–Flower Mart at Mount Vernon Place: May 3-4, 2019
–Landon Azalea Fest: May 3-5, 2019

Saturday

10:00am-4:00pm: Around the World Embassy Tour
Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries. In the past, visitors have been treated to karate demonstrations, dance performances, sari wrapping lessons, and henna demonstrations. See all of the fun planned activities here.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio at The Kreeger Museum
Children, ages 3-5, are invited to use their imaginations as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each First Studio includes a gallery tour, a story, and a hands-on art-making experience. Pre-registration is required. Workshop fee per child: $10
Adult companion: Free

10:00am-1:00pm: 16th Annual Truck Touch at Silver Spring Nursery School
The parking lot will be filled with vehicles of every kind that kids of all ages can explore, including; a police cruiser, rescue vehicle, school bus, fire truck and ambulance, Montgomery County Police Dept rescue van, Moyer and Sons Moving and Storage moving van, dump truck, front end loader and bucket truck from Montgomery County Construction and more! Live music, bake sale, food & drinks, arts & crafts, face painting & silent auction! 

10:30am-12:30pm: Creativity Workshop at Phillips Collection
Let your creativity fly in our art-making stations—it’s an art materials “petting zoo” for the whole family! Comes with Artful Wellness Kit for parents and caregivers. Geared for families with children ages 2 to 8. $18 for 1 adult and 1 child; $15 for 1 member and 1 child; $5 per additional person. Reservations required.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist 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. Baby Beluga is the featured story.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Raptor Festival at Meadowside Nature Center
Experience the thrill of seeing raptors – real owls, hawks, eagles and other predators –  up close and face to face! Explore the world of these beautiful birds through all kinds of games and crafts, flight demonstrations and presentations from local experts. Mascot Otus the Owl will be there to greet you, too! Don’t forget your camera! No registration required.

12:00pm-8:00pm: Kingman Island Bluegrass Folk & Festival
Nestled between the banks of the Anacostia River lies a park dedicated to preserving natural resources and educating District youth about conservation and becoming better stewards of the natural world.  Voted Best Music Festival in DC by City Paper readers in 2018, the Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival will return to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. The festival will feature delicious local cuisine from your favorite food trucks, craft beer, cocktails, local merchants, and fun for all ages through various outdoor activities, a kids’ zone, and much more. Children 10 and under are admitted FREE to this event!

Sunday

10:00am-12:00pm: International Family Equality Day at the Zoo
Celebrate the beauty and importance of family diversity at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Enjoy family-focused activities, including field games with prizes, special animal enrichment demonstrations and live entertainment.

10:00am-5:00pm: Taiwan Day at KID Museum
Join KID Museum and the Vogai Children’s Choir to explore Taiwanese culture through creative hands-on projects. The whole family will enjoy building mechanical bears, making water soakers from bamboo, tasting homemade Taiwanese fig jelly, and many other activities. KID Museum’s Taiwan Day will feature performances by visiting children of the Bunun tribe, an indigenous group from Taiwan. Join them for traditional dance, music, and song. General Admission: $12 (includes 1 child and 2 adults)
KID Museum Members: FREE

12:00pm-4:00pm: STEM Expo at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
The Navy League STEM Institute, in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, is celebrating the return of our Sea-Air-Space STEM Expo. Geared toward 5th through 12th grade students, this free event inspires and empowers students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Students and parents are invited to enjoy interactive STEM workshops, hands-on demonstrations, STEM career information, networking opportunities and more.

4:30pm-6:30pm: Mother’s Day gift making with Red Panda Art Studio at the Little House at Westmoreland Hills Park
Beth Diaz of Beth Diaz Photography will be on hand for 15-minute mini sessions of kids with their moms. Beth will send along 5 edited digital images after the photo session. Ages 2 to 10 welcome. Drop-off optional. Photo sessions will be scheduled from 4:00PM on. Limited photo spots available. Cost is $35/child for the art workshop, $45/photo session, and $75/art and photos! You can register here. If you are registering siblings for the workshop and photos, use code PHOTOS to take $5 off the second art registration. 

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