Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

These are the weekend picks posts we live for! They are full and you will find fun for everyone. If you’d like to join the movement #womenrising2020 here is all of the information on the Women’s March happening this Saturday as well as a few gatherings leading up to the March.

DC Public Library has several events honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

As always, check out the theatre and musical options for some indoor fun!

Friday

5:30pm-8:00pm: Badlands Nerf Night: Fornite
Are you ready for a Battle Royale? Grab your squad and drop in to Badlands this Friday for Fortnite Nerf Night. Help your team collect loot and floss like a boss at the mid-game dance off.

6:30pm-9:00pm: Friday Night Rox at Earth Treks
Kids get a fun night of climbing adventure (2.5 hours!) and parents enjoy a night out on the town- what could be more perfect! Activities include vertical games, age appropriate basic skills instruction, and tons of climbing, all under the supervision of our qualified instructors. No experience is necessary- ages 6-12.

Saturday

9:30am AND 10:30am: Harambe at Bloombars
Ten years and more than 1,600 shows later, Harambe @BloomBars has become a Washington DC institution and a cultural/moral compass for thousands of parents and youth. In Swahili, Harambe means “All pull together.” At BloomBars, Harambe is the practice of hope, possibility and compassion – basically, all the things that happen when we all come together. Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community. With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years Parental consent required. $10 per child $7 per adult suggested donation (sliding scale..invest more if you can!)

10:00am-12:00pm: Free the Trees on the Capital Crescent Trail
Bring gloves or clippers or use theirs and help free the trees along the trail. Dress to protect from angry vines and thorns. Kids under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult supervisor.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio at Kreeger Museum
Children, ages 3-5, are invited to use their imaginations as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. 

10:15am–12:00pm or 1:30pm–3:15pm: National Gallery of Art Family Workshop
Workshops provide the opportunity to explore artists’ thinking and studio practices. Taught by museum educators, each workshop includes a conversation in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio art session. Family Workshops are designed for children (ages 8–11) and adults to participate in together. See the complete listing below for topic, dates, and times. Workshops are free but preregistration is required.

10:30am and 11:30am: Art Investigators
How do you investigate a work of art? This program helps children make careful observations, analyze artists’ choices, ask questions, and use their imagination while exploring works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes. These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance registration and space is limited, so please plan accordingly. For ages 4-7.

11:00am AND 1:30pm: NSO Music for Young Audiences: Beauty and the Beat
Explore the thrilling language of instruments. Featuring musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra. See NSO principal second violinist Marissa Regni and NSO principal percussionist Eric Shin in an exciting new program exploring the magic created when the violin and percussion join together. Eric may have a vast array of percussion instruments, but Marissa shows how versatile the violin can be. This melodic and rhythmic ride for families proves that no matter how different the instruments are, they can come together to make some beautiful music. Most enjoyed by age 3 and up. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Come early for a Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” Starting one hour before the 11am and 1:30pm performances hands-on activities let children get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on the stage.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Portrait Story Days: MLK, Jr.
Drop by on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to hear a story and create art inspired by someone in the Portrait Gallery’s collection.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Fire & Ice Festival
Some like it hot, some like it cold. Join us at The Wharf for the third annual Fire & Ice Festival presented by Proper No. 12 and featuring the WAFF Ice House. Come sample whiskeys from Catoctin Creek, Elijah Craig, St. George, Miscellaneous, Larceny, Filibuster, Proper No. 12 and Pendleton or grab a ginger whiskey hot toddy at the Johnnie Walker tent.  Play ice shuffleboard or ice corn hole, sit in the official Capitals ice throne and don’t miss the fire dancers and DJ on the main stage. Plus they will be showing the Capitals game on the jumbotron at the Capitals Campfire, where you can roast s’mores over a roaring fire.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Rock the Rink
It’s ALL CAPS at The Wharf this winter. Through February, make Caps s’mores at the Capitals Campfire at The Wharf and check out the Washington Capitals décor and ice resurfacer at The Wharf Ice Rink. On Rock The Rink days, join fellow hockey fans at The Wharf to show your Caps pride. From 1-4pm, skate at the Wharf Ice Rink with a DJ, Caps trivia and gear giveaways, a visit from Slapshot, and special Caps-themed drinks from Cantina Bambina. At 1pm, they’ll broadcast the Capitals’ away game against the NY Islanders on a jumbotron at the Capitals Campfire. Throughout the day, fans wearing Capitals gear receive $5 off admission to the Wharf Ice Rink.

1:00pm-2:30pm AND 3:00pm-4:30pm: MLK Painting for Peace Freestyle Sessions
Join on Saturday or Sunday for a family-friendly Painting for Peace Weekend. In honor of MLK Day ArtJamz is donating $5.00 per canvas order to local charity DC Central Kitchen. During Painting for Peace Weekend they encourage the creation of original art under the guidance of local artists and with inspiration from their jamming social art studio and lounge. There will be plenty of images and quotes inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. to help you create a unique masterpiece.

Sunday

10:00am-11:30am: Spots and Stripes Preschool Class at the National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children
ages 2-3 to discover a whole new view of the National Zoo. “Adult-and-me”
format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and
crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo Walks to engage your child’s sense of
wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. Pre-registration is required. Please note that classes do not include any behind-the-scenes access or animal contact.

10:00am-12:00pm: Picture Perfect Pets Workshop at Red Panda Art Studio
Which pet would you get? Celebrate pets you already have— and discover ones you may want! Email ahead a photo of your pet or favorite stuffed animal! Children will draw, paint, and sculpt during this two-hour workshop!

10:00am-11:00am: EYE TO EYE: STORYTIME in ASL
EYE TO EYE: STORYTIME in ASL is for the Deaf Community, and explores contemporary art through stories and movement.  Each week STORYTIME features a fresh and fun theme. Bring your littlest art lover for an introduction to an artist on view, interactive read aloud, and a hands-on activity.

11:15am–1:00pm or 2:30pm–4:15pm: National Gallery of Art Family Workshop
Workshops provide the opportunity to explore artists’ thinking and studio practices. Taught by museum educators, each workshop includes a conversation in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio art session. Family Workshops are designed for children (ages 8–11) and adults to participate in together. See the complete listing below for topic, dates, and times. Workshops are free but preregistration is required.

11:15am: A Boy Called Patches at Bloombars
An interactive puppet show featuring chants, movement, songs and storytelling! The show focuses on the acceptance of differences between yourself and others, therefore aiding in having less need for conflict resolution in certain areas at the early childhood level while reinforcing that it’s okay to be different! $7 Suggested donation per child, $5 suggested donation per adult. Recommended for ages infant and up.

11:30am and 12:30pm: Art Investigators
How do you investigate a work of art? This program helps children make careful observations, analyze artists’ choices, ask questions, and use their imagination while exploring works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes. These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance registration and space is limited, so please plan accordingly. For ages 4-7.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Portrait Story Days: MLK, Jr.
Drop by on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to hear a story and create art inspired by someone in the Portrait Gallery’s collection.

1:30pm-3:00pm: MLK Painting for Peace Freestyle Sessions
Join on Saturday or Sunday for a family-friendly Painting for Peace Weekend. In honor of MLK Day ArtJamz is donating $5.00 per canvas order to local charity DC Central Kitchen. During Painting for Peace Weekend they encourage the creation of original art under the guidance of local artists and with inspiration from their jamming social art studio and lounge. There will be plenty of images and quotes inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. to help you create a unique masterpiece.

2:00pm AND 5:30pm: Daniel Tiger Live!
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” Daniel Tiger and all of his friends from the beloved PBS KIDS television series are hopping aboard Trolley to your town with DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE! Along with “O” the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, Mom and Dad Tiger and many more, Daniel Tiger will take live audiences on an interactive musical adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others and celebrating new experiences. This live theatrical production filled with music, dancing, laughter and “grr-ific” surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Sunday Jam at Bolt Parkour
Parkour is all about the thrill of movement – so we’re opening up the gym every month for everyone to share in the fun. Join us for a no-holds-barred event where you can vault, leap, kong, swing and more in our 7,000 square foot facility dedicated to all forms of parkour and free running. Bring your friends and register above!

Monday– Martin Luther King, Jr Day post

9:30am: Rise + Rhyme at various Busboys & Poets locations
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly morning storytelling and performance series for children ages 5 and under with the goals of teaching children to engage with their community, learn to love performing and become rising artivists!

10:00am-4:00pm: Celebrate MLK, Jr at Port Discovery Children’s Museum
They are typically closed on Monday’s! Take advantage of this great museum. If you can dream it you can change it! Join Port Discovery in celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during our “Be the Light” event! Experience the strength of celebrating differences in our community and learn how you too can become a Change Maker. Take part in interactive programs and performances designed to educate, inspire and help children understand the positive impact that their actions can have, inspired by Dr. King’s message of promoting fairness. 

10:00am-5:00pm: Open Explore: MLK Day at KID Museum
Drop-in to create felt peace pins, help build a model all-inclusive playground, tell us your dreams with screen printing, and experience our new Reflection Room. Listen in to Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speeches and take the time to reflect on his history, legacy, and impact.

10:15am–12:00pm or 1:30pm–3:15pm: National Gallery of Art Family Workshop
Workshops provide the opportunity to explore artists’ thinking and studio practices. Taught by museum educators, each workshop includes a conversation in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio art session. Family Workshops are designed for children (ages 8–11) and adults to participate in together. See the complete listing below for topic, dates, and times. Workshops are free but preregistration is required.