Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

The Chocolate Lovers Festival, an annual three-day festival held on the first full weekend of February, features activities for all to enjoy. The festival will be held Friday, January 31 for Liquid Chocolate only from 6-8pm, Saturday, February 1 from 10am-6pm (see schedule of events for times and locations) and Sunday, February 2 from 12-4pm. Join us for the Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Challenge, the Kiwanis BBQ Lunch and Craft Show, open houses at historic buildings and much more.

Saturday & Sunday head to the National Gallery of Art Family Workshop where kids will be provided 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.

Zoom! Zoom! The Washington Auto Show is at the Convention Center wraps up this weekend. Your chance to check out the newest vehicles, ride in an all-new Jaguar, driven by a stunt driver, and test-drive an all-electric vehicle on the streets of DC. This year’s Family Fun Zone will be bigger than ever, featuring appearances by popular PBS characters including Splash and Bubbles, Daniel Tiger, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Jet Propulsion from Ready Jet Go!, and Luna from Let’s Go Luna! 

2020 is the Year of the Rat, an animal that symbolises wealth and the beginning of a new day. This weekend there are still a few ways to celebrate with the family- The REACH, Chinese New Year Day at the Kennedy Center & Chinese New Year Family Day at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Saturday

9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop: Heart String Art
Create a loving memory with your child at our Heart String Art Workshop. As you help your child piece together the symbol of Valentine’s Day, they will develop hands-on skills by sanding, nailing, painting and more. Celebrate the moment as your child makes a unique keepsake.

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.

9:30am & 11:00am: Mr. Jon & Carrie Rock & Rhyme at National Theatre
Mr. Jon & Friends makes music for kids and their families that inspire fun, laughter, and dancing. The music of Mr. Jon & Friends is sure to bring a smile to your face!

10:00am-5:00pm: Crêpe Day: Celebrate La Chandeleur! at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden
La Chandeleur, also known as Crêpe Day, marks the halfway point between winter and spring.  In France, families celebrate by eating crêpes, which are round and golden like the springtime sun. You are invited to celebrate this holiday in festive French fashion amidst Hillwood’s magnificent setting and exquisite French treasures. Snack on a tasty treat of sweet crêpes. Explore Hillwood’s French treasures through docent-led, family-friendly gallery talks and a printed treasure hunt. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French Sèvres porcelain.

10:00am: Missing Link at the Avalon Theatre
PG movie alert playing at the historic Avalon Theatre! Tired of living a solitary life, Mr. Link, who is 8 feet tall and covered in fur, recruits a fearless explorer to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives. Through it all, they learn that sometimes one can find a family in the places one least expects.

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 and then create a piece of work. 

10:00am-12:00pm: STEM Fair
Each year, District Architecture Center opens their doors to young people in the Washington Metro area and invite them to learn more about design-related fields—from architecture, engineering, and construction, to urban planning, landscape architecture, and interior design. Best for ages 10 through high school.

10:00am-1:00pm: Maker Morning at the Hirshhorn
This is a free series that invites kids of all ages to experience contemporary art through interactive hands-on making activities. Each month will introduce a new topic and a completely new way to think about art. Color your February with love. Try out Valentine’s Day activities including writing a love letter inspired by artist Marcel Duchamp’s word play, painting with light, and making a valentine to give to a loved one. Join us for a special kid-led tour of the Hirshhorn’s most loved artworks.

11:30am: Bilingual Art Talk & Tour for Kids at Strathmore
Young art lovers can get behind the brushstrokes and into the head and heart of the artists in current exhibitions. Kids participate in an interactive activity during the tour. Ideal for ages 5 and up. Free, but registration is encouraged to help for planning purposes. 

1:30pm-5:00pm: Ice Yards
DC’s Winter Festival is back at The Yards for its sixth year in a row with a retro twist. Now in its sixth year, Ice Yards has become the event of the winter season, with revelers enjoying an unparalleled afternoon in DC’s winter wonderland. Guests are invited to enjoy this retro aprés ski inspired event featuring icy cocktails and local DC brews, interactive ice activities, live music, and more.

6:30pm: Sleepover at the National Archives
The National Archives and the National Archives Foundation are partnering to host the 13th overnight event where children ages 8 to 12 years old can sleep where the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are housed. The theme of the upcoming February sleepover is women’s suffrage, relating to the newest National Archives exhibit, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote. After spending the night next to the Charters of Freedom in the Archives Rotunda and Rotunda Galleries, participants will enjoy pancakes made by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero.

Sunday

8:30am-9:00am: Groundhog Day
Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. 

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage: Pete the Cat
You and your child will bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books.

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