Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

Did you hear? Snow may be headed our way! We are working on a great ski post for you snow lovers which will hit inboxes this afternoon or tomorrow morning. In case you still need a sled for the impending weather, head to your local hardware store or grab a lunch tray from your kids school cafeteria. If you’re in need of some snow gear, head to one of these consignment stores I shared with Stefanie Harrington’s readers a few years ago to see if they’ve got any left. Note: Wiggle Room and Kensington Caboose on that list have closed however. 

My First Imagination Stage: The My First Imagination Stage theatre series offers intimate, interactive theatre performances designed for the very young in our Reeve Studio Theatre. Learn more below about their early childhood classes and weekend workshops for ages 1-5. Wake Up, Brother Bear is on stage now from January 11- February 13, 2019. The show is about Sister Bear and Brother Bear are back from hibernation to take your little ones on an interactive journey through the seasons. Meet a curious butterfly, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs as the bears frolic through the forest in this unforgettable live theatre experience. Reimagined for this 10th anniversary performance, this audience favorite is sure to delight and inspire.

The Enchanted Bookshop hits the stage tonight at Encore Theatre and Stage and lasts through January 20. During the day, A Likely Story looks like any other bookshop, but at night the characters inside the books come alive. Classic characters — including Dorothy Gale, Pollyanna, Heidi, Tom Sawyer and more — long to help Margie, the scatterbrained owner, save her struggling store. When a pair of smugglers come looking for a stolen necklace hidden inside one of the books, the characters must find a way to rescue the bookshop without being seen. Join the magical mission to celebrate the enchantment and joy of reading. Show is recommended for ages 4 and older. 

Head to Baltimore for the day or weekend with our top eleven things to do, you won’t run out of things to do! Plus, The Construction Zone in The Atrium at Port Discovery sponsored by M&T Bank opens on Saturday. Another special event is the Harbor Point Ice Festival. Central Plaza in Harbor Point will come alive for the Harbor Point Ice Festival from 2:00pm-8:00pm. The plaza will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland with twinkling lights, ice sculptures lining the walkways, live music, food & drink, kids crafts, and more! Watch the excitement as award-winning ice sculptors use chainsaws and chisels to create spectacular ice sculptures, and vote on your favorite! Admission to the event is FREE! NEW this year is a VIP Experience. Click HERE for more details and tickets. 

Saturday

10:00am: 1, 2, 3 Andrés at Miracle Theatre 
Corre y salta over to the Miracle Theater to see Latin Grammy winner 123 Andres! This special, high energy performance is sure to get you and your little one singing and dancing. Tickets are $10 and benefit DC Diaper Bank.

10:00am-2:00pm: National Building Museum Family Afternoon: Capturing Light with Stained Glass
Illuminate your built world with the playful colors of faux stained glass. Draw inspiration from the Museum’s collection of historic drawings from the Washington National Cathedral to create your own acrylic square “stained glass” to take home. Free, drop-in. All ages.

10:00am-2:00pm: Arena Stage Camp Open House
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host its second annual Camp Arena Stage Open House. The Open House will feature sample activities and classes taught by camp staff and provides an opportunity for prospective campers and parents to experience a taste of Camp Arena Stage and have all their camp questions answered. The event is FREE and children ages 8-15 are welcome to participate in sample workshops and classes focusing on theater, musical theater, visual art, singing and dance. Children of all ages can participate in face painting and craft projects throughout the day at the Station for All Ages.

10:00am-11:00am:NSO Family-Friendly Performance at Mt. Pleasant Library
Bassist Paul DeNola and violinist Heather LeDoux Green take a break from the NSO to introduce young audiences to some of the greatest music ever written. You’ll never hear a word out of them during the concert, but with instruments in hand and a trunk full of gags, this “silent” comedic tag-team presents a hilarious program of music and mayhem. Stay after the program for a musical instrument “petting zoo”.

10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s Kids Club Classes
Snowman Canvas for ages 3+.

11:00am-2:00pm: Paint, Build, Create
At this FREE, drop-in program you will explore a variety of fun and creative science, technology, art, engineering, and math (S.T.E.A.M) activities for all ages and ability levels. No registration required!

11:30am: Circle Yoga at Kennedy Center
Linda Feldman from Circle Yoga is offering a free Family Yoga class (ages 5 and up). This series of free workshops designed for families with children under the age of 8* explores the power of the arts to promote wellness of the mind and body. Every second Saturday of the month, local arts organizations offer two 45-minute workshops.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Michael’s Make Breaks
Snowman Slime- Kids (and kids at heart!) will have a (snow)ball making a snowman out of slime and decorative mix-ins. We’ll provide the supplies, including the pre-made slime.