Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

It’s the weekend of Parents Night Out at various kid places. See our blog post from earlier this week on where your child can be entertained while you are out for the evening. A win/win for all!

The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival is back– February 22 – March 11, 2018 and is about presenting excellent art in all its forms that inspires a community to connect and create a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. Now in its 9th season, INTERSECTIONS is a key layer in DC’s dynamic arts scene. New this year, a workshop series and an expanded Youth Summit – a full day of performances by young people followed by a youth-led summit. Here are a few free family fun days to check out. 

The beloved garden gnomes from GNOMEO AND JULIET are back for a whole new adventure in London. When Gnomeo and Juliet first arrive in the city with their friends and family, their biggest concern is getting their new garden ready for spring. However, they soon discover that someone is kidnapping garden gnomes all over London. When Gnomeo and Juliet return home to find that everyone in their garden is missing – there’s only one gnome to call… SHERLOCK GNOMES. The famous detective and sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes arrives with his sidekick Watson to investigate the case. The mystery will lead our gnomes on a rollicking adventure where they will meet all new ornaments and explore an undiscovered side of the city. A few events taking place to get audiences excited for the event are on Friday, February 23^rd  at Alexandria Public Library for a Scavenger Hunt 11:00am-11:40am  and Saturday, February 24^th at Hooray for Books from 1:00-2:00pm. The SHERLOCK GNOMES costume character will be making his way around DC

Saturday- 

9:30am AND 11:00am: Stephen Christoff at National Theatre
In celebration of President’s Day, come sing songs from the Colonial period with Mr. Christoff. This musical history program brings to life the ballads and song lyrics that helped build American independence and define a nation. He will captivate families with the jaws harp, banjo, guitar, mandolin, hand whistle, the musical saw, and even the bottles. The Colonial times were filled with music and Mr. Christoff explores the fun.

10:00am-2:00pm: Hirshhorn: Art Pop-Up + Library Program
Check it out! Find our cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art meets reading adventure, with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.

10:00am-4:00pm: Family Day: Chinese Lunar New Year at GW Museum & Textile Museum
Celebrate the year of the dog at the museum! Enjoy music performances by GW’s Chinese Music Club, create colorful zodiac animals from paper, and design your own jewelry inspired by the traditions of China’s Guizhou Province. Visit the galleries to see the exhibition Vanishing Traditions: Textiles and Treasures from Southwest China during its opening weekend. Visitors can also explore our new hands-on learning center, Textiles 101, which introduces the basics of textile making through fiber, color, and structure. All ages welcome.

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. Toot Toot Beep Beep is the featured story. 

11:00am-12:00pm: The Magic of Spying: Tradecraft Trickery
In the real-life world of espionage, spies often call upon the art of magic and illusion to distract the enemy, make evidence disappear, and escape unnoticed.  Join professional magician, Peter Wood, as he demonstrates the art of misdirection, sleight of hand, and other illusions used by skilled spies. This one of a kind performance, custom-designed for the Spy Museum, is guaranteed to fascinate children and adults alike. $10

(Photo: Hirshhorn: Art Pop-Up + Library Program)

Sunday-

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
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. Caps For Sale is the featured story.

1:00pm-2:30pm: Preschool Pioneers at Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
You don’t have to be an expert to expertly look at a painting. This class will engage your child by encouraging them to look, respond, and ask questions through multiple careful looking techniques.  We will even get to sketch in the galleries! Do You See What I See? is the theme for this 3-5 year old class. Read our review of this amazing program here. 

1:00pm: Disney Live at Eagle Bank Arena
Open the door to reveal unforgettable Disney moments and grand illusions with Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as 25 of your favorite characters surprise and captivate at every turn of the knob! See the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown; the Toy Story gang defy the dimensions of Andy’s toy box; and the dazzling stage debut of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they rise amidst the floating lanterns. With special appearances by Snow White, Tinker Bell and Aladdin’s Genie, you never know who might join in the fun.

2:30pm-3:30pm: Family Literacy Fiesta: Dancing Our Way Through Books at Wheaton Interim Library
In our FREE Literacy Fiesta programs, kids and adults join together in a celebration of books and stories! In our February Fiesta, we’ll explore a kid-friendly folk tale through creative movement and dance. Kids get to practice reading skills while moving, dancing, and sharing stories with our families and friends.  What a fun way to dance away the winter blues!  45 minutes, best for ages 3 and up. 

Weekend Theatre:

Encore Stage & Studio—Theatre by Kids, for Kids! presents Disney’s The Lion King Jr.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre

The Princess & The Pauper: A Bollywood Tale at Imagination Stage

Giveaway to Discovery Theater Tot Rock show!

Don’t mind a drive to Baltimore? Head to Port Discovery Children’s Museum. We went a few weekends a go and had a blast! A few events happening there this weekend:

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dog | Saturday, February 24 | 10AM – 5PM
Celebrate the Year of the Dog as Port Discovery celebrates the Chinese New Year! Visitors of all backgrounds will learn, experience, and participate in traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year celebration. You’ll be mesmerized by the Chinese Lion Dancers of Tai Yim Kung Fu School, who perform the lion dance throughout the center of the Museum using a paper mache lion, instruments, and dance that will captivate you. Watch amazing performances of traditional and modern Chinese Dance by children, teens and adults from the Gina Ling Chinese Dance Chamber. Learn the art of calligraphy and chopsticks with the Xiamen Chinese Sister City.  Plus, learn about animals with a live petting zoo from Wildlife Adventures, enjoy music and dance from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Staff, and make festive art projects including Chinese New Year Lucky Charms, Festive Dragons, and more! Featuring a number of new art projects to enjoy while learning about Chinese cultures and traditions!

Super Sundays | Sunday, February  25  | 12 – 5 PM 
Make it a true Sunday FUN-day when you spend the whole day learning through play! Explore movement and music together as you bop along to our lively Jingle Jangle Music Time.  Join in interactive story times, and work together to create art or science projects that you can take home. Be sure to make music with us in the Percussion Garden, explore early literacy learning during Mother Goose on the Loose, and check out Kamishibai Story Time!