Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

One with Eternity: Yayoi Kuama at the Hirshhorn
Follow us along on Instagram on Friday as we experience the exhibit!
The Hirshhorn has been collecting the prolific work of Yayoi Kusama since 1996. Our 2017 survey of her work traveled to five North American art museums, introducing Kusama’s spellbinding visions to record audiences. Next up: an exhibition of her five works in our permanent collection, including two of the artist’s transcendent Infinity Mirror Rooms, sculptures, an early painting, and photographs of the artist. One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection is a tribute to the life and practice of this visionary artist. Owing to the nature of the artwork, free same-day Timed Passes will be distributed daily at the Museum starting at 9:30 am throughout the run of the upcoming exhibition. Learn more. Exhibiting through Nov. 27.

U.S. Botanic Garden has finally re-opened!! The Conservatory is open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. Timed tickets are not required and is free to enter.

Smithsonian FUTURES is part exhibition, part festival!. FUTURES presents nearly 32,000 square feet of new immersive site-specific art installations, interactives, working experiments, inventions, speculative designs, and “artifacts of the future,” as well as historic objects and discoveries from 23 of the Smithsonian’s museums, major initiatives, and research centers. Of the nearly 150 objects on view, several are making their public debut: an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven rover from Alphabet’s X that could transform agriculture; a Planetary Society space sail for deep space travel; a Loon internet balloon; the first full-scale Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome built in North America; the world’s first controlled thermonuclear fusion device; and more.

ARTECHOUSE is pleased to announce its fifth annual cherry blossom-inspired exhibition, PIXELBLOOM. An ARTECHOUSE original production, the immensely popular spring program that runs as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, pushes the boundaries of immersive digital art, inviting visitors to jump into the metaverse and glide through a virtual world of cherry blossoms brought to life only at ARTECHOUSE. PIXELBLOOM merges the digital and physical worlds in a one-of-a-kind dynamic experience inspired by nature’s beauty. The main 22-minute audiovisual installation in the Immersion Gallery employs an 18-channel, 270° floor-to-wall surround projection array and a 22.5-channel spatialized audio system to breathe a new ARTECHOUSE life into cherry blossoms in peak bloom through an explosion of vibrant colors and textures, intensifying the cherry blossoms’ allure in a way that is only possible in a virtual environment.

Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! is at National Children’s Museum through May 15. Step into the world of Thomas & Friends™ in our new exhibit, which features favorite engines and destinations from the popular children’s series alongside playful STEAM learning experiences. As Dreamers help Thomas and his engine friends Percy and Victor solve a variety of challenges, they’ll build foundational STEAM skills, like thinking mathematically and creatively, making comparisons, experimenting to solve problems, and reflecting on actions and results. Recommended for children ages 2-7, the exhibit features text in both English and Spanish.

Saturday
9:30am-4:30pm: Spring Gardening at the National Children’s Museum
Every spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Washington, DC, to honor the history and friendship between the United States and Japan. In celebration of this year’s festival, we will make and decorate plant pots using recycled newspaper and folding techniques inspired by the Japanese origami art form. Then, Dreamers will plant a seed in their pot and take it home to continue to care for it. This program will take place in the Tinkerers Studio and is included in the price of Museum admission. Recommended for ages 3+.

9:30am: Saturday Morning at The National Theatre: Life Now Connecting
LIFE NOW by Imagine U features original content designed for young viewers and families to explore new ideas and simply have fun together! Created by a company of artists with roots in theatre for young audiences, each episode is a mix of music, movement, crafts, and storytelling. Imagine U is a popular performance series geared toward families with young children presented by Northwestern University’s Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Performing Arts Center. Productions spark imaginations, create fun, build community, and strengthen families. In 2020 as a result of the pandemic, Imagine U created Imagine U Storytime where Northwestern theater students, faculty, and alumni share weekly stories for young audiences on the Northwestern University Wirtz Center YouTube channel.

10:00am & 11:15am: Mother Goose at Imagination Stage
Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and more come to life through adorably engaging puppets and props. The magical Mother Goose invites your little ones to join in with each rhyme’s story. Mother Goose is best for ages 1-5.

12:00pm-10:00pm: Petals in the Park
Attendees will be greeted by the Petal Promenade as they enter Franklin Park. Followed by a lively arts stage celebrating the performers of DC and Japan, inclusive of roaming artists, and competitive lawn games area featuring croquet and badminton. Local Artist area featuring live art activation and local artisan vendors. Picnic Baskets available for pre-purchase where ticketed guests can reserve, in advance, to enjoy the garden party, with friends and family in the park. Attendees will have the option to purchase different packages but there will be free elements to the event.

1:00pm-2:30pm: Into the Woods at Frying Pan Park
Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom festival with this free event at Frying Pan Farm Park. We invite you to trek on our nature trail to experience the changes of spring. Visit stations peppered throughout the trail to build a fairy house, discuss woodland creatures, and search for critters in the soil and water. Enjoy Japanese teas at the historic Frying Pan Meeting House.

2:00pm-9:00pm: Bloomaroo at the Wharf
Visit The Wharf on April 2, 2022 for Bloomaroo®, a free spring extravaganza featuring a full day of cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks, and family-friendly fun along the waterfront! Enjoy beer gardens on District pier, a pop-up roller skating rink, s’mores at our firepit, and live music. We’ll cap it all off with our blossom fireworks finale.

Sunday
10:00am & 11:15am: Mother Goose at Imagination Stage
Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and more come to life through adorably engaging puppets and props. The magical Mother Goose invites your little ones to join in with each rhyme’s story. Mother Goose is best for ages 1-5.

12:00pm-6:00pm: Sakura Sunday at National Harbor
This is a free festival that will feature a wide array of activities including Japanese market, cultural performances, art, culinary demonstrations, and much.

Plan Ahead:
Applications for Acton Children’s Business Fair of Washington, DC will be open until 8pm on Monday, April 4!

Tudor Tots Workshops: April 20, May 18 & June 15

Family Workshops at The Phillips Collection: April 9 & May 14

National Postal Museum- Baseball America’s Home Run: April 9

NSO Music for Young Audiences: Super Cello! (World Premiere): April 9-10
Music to the rescue! The city is safe with the help of a unique cellist: professional musician by day, superhero by night. SCOTTIE ROWELL of Atlanta’s TELLER PRODUCTIONS and NSO cellist DAVID TEIE unite to tell a fantastic story using puppets, props, and plenty of music to help a very super musician save the day. Sunday, April 10 at 4pm is a sensory friendly performance. Most enjoyed by 3+.

Blippi The Musical: June 25
Blippi The Musical is on tour across North America, with two performances in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 2:00pm and 6:00pm.  Blippi The Musical is set to bring the vivacious, energetic, and educational children’s character from the screen to the stage for an all-ages extravaganza of fun, dancing, singing and meeting amazing new friends onstage.

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