Weekend Picks March 31-April 2

A special Happy Birthday shout-out to my husband and #1 supporter of Beltway Bambinos!  It just so happens that we are celebrating in Baltimore AND the start of Light City Baltimore will be taking place! Light City is a free festival that transforms Baltimore with large-scale light installations, performances, music and innovation. Central to Light City is the BGE Light Art Walk along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor,  featuring more than 50 attractions including illuminated sculptures, projections, interactive technologies, performances, concerts, food vendors and a children’s area.

(Photo: Inhabitat)

A few Easter farms & festivals are open for fun this weekend.

Want theatre? Nutt and Bolt presented by Arts on the Horizon is wrapping up this weekend while Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage is just getting started.

Saturday-

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.

9:30am AND 10:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
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.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Peabody Opera-Papageno! at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004)
Papageno! is a shortened version of Mozart’s timeless opera The Magic Flute as told from the perspective of the endearing Papageno, the Bird Man himself. He leads us through encounters with a prince, a princess, the Queen of the Night and her Three Ladies, and the mysterious One Who’s Never Seen. And he searches for true love along the way!

10:00am-4:30pm: Blossom Kite Festival
(Grounds of the Washington Monument near 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue)
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is kicking off kite season. The seventh annual Blossom Kite Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations, Rokkaku Battles and the Hot Tricks Showdown. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to fly on the Public Field. Kites will also be available for purchase onsite.

11:00am: The Saturday Family Jazz Sessions at Strathmore’s Mansion featuring Ma Rainey: Mother of Blues with Rochelle Rice
(10701 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20852)
Music, history, and fun come together when kids learn about blues superstar Gertrude “Ma” Pridgett Rainey, plus the foundations of singing, vocabulary, and form essential to the blues. Recommended for ages 3–8. All attendees, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults must also have a ticket. $10 for each session in advance, $12 at the door.

11:00am: Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats, acoustically rock your kid’s world with original folk-pop tunes that will get even the shyest wallflower to wiggle across the dance floor.Tickets are $8.

Sunday-
1:00pm-8:00pm: Artomatic Children’s Day
(1800 S Bell St Arlington, VA)
Join Artomatic Artists for 2017 Children’s Day! Children’s Story Time and Puppet Show – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(4th Floor Stage). Join author Tom Noll as he reads from his books “The Bicycle Fence” and “Selling Eggs”.Children’s Art Mural – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Artist Room 3-203). Help artist Christopher Hoppe create a beautiful mural at Artomatic on Children’s Day! Children will be using paint and paint brushes to express their creativity while contributing to the group project. Magician! – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Roaming (Floors 3-9) Join Matt Neufeld as he performs magic for kids and adults throughout Artomatic! See more of the schedule online.