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KidFriendly DC | where to go & what to do with kids in the nation's capital
1. I’ve mentioned Congressional Cemetery a lot on the blog. One of our favorite places in our neighborhood, Capitol Hill, we’ve been visiting for years — to explore the historic sites, attend community events, do a little geocaching, and enjoy dog walks. And there is now a new, fun way to experience the locale… Congressional Cemetery just launched a Kids History Hunt geared toward young visitors from kindergartners to 12th graders. The challenge has cemetery explorers find locations marked with a number on a History Hunt map and answer as many questions as possible to win a prize. There are also interesting tidbits about the sites as well as prompts for related discussions. You can pick up a free history Hunt packet from the gatehouse (just knock on the back door and ask for one). When you have finished as much of the hunt as you can, return it to an educator at the gatehouse to receive your reward. Gatehouse hours are Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm, and an educator is stationed at the gatehouse on Saturdays, 8am – 4pm, and Sunday, 10am – 6pm.
2. How about some augmented reality at one of our art museums? Before it was the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the building at 8th & F NW housed the Patent Office. And SAAM just launched the Temple of Invention AR Experience that lets guests explore it in a new way. You can “meet” inventors, artists, architects, presidents, and more fascinating people who walked the storied halls. As you play the game, collect cogs, restore the temple’s heart, and see how this building is still a place where exploration, creativity, and change are celebrated. The experience is recommended for families with elementary school-age children, but all are welcome to play. Registration is encouraged; walk-ins welcome on a limited basis.
3. This Sunday, April 28, DC area cookie lovers can sweeten up their weekend and help prevent child abuse, by hitting up a bake sale hosted by more than 20 of DC’s most acclaimed pastry chefs. Limited edition community cookie boxes are being assembled and sold in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and benefit SafeShores. The boxes will be filled with more than 20 cookies…here’s a sample of what you can expect: * Blueberry-cornmeal-thyme cookies from Caitlyn Dysart, former RAMMYS Pastry Chef of the Year * Pineapple-coconut cream, 5-spice sandwich cookies from Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit, current RAMMYS pastry chef of the year nominee * Cranberry-rosemary shortbread from Rachelle Cooper of The Duck and The Peach, La Colllina, and The Wells * Corn Conchas from Isabel Coss, Pascual and Lutece * Classic Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Alex Levin of Schlow Restaurant Group Orders can be placed here, and purchasers must pickup their cookie box on Sunday, April 28, at La Collina located at 747 C Street SE from 1-3pm.
4. These monogrammed necklaces and rings are so pretty and cool (and potential Mother’s Day gifts)!
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Row, row, row your boat or kayak or canoe or SUP! Paddle season has begun as a few places have started offering boat rentals and more are opening this weekend. Boating in DC has several locations in the District and a few NoVa Parks offer it, too. This post about places to go with the flow has more details. (Insider info: The staff at Thomson Boathouse in Georgetown is especially great!)
Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
National Park Week starts on Saturday, and it’s kicking off with a fee free day, so there’s no entrance fee to national parks that usually charge admission. Take advantage and hit the trail at Great Falls, Shenandoah, Prince William Forest, Harpers Ferry, or head up to Baltimore to explore Fort McHenry. Find even more parks to visit here.
Earth Day Family Festival Where: National Portrait Gallery | Penn Quarter, DC When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm Admission: Free
Join the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum to learn how art and science can help protect the earth. Attendees of all ages can enjoy nature-themed activities and there will be face painting for children 12 and under. A scavenger hunt in the galleries features works from both museums that highlight the Earth’s natural wonders and the various ways artists help care for our planet. Registration encouraged.
The Big Draw Where: National Building Museum When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm Admission: Free
The free day-long festival is a complement to Building Stories, an exhibition that explores the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design through the lens of children’s books. Discover the world we design and build through drawing. Author and illustrator David Macaulay will lead drawing workshops, and visitors of all ages can engage in quick drawing prompts, contribute to a community mural, add to Positive Chalk’s “Chalk Walk,” and attend lightning talks with engineering, architecture, and design professionals. who will share how drawing is used as a tool to create. BYO sketchbooks or use provided materials. Register ahead for free.
Earth Day Heroes 2024
Where: National Academy of Sciences | 2101 Constitution NW, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a day of family fun and discovery. Inside the historic halls of the National Academy of Sciences Building on Constitution Avenue, explore five rooms that reveal the wonders of Planet Earth. Through interactive exhibits and activities including a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, hands-on science, and much more, each visitor will become an Earth Day Hero and grow their appreciation for Earth and nature, discover the importance of their choices, and learn about science
Kids Opening Day
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Sunday, 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets prices vary
On Sunday, the Nationals invite their youngest fans to help ring in the 2024 season. There will be activities for families to celebrate the day along with the 2019 World Champions Five-Year Anniversary Weekend (including games against the Astros, the team the beat to win the big title). Enjoy face painters, balloon twisters, Story Time, opportunities to get signatures, and the ever-popular Kids Run the Bases starts for the season! If you can’t make it Sunday, there are games on Friday & Saturday, too.
Root (root, root) for the Baysox Where: Prince George’s Stadium | Landover, MD When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats aren’t the only baseball team in town. The Bowie Baysox, one of the local minor league teams, just started their season and are hosting the Altoona Curve all weekend. It’s baseball on a smaller (and less expensive) scale than at Nationals Park, and there’s always extra fun and games especially for kids — read more about Baysox games in this KFDC post.
Kick It with Spirit
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 1pm
Admission: Tickets start at $20
The Washington Spirit, our local women’s pro soccer team, is playing at Audi Field this weekend hosting NY Gothem FC. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting our home team and women in sports. Plan for a pre-match meal nearby — El Bebe, All Purpose Pizza, The Salt Line, and Dacha are conveniently located and my top recs for family-friendly spots to eat in that area.
Red Bull Show Run
Where: 3rd-7th Streets NW | Pennsylvania Ave. DC
When: Saturday, 1:30-6pm
Admission: Free
Get ready for an afternoon of adrenaline packed fun as Red Bull Showrun makes its debut in the heart of DC! Join legendary driver David Coulthard, and the team at Oracle Red Bull Racing on Pennsylvania Avenue, in the heart of our nation’s capital. Watch a Formula One car speed down the street. No tickets required, but get there early to stake out a spot. A Fan Zone with activities opens at 1:30pm, and the event begins at 4pm.
Peter Pan Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC When: Through Sunday Admission: $44-139 (look for a deal)
This high-flying musical has been thrilling audiences of all ages for close to 70 years and is now being brought back to life in a new adaptation. The adventure begins when Peter Pan and his mischievous sidekick, Tinker Bell, visit the bedroom of the Darling children late one night. With a sprinkle of fairy dust and a few happy thoughts, the children are taken on a magical journey they will never forget.
Alice in Wonderland
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Admission: $15
This brand new adaptation based on the beloved children’s novel by Lewis Carroll will take the audience on a delightful journey into wonderland using rod puppets. This one-of-a-kind performance blends music and humor to create a new version of a familiar story. Recommended for ages 4+.
Message In A Bottle
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through Sunday
Admission: $45-105 (look for discount) Message In A Bottle is a spectacular new dance-theatre show inspired by and set to the iconic hits of Sting.The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati, and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive. Recommended for ages 12+.
Off the Page
Where: Theater on the Run | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, 10am & 11:30am
Admission: $10
Arts on the Horizon presentsthis show for little theatre goers… The magic of books can transport us to new worlds! When an imaginative young child dives into a book, the stories come to life around them. Through dance, music, puppetry, and vibrant imagery, this world premiere production will use an immersive design to unfold around the audience. Watch a new world come to life right before your eyes! Catch at two theatres, plus other locations as it tours the area.
Macbeth
Where: Harman Hall | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Through May 5
Admission: Start at $115, but mostly sold out, look for resale tix
Shakespeare Theatre Company present this classic starring Ralph Fiennes… Blood will have blood. Unbridled ambition, supernatural forces, and murderous desires reign supreme in Shakespeare’s most poetic examination of evil. When three witches tell Macbeth that he will become King of Scotland, he plots with his wife to attain the title through an assassination; a bloody act that gives him his crown and sends him careening down the path of his own undoing. A thrilling account of how our minds deceive us and how a guilty conscience can undo us all. Recommended for teens and older.
Islander: A New Musical
Where: Olney Theatre | Olney, MD
When: Through APril 28
Admission: $55-91
Islander tells a modern myth featuring two actors who use live mixing and looping technology to create a sonic landscape as dramatic as the Scottish coastline. Eilidh is the only child on Kinnan Island, where most of the dwindling population has moved to the “Big Land.” The government has proposed to resettle the rest, and the town must vote soon on whether or not to accept the offer. But the day after a baby whale beaches itself, Eilidh discovers a young girl named Arran along the shore, who seems straight out of Scottish folklore. As the two form a friendship, Islander takes audiences on a magical journey to transcend loss, recover hope, and find community. Rated G for all families.
Blooming Azaleas
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: Throughout the weekend, 8am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The azalea bloom at the National Arboretum is well known among flower enthusiasts, attracting visitors from all over every year. And for good reason: It’s absolutely gorgeous! Even more, the Arb is a great place to spend a day with the family, with something for all ages to enjoy. Go here for scenes from a past bloom.
Animal Medical Center Open House Where: Watkins Park | Upper Marlboro, MD When: Saturday, 12-4pm Admission: Free
The event, which will be held at 60 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, will allow pet owners and animal lovers to explore the center’s services and meet the veterinary team. The event will showcase the center’s offerings and feature fun activities for kids, including a Teddy Bear Clinic, dog training demos, raffles with prizes, and more.
The Tortured Poets Department Trivia & More Where: Takoma Park Maryland Library When: Saturday, 1pm Admission: Free
Celebrate Poetry Month and the release of Taylor Swift’s 11th album: The Tortured Poets Department. Enjoy poetry writing, trivia, refreshments, & prizes! Recommended for ages 7+, including middle and high schoolers.
Celebration of Art & Dance Where: The Boro | Tysons, VA When: Saturday, 1-4pm Admission: Free
Celebrate International Dance ay at The Boro! Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just craving fun, the dance floor is waiting for you! Guests can choose to attend instructor-led salsa and bachata workshops, with special live performances from Tysons Ballroom. Keep dancing the day away at the DJ dance party and add a touch of sparkle and glam with glitter tattoos for the kiddos. There will also be an array of children’s crafts and giveaways along with a station to design your own spring bouquet. For adults, sip and savor signature cocktails available at The Sandlot. Register in advance!
Fairy & Gnome Home Festival Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $10/online, $13/at gate
This annual festival at one of the most enchanting places will delight the whole family — and we know from experience. Festivities are scattered throughout the beautiful grounds, making for a fanciful day for young (and young at heart) guests. Explore the Wondrous Woods, shop the charming marketplace, search for over 180 fairy houses, meet whimsical characters and wandering performers, make arts & crafts, engage in imaginative play, enjoy nature explorations, adorable animal encounters, unicorn rides, and more. Visit the website for specifics. And read more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden and get a glimpse in this KFDC post and this one.
The Okee Dokee Brothers
Where: GMU Center for the Arts | Fairfax, VA
When: Sunday, 10:30am & 1pm
Admission: $15 The Okee Dokee Brothers infuse bluegrass music and playful lyrics with an interest in the great outdoors, hoping to spark a desire in children to explore their surroundings and imaginations. Recommended for ages 3-8.
Spring Breakin’
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
It’s the last weekend of Spring Break for many DC kids, so if you’re looking for extra activities to keep everyone entertained, this KFDC guide has plenty of ideas. (Of course, you can also use it for finding more weekend fun, Spring Beak or not.)
***MORE GOOD STUFF*** * In case you missed it, there’s a new round-up of places to enjoy art outdoors around the DC area. * Get $5 District Tickets to Nats games online. * Dumplings in DC. * Finished watching Ripley, and it’s excellent! The cinematography especially. * The new Brandy Hellville documentary is on my watch list for this weekend. Interesting review here. * A cute family movie to stream. * Added to cart: Bento box style food containers. * Perfect hat for summer – and on sale. * Sasha just got these cute pants, and now I want a pair. * I hear the “it” handbag of the season is this one, but I’d rather pay for this one that looks very similar. * How amazing would it be to happen up this in a Metro station?! *Weekend listen, of course.
1. What once felt like DC’s secret garden has become quite a popular spot — with good reason. The Dumbarton Oaks Gardens are one of the most enchanting places in the District, imo, with an amazing array of flora that’s especially gorgeous in spring. You can read about it on KFDC here, here, here, and here (yes, we love it that much). You used to be able to walk right up and buy tickets on the spot, but now reserving in advance is a good idea — tickets were sold out for this past weekend days ahead. Admission is $11, and hours are 2-6pm Tuesday – Sunday. You can make a longer outing of it by taking kids to play next door at Montrose Park or go for a short hike on the Dumbarton Oaks Park trail located behind the estate, maybe have a little picnic or get lunch nearby, then head to the garden for its afternoon open time.
2. Heads-up for a couple of big events this weekend: On Saturday, April 20, the National Building Museum is hosting the Big Draw, a free day-long festival that invites visitors to discover the world we design and build through drawing. All ages can engage in drawing prompts, contribute to a community mural, color in chalk, and attend lightning talks with engineering, architecture, and design professionals who will share how drawing is used as a tool to create. Register for freehere. And Sunday, April 21, is Annmarie Sculpture Garden’s annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival, a day of whimsical fun that will delight the whole family. Search for over 180 fairy houses in the Wondrous Wood;, meet whimsical characters and wandering performers; make arts & crafts; engage in imaginative play; and enjoy nature explorations, adorable animal encounters, unicorn rides, and more! Admission is $10 in advance, $13/at the gate. Reserve here before it sells out!
3. Tickets for Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Macbeth starring Ralph Fiennes have been mostly sold out for awhile. There are still a few tickets left for some dates starting at $115, or you can find good but pricey resale seats. But another way to get them cheap: Enter a lottery through the TodayTix app for a chance to score $20 tickets!
4. In case you haven’t seen it yet. there’s an awesome round-up of Amazon finds, by KFDC contributor Emily, to enhance spring and summer adventures with kids.
This post is paid for by Sandy Spring Friends School, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will be of interest to KFDC readers.
You don’t always have to go into a museum to enjoy great works of art. They are outdoors in gardens, along our landscapes, and even throughout city streets, so you can enjoy a nice day outside along with large scale sculptures, provocative installations, fun and interesting murals, even fairy houses. Here are some great places to see them around the DC area. Happy Art-ing!
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Where: 7th & Constitution NW | National Mall, DC When: Daily, 10am – 5pm Admission: Free
The museum’s outdoor area is always fun to stroll (or glide) through with large-scale installations and sculptures adding beauty, creativity, and and whimsy to the National Mall. See a giant typewriter eraser, a gleaming silver tree, and Lichtenstein’s optical illusion house among the many impressive works.
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King and Queen in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden (Currently closed for renovation)
Where: National Mall, DC
When: Daily, 9am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy the outdoor area at the modern art museum on the National Mall. Take a stroll through the works, and check out this FAQ for more about visiting. You can pop in for free daily from 10am – 4:30pm. And to make the most of your time, visit the lovely garden between the Hirshhorn and Arts & Industries Building and the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the castle.
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The Kreeger’s outdoor area is especially cool for kids
Kreeger Museum
Where: 2401 Foxhall Road NW | Foxhall, DC
When: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $15/adult, $10/senior & military, free for kids
The small art museum in DC’s Foxhall-Palisades neighborhood is perfect for an art fix with kids that’s gratifying without being overwhelming. It includes a five-acre outdoor area showcasing all kinds of large-scale installations that are beautiful, interesting, even quirky and fun. There is a fountain/pool with seating and sculptures around it, a small patch of woods with art and a trail that loops around, and a grassy expanse with works that you’ll all enjoy. There’s even a piece “climbing” on the side of building, another snaking up a tree, and one that plays solar powered music. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday with timed-entry sessions that need to be reserved in advance. Read more about the Kreeger in this KFDC post.
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Annmarie Sculpture Garden Where: 13470 Dowell Road | Solomons, MD When: Mon-Fri, 9am – 5pm | Sat, 10am – 5pm | Sun, 12-5pm Admission $5
The grounds of the arts center in Calvert County are filled with all kinds of creative works, from large abstract sculptures to “tree pops” and birdhouses to . In spring and summer, their annual Fairies in the Garden exhibit is delightful to tour. Some of the bigger works are part of the permanent collection, and many more are on loan from the Hirshhorn, National Gallery of Art, and other private collections. A stroll among all of it along a looping path is lovely, relaxing, and kind of magical. And the Fairy Lolly is the sweetest kids’ play area! Indoor galleries feature even more art and artsy activities. See more about Annmarie here.
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Glenstone
Where: 12100 Glen Road | Potomac, MD
When: Thursday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This one is for the T(w)een Scene, as Glenstone requires visitors to be at least 12 years old. The indoor/outdoor modern art museum sprawling gloriously over 300 acres in Potomac showcases modern works inside a gallery and outside around the beautiful grounds. Take advantage of the Guaranteed Entry program, which admits students and one accompanying adult without having to reserve tickets. Be sure to note that they don’t allow children under 12 at all, but it’s a wonderful place to visit with tweens and teens! Read more about Glenstone in this KFDC post.
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Some of the Statehood murals near The Atlas on H Street
DC Murals Tour
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
You can find art by local artists all over the city on sides of buildings, temporarily boarded-up storefronts, even right on the street. MuralsDC, an initiative from the DC Department of Public Works, is an excellent resource for locating, learning about, and touring local murals. You can refer to the digital map and find tours of collections, including the 51 Murals for DC Statehood and U Street Corridor Walking Tour.
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There’s art to enjoy in the garden at the REACH
The REACH at the Kennedy Center Where: 2700 F Street NW | Foggy Bottom, DC When: Daily Admission: Free
The beautiful grounds of The REACH, part of the Kennedy Center, are open and free for visitors to explore. Not only are there a few works of art located around the area, the artfully designed buildings are impressive to view. You can stroll around, check out the sculptures and structures, and take in vistas of the Potomac.
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Wooden jangseung totem poles at Meadowlark
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Where: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct | Vienna, VA
When: Daily, 10am – 4pm Nov 1-March 25 | 10am-7pm, March 2-Oct 31
Admission: $8/adult, $4/age 6-17 & seniors, free/5 & under
While Meadowlark’s 95 acres are a horticultural gem in Northern Virginia, its gardens features some wonderful artistic works as well. There are some large sculptures to admire as you wander around. And some of the gardens works of art themselves — the Korean Bell Garden, for instance, features the bell a couple of pavilions, and a pretty fountain flowing through it. Part of the joy in viewing it all is coming upon them as you stroll outdoors. Read more about Meadowlark in this KFDC post.
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Mirror Mirror, a past installation at the Alexandria Waterfront
Pop-Up Art Installations
Where: Old Town Waterfront | Alexandria, VA
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
You can almost always count on some kind of interesting art installation to be on view at the Old Town
Alexandria Waterfront. Interstellar Influencer is the current work at the end of King Street, behind the Torpedo Factory, right next to the Potomac River is an open space, where unique, large-scale art is regularly featured. It’s fun to stop by and see it — sometimes interact with it — and enjoy being by the water. Of course, you can make a longer outing of it in Old Town and visit the Torpedo Factory, stroll around King Street, and maybe even do some secondhand shopping.
Do you know of other great places around DC to see art al fresco? Let us know in the comments!
