Route 1 Kids Weekend Guide is here! Kids get creative with TurkeyTime Centerpieces in College Park, Girls in grades 4-8 enjoy STEM fun (and free lunch) in Beltsville, join a brief candelit Havdalah service in Greenbelt followed by a free movie, free Thumbelina at the National Theatre, Photos with Santa in Hyattsville & more, all below!
Thumbelina for FREE at the National Theatre (see below for ticket reservation info)
And did you know that 2fifty Texas BBQ is now open on Sundays at Dumm’s? That right! So not only do you have your weekend plans now squared away, you’ve also go Sunday lunch/dinner plans now, too!
Friday
Storytime @ The Waterhole (Ages 0-5)
Roll out of bed & hop into this fab, woman-owned, organic juice bar. Let the librarians from down the street entertain your kiddos! Stories fresh off the library bookshelves, tunes to wiggle to & more!
When: 10-10:30am
Where: The Waterhole, Mount Rainier
Cost: Free!, juice sold separately
Family Fun: Furry Friends (All Ages)
Come learn about local mammals through hands-on activities, game & crafts! Get lucky, spot a fox, beaver or more in the wild! Come & go as you wish, this event is drop-in.
When: 10am-1pm
Where: Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel
Cost: Free!
Cirque Dreams Unwrapped
Be dazzled by a Christmas fable performed in the Garden Atrium with spectacular costumes & soaring imagination. Witness breathtaking artistry, global music & showmanship front & center! (Tip: You can watch this show for *free* in the standing room behind the seats…It’s not entirely comfortable BUT it’s free.)
When: 3pm, 6pm
Where: Lower Atrium National Harbor, Oxon Hill
Cost: $17.99-$19.99
Crafternoon: Paper Plate Crafts (Ages 5-12)
Feeling crafty? Well, then stop in for an afternoon of crafting with paper plates! You never know what you & your family might come up with. A recyclable masterpiece fo’ sho’!
When: 4-5pm
Where: Glenarden Library, Glenarden
Cost: Free!
Saturday
Saturday Morning Live! Presents: Thumbelina (Best for ages 4-10)
Head into DC (relax + take the Metro) for a lovely, free production of Thumbelina w/ music designed to light up the imagination and celebrate a world of wonder. Afterwards, extend yr time in the City w/ a trip to the National Portrait Gallery to check out the Explore! Room. 🙂
When: 9:30am & 11am
Where: National Theatre (Hayes Gallery, 2nd Fl), DC
Cost: Free! (Must register for tickets by 10am Friday; walk-ups available first-come, first-served)
Arts Drop-in: Turkey Time Centerpieces (Ages 3-8)
No Thanksgiving table would be complete without a centerpiece made by your cute munchkins. Drop in, let them have at it, take home their displays & brag to all your family & friends. Materials provided, clean up included…free of charge! Score!
When: 10am-12pm
Where: College Park Community Center, College Park
Cost: Free!
Family Fitness Boot Camp (Ages 6+)
Hey, family! Come show us what you’ve got. We’re planning some high-energy routines to get everyone moving. And having fun while doing it! You won’t even know you’re working up a sweat! Coordinated exercise attire encouraged, but not required (jk, jk).
When: 10:15am-12pm
Where: Palmer Park Community Center, Landover
Cost: Free!
Girls Excelling in Math and Science STEM Saturday Academy (4th-8th grade)
Explore STEM through hands-on activities. Girls work with University of Maryland, College Park undergraduate students on interactive activities related to STEM fields.
When: 10:30am-1pm
Where: Beltsville Library, Beltsville
Cost: Free (website does not note a fee)
STEAM Maker Space (Ages 7+)
Come embrace your STEAM powers! It’s an afternoon of art, creativity & fun for the family. Build, experiment, & create at engaging stations, including a Light Painting lab, Go!, Build-It discs, 3-D pens & so much more!
When: 1-3pm
Where: Prince George’s Ballroom, Landover
Cost: Free!
Movie Night: An American Tail (All Ages)
Join us for a brief candelit Havdalah service followed by a screening of the classic children’s movie An American Tail. Snacks & soft drinks provided. Feel free to bring a friend or neighbor. Contact membership@mishkantorah.org if you have questions or want to rsvp. Everyone’s welcome!
When: 5:30pm
Where: Mishkan Torah, Greenbelt
Cost: Free!
2fifty Texas BBQ now available on SUNDAYS at Dumm’s! (Maryland Meadworks will be available there this Sunday, too!)
Sunday
Bye Bye, Bei Bei
Panda bear is packing up for China, but not until we wish him a fond farewell. Lots of events happening all day, hot cocoa for the humans, ice cakes for the Pandas to celebrate their journey & much more! Make friendship bracelets & write postcards that will travel with Bei Bei to China. Our new BFFs!
When: 8:30am until closing
Where: National Zoo, Washington, DC
Cost: Free!
Inside Out @ Imagination Stage (Ages 1-5)
An interactive show set at bedtime where turning things inside out is joyful. Follow two children & their imagination as they their room becomes a wonderful mess. It’s what kids’ dreams are made of.
When: 10am
Where: Imagination Stage, Bethesda
Cost: $12
Photos w/ Santa!
Worth every penny years down the road when you can look back at your adorable kids in their outfits w/ Santa. They get to make wishes & you get keepsakes & memories! Don’t wait until last min for this holiday tradition.
When: 12-6pm (Santa breaks from 2-2:30pm)
Where: The Mall @ PG Plaza, Hyattsville
Cost: Depends on photo package
A Christmas Carol, the Musical
Enjoy this spectacular adaptation of Charles Dickens’ well-known tale. Experience the story of Ebenezer Scrooge & the spirits of Christmas past, present & yet to come. That’s one point for kindness! Woot-woot!
When: 3pm
Where: Bowie Playhouse, Bowie
Cost: $25 General; $22 Seniors, Students, Active Military; $15 for under 12
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