Route 1 Kids Weekend Guide: May 1st-3rd

Where to play along the Route 1 Corridor this weekend: Some rain in the forecast so sprinkling the menu with indoor and outdoor activities for you all to enjoy! Passport DC kicks off this weekend (and full of kid-friendly events). Create some “Blooming Art” at Hyattsville’s Home Depot. Live Animal Show in Upper Marlboro. Free Comic Book Day in College Park. Langley Park Day and more all this weekend along the Route 1 Corridor!

Friday Fun Along Route 1 Corridor

Watkins Nature Center
Checked out this nature center yet? Great place to explore, especially when the weather’s meh. Full of birds, snakes, insects, reptiles amphibians as well as puppets / dress-up and roomy enough for little legs to carefully run around. Did I mention it’s free?
When: 8:30am-5pm
Where: Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro
Cost: Free!

Explore! Kids Room at the National Portrait Gallery
Bring the kid(s) to one of the coolest museums in DC! Follow my itinerary in here, including a stop-off at their Explore! Room and you’ll be all set to have a great time!
When: 11:30am-6pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, DC
Cost: Free!

Gymnastics Workshop / Open Gym at PG Sports & Learning Complex (Ages 0-12)
This place is HUGE. Two climbing walls. Two foam pits. Tons of equipment for curious ones to explore and blow off some steam. Spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parents are required to be on the floor with the children. Travel tips and our rec here!
When: 4:30-5:30pm
Where: Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover
Cost: $7 per child.

Feed Your Imagination @ Art Works Now (Ages 5-12)
Drop the kids off and enjoy parent’s night out. Kids will get creative, this month imagining the world and space through the eyes of animals. They’ll play games, learn about artists, and a make their own art. Pizza and short animated film included.
When: 6-8:30pm
Where: Art Works Now, 4800 Rhode Island Avenue Suite 1, Hyattsville
Cost: $25

Xtreme Teens: 3-Point Shootout (Part 2)/Cinco de Mayo Celebration! (Ages 10-17)
Think you can be the 3-point shot champ? Come out to the court and show us your skills. Post-game, we’ll celebrate Cinco de Mayo with frozen slushies and tacos. Mm, mm, good!
When: 7-10pm
Where: Prince George’s Plaza Community Center, 6600 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville
Cost: Free w/ MNCPPC youth ID

Xtreme Teens: Roller skating Under the Stars (Ages 10-17)
Lace up for some roller skating fun under the stars with a live DJ. They’ll provide the skates, you’ll bring the excitement!
When: 7-10pm
Where: North Brentwood Community Center, 4012 Webster Street, North Brentwood
Cost: Free w/ MNCPPC youth ID

Saturday Fun Along Route 1 Corridor

Blooming Art @ Home Depot
It’s DIY time for the kids! A one day workshop to build and paint a blooming art piece for mom. The fun includes a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin to take home. Tip: Get there early as supplies do run out. Must be with an adult. Register here
When: 9am-12pm
Where: Home Depot, 3301 East-West Highway, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!

Around the World Embassy Open House (All Ages)
Calling all travelers! No passports or tickets required. Once a year over 50 embassies welcome you to join them for food, art, and entertainment. Rain or shine event, most activities take place inside the embassies. Come out and explore!
When: 9am-4pm
Where: See details here
Cost: Free!, register here if you’d like

Open house at NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction
Tour this cool building, learn how weather gets predicted, meet a Hurricane Hunter pilot and enjoy interactive science and weather activities for kids!
When: 10am – 3:30pm
Where: 5830 University Research Court, College Park
Cost: Free!

Live Animal Show (Ages 2+)
Meet the nature center’s live animals including reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey. Learn more about them and their natural habitat. Our animal friends look forward to meeting you!
When: 10-11am
Where: Watkins Nature Center, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro
Cost: $3

Chess & Checkers (Ages 8+)
When: 10:30am – 12pm
Where: College Park Community Library, 9704 Rhode Island Ave, College Park (lower level of Church of the Nazarene)
Cost: Free

Free Comic Book Day @ Big Planet Comics
In College Park on Saturday? Be sure to stop by for a free comic and enjoy special sales at one of DC’s premiere comic book stores. Check out our time at Big Planet Comics here.
When: 11am-7pm
Where: Big Planet Comics of College Park, 7315 Baltimore Avenue, College Park
Cost: Free!

STEM-tastic Tea Party (Ages 5-12)
Who knew you could have so much fun with tea? The library team does and they want you to bring your kids for some hands-on, fun science experiments, using basic science principles. Let your kid be a mad scientist with tea!
When: 11am-1pm
Where: Largo-Kettering Branch, 9601 Capital Lane, Largo
Cost: Free!

Dinosaur Park Open House (All Ages)
Here’s your chance to dig for dinosaur bones and other fossils. Work side by side with paleontologist and educators and see if you get lucky, weather permitting. They’ll even show you fossils, casts, and models of Maryland’s state dinosaur and other creatures over 112 million-years-old!
When: 12-4pm
Where: Dinosaur Park, 13100 Mid-Atlantic Blvd, Laurel
Cost: Free!

Afternoon Aviators (Ages 6+)
Ever wondered what happens to a plane when it lands? Where does it go? Kids can learn all about hangars and then decorate their own pre-made mini hangar to take home. Don’t miss out on the fun!
When: 2-4pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park
Cost: $5, includes museum admission

Xtreme Teens: Cinco de Mayo Celebration (Ages 10-17)
Drop in for some cooking fun. Make some Spanish dishes and afterwards, savor your creations. Don’t miss out on preparing and sharing Spanish cuisine with friends!
When: 7-10pm
Where: North Brentwood Community Center, 4012 Webster Street, North Brentwood
Cost: Free w/ MNCPPC youth ID

Curious about local schools along the Route 1 Corridor?
Check out Route One Fun’s Spotlight on Schools series here!

Sunday Fun Along Route 1 Corridor

Langley Park Day: A Place of Many Cultures (All Ages)
Check out this intercultural festival. Food, entertainment, children’s activities, community resources and more. Wear your country’s traditional clothing, become part of the celebration!
When: 12pm-4pm
Where: 1500 Merrimac Drive, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!

Arts Drop-In: Watercolor Springtime Scenes (All Ages)
Make art, enjoy brunch at this cool venue. Supplies provided, recommend buying food to support MilkBoy ArtHouse. Seating and capacity limited. Come early!
When: 11am-1pm
Where: MilkBoy ArtHouse, 7416 Baltimore Avenue, College Park
Cost: Free!

BEST Horse Show Series (All Ages)
Happening all day, stop in and watch this award-winning horse show series. A spectacle for the whole family to enjoy!
When: 8am-9pm
Where: The Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro
Cost: Free!

District 3 STEAM Day
STEAM Day hosted by Councilmember Glaros and her team. Lots of fun hands-on activities at the College Park Aviation Museum!
When: 2-4pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, College Park
Cost: Free admission for District 3 residents!

This Monday (5/6), try Toddler Movement Playdate for Free! New movers and little creatives are invited to attend Monday’s Toddler Movement Playdate at Joe’s Movement Emporium for FREE this Monday, May 6, 10:30-12, for ages 0 – 4.