School’s out for Winter Break & Route One Fun!’s got you covered with fresh ideas for local, kid-friendly fun! From Bladensburg’s S’mores & Ornaments to splashing away at Rollingcrest to coffee and board games at College Park’s Board & Brew to an incredibly fun Open Gym in Landover – you’ll have enough local activities at your fingertips to keep your kids active and yourself, sane. May the force be with you.
FRIDAY (December 23rd)
Holiday Campfire, S’mores, Cider, and Ornament Making
Last day to watch miniature trains, villages, tunnels, and depots spark your imagination and bring history to life. The National Capital Trackers will bring a fascinating, locomotive display of model railroads to the Museum. ***Heads-Up: Groupon is running a promo, 50% off admission here!!!
SATURDAY (December 24th)
Rollingcrest’s Indoor Splash Playground!
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| Credit: PG Parks & Recreation |
Need to get the kids out of the house while someone else gets things ready? Take them to this awesome indoor waterpark, right here in PG! Specialized water play area for pre-schoolers with slides and spray features, family pool with water slides and spray features, a vending area and shower /changing facilities with lockers (lockers are available but require you to bring your own lock). While parts of the facility are dated but the kids always have a blast.
When: 12pm-3:45pm
Where: Rollingcrest Chillum Splash Pool, 6122 Sargent Road, Chillum
Admission: 2 & under are free! Ages 3-17: $5. Adults:$6
SUNDAY (December 25th)
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| Credit: M-NCPPC |
Gifts all unwrapped, kids going bonkers or maybe Xmas isn’t your thing? Then check out this spectacular holiday drive-through event featuring over one million twinkling lights, wonderful themed displays FOR FREE! Don’t forget to bring canned goods/non-perishable items for donation to local food banks.
Mitzvah Day and Family Fun
The Owings Mills JCC will host Mitzvah projects and fun entertainment like moon bounces! Have fun while doing good. Perfect for children ages 3-10 and their families!
When: December 25th, 12-3 pm
Where: Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue, Owings Mills
Cost: Free; register here.
MONDAY (December 26)
Rise + Rhyme
9:30 am Rise + Rhyme = music & storytime for 0-5 crew. May even be able to enjoy a coffee and/or some food while your lil one boogies on down! See my review here: bit.ly/2ibPd3b
When: Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m-ish
Where: Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781.
Cost? $5 suggested donation at the door. Well worth it.
Smaland at College Park’s Ikea
| Credit: Ikea |
Free, 1 hour, supervised, enclosed, safe & clean play area near the entrance. Enjoy some shopping or just relax/eat/peoplewatch at the restaurant upstairs while your young one(s) has a blast at Smaland. Children must be potty trained and be 37” to 54” tall (so children typically b/w ages of 3-6). Tips: (1) Best to arrive earlier on in the day as day progresses, so do the entrances lines; & (2) Join Ikea Family & kids get extra 30 minutes to play (depending on capacity) & you get free coffee!
When: 10:30am – 7pm
Where: 10100 Baltimore Avenue, College Park
Admission: Free!
TUESDAY (December 27th)
Kwanzaa Celebration, Day 1 – Kujichagulia w/ Culture Queen
Join Culture Queen (Jessica Smith) as she brings to life the Kwanzaa principle Kujichagulia which means “self determination” through live music, interactive movement and storytelling the whole family will enjoy!
When: December 27th, 11am-1pm
Where: Anacostia Community Museum, hosted at Fort Stanton Rec Center, 1810 Erie Street SE, Washington, DC
Cost: Free, registration required & can do so here.
Open Gym at PG Sports & Learning Complex 
If you haven’t checked this place out yet with your energetic 1-12 year old(s), then let this be the day! This place is really great. HUGE. Two climbing walls. Two foam pits. Tons of equipment for curious ones to explore and blow off some steam. Very clean. Recommend packing lunch, getting there early and eating lunch ahead of open gym (I know. Work with me.) Kids will be exhausted after jumping around and you may get some quiet time in the car as they nap on the way home! Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parents are required to be on the floor with the children (Maximum 3 children to 1 adult). Ages walking to 12 years old.
When: 11:30am-12:30pm
Where: 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD
Cost: $7 per child.
WEDNESDAY (December 28th)
Kwanzaa Celebration – Day 2
Enjoy the energetic performance of Taratibu Youth Association as it presents Afro-inspired dances that WTTG Fox 5 calls “rhythmically powerful.” This performing arts company has toured and performed throughout Africa—Togo, Benin, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Soweto).
When: 10:30am-12pm
Where: Fort Stanton Recreational Center, 1810 Erie Street SE, Washington, DC
Cost: Free, sign up here. You may also call 202.633.4844 to register for this program.
Caregiver & Child Play Time
Gather and chat with others while your babies, toddlers and older children play!
When:10:30am-12:30pm
Where: Link Education, 5109 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD
Cost: Free!
Open Gym at PG Sports & Learning Complex If you haven’t checked this place out yet with your energetic 1-12 year old(s), then let this be the day! This place is really great. HUGE. Two climbing walls. Two foam pits. Tons of equipment for curious ones to explore and blow off some steam. Very clean. Recommend packing lunch, getting there early and eating lunch ahead of open gym (I know. Work with me.) Kids will be exhausted after jumping around and you may get some quiet time in the car as they nap on the way home! Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parents are required to be on the floor with the children (Maximum 3 children to 1 adult). Ages walking to 12 years old.
When: 11:30am-12:30pm
Where: 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD
Cost: $7 per child.
THURSDAY (December 29th)
Open Bounce at PG’s Pump it Up!
Our Pop In Play Times are open play time where your child can have the time of their life. Our massive inflatables spark their imaginations to run wild. It’s not only fun for the kids, but provides a healthy workout that burns off excess energy and helps keep them fit. It’s fun for kids of all ages.
When: 10am-12pm & 12-2pm
Where: Pump it Up! 4230 Forbes Blvd Ste H, Lanham, MD
Admission: $9 per child plus tax
Storytime at Laurel Library (Ages 3-5)
Bring your preschooler and join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and more at the newly renovated Laurel Library! The kids room is fantastic! So many hands-on activities to keep them occupied – including a Smart Table and pretend play area – and enough computers/reading nooks for even older kiddos to have a place to themselves.
When: 10:30-11:00am
Where: Laurel Library, 507 7th Street, Laurel
Cost: Free!
Kwanzaa Celebration – Day 3
Families participate in multiple arts and crafts activities using a variety of art materials in the museum’s multi-purpose room. .
When: 10:30am-2:30pm
Where: Anacostia Community Museum, Community Room, 1901 Fort Place SE, WDC
Cost: Free, sign up here. You may also call 202.633.4844 to register for this program.
FRIDAY (December 30th)
Ice Skating! 
Huge indoor ice skating rink with a warming hut and a snack bar – what else do you need?!
When: 3:15-5:15pm (public session)
Where: Herbert Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Campus Drive, College Park
Cost: $4 (skate rental included)!
SATURDAY (December 31st)
Gametime @ Board & Brew
Board & Brew is a fun place to check out with your 5+year-old crowd. With over 500 board games including Operation, Perfection, Hungry Hippos, etc., you’ll easily eat up an hour or two of a cold, winter recess day! Speaking of eating up, they also have a good menu of kid-friendly options. And for my fellow coffee afficionados, they rotate between Vigilante, Mad Cap and Counter Culture coffee – so you’ll be sure to get a tasty, quality brew while you’re there!
When: Opens at 7 am
Where: 8150 Baltimore Ave, College Park
Cost: $2.50 p/p for games + the cost of whatever you may order from menu.
Old Greenbelt Theatre Family Series
Catch Night at the Museum as a fun NYE activity.
When: 1pm
Where: Old Greenbelt Theatre, 129 Centerway, Greenbelt
Cost: Adults: $7; Kids $6
SUNDAY (January 1st) – Your On Your Own. Good luck with that headache!
MONDAY (January 2nd)
Rise + Rhyme 
9:30 am Rise + Rhyme = music & storytime for 0-5 crew. May even be able to enjoy a coffee and/or some food while your lil one boogies on down! See my review here: bit.ly/2ibPd3b
When: Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m-ish
Where: Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Rear parking lot.
Cost? $5 suggested donation at the door. Well worth it.
College Park Youth Music Traditions!
Join us in the new year for our fireside jam! Fireplace, hot drinks, time-tested melodies played by young hands!
When: 6:30pm
Where: St. Andrew’s Church, Rector’s Lounge
Cost: Free!
Always call or check the event website before heading out; Event information is subject to change or weather cancellation.
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