- The National Cherry Blossom Festival | March 20th-April 12th
On March 21st, The Smithsonian American Art Museum will be hosting one of their opening events for The National Cherry Blossom Festival. The event will run from 11:30am-3pm and there will be live music, face painting, cherry-blossom themed crafts, and a scavenger hunt among other free, family-friendly activities. If you miss out on this event, no worries, the festival runs for 4 weeks. Check out the full line up of events here.
- ‘Story Time’ at The Hirshhorn Museum | Wednesday and Sunday
The Hirshorn Museum is the perfect place to entertain both kids and adults! Every Wednesday (10am) and Sunday (11am) they host ‘story time’ for kids where a member of the staff reads a book, introduces children to an artist, and leads a hands-on activity. 700 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
- Free performance at Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Watch a free performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. As a part of their “Performing Arts for Everyone” initiative, everyday artists from around the world perform a variety of different acts invloving music, dance, theatre, and more. The schedule can be found here. 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
- National Museum of American History
Visit the various free exhibits at the National Museum of American History. A new March exhibit titled ‘Creating Icons: How We Remember Women’s Suffrage’ celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The museum also hosts the first exhibition on the National Mall designed for children ages 0-6, ‘Wegmans Wonderplace’. Try to make it mid-week for no lines and ample space to learn and explore! 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
- Yards Park at the Capitol Riverfront
Pack a picnic and visit the Yards Park at the Capitol Riverfront. A large grassy area makes for the perfect place to relax and lay down a blanket for a picnic. When the weather gets warm, kids can splash around the different water features.
- Fun activities at your local library
Take advantage of the free activities and resources at your local library. Public libraries host a variety of activities and events for both kids and adults including, kids’ storytimes, fitness classes, movie viewings, and art and crafts. Browse upcoming events at your local library here.
- Smithsonian National Zoo | April 22nd Easter Celebration
Visit the Smithsonian National Zoo which is free of charge and always has events going on. Check out this schedule for daily programming which includes animal trainings, feeding demonstrations, and keeper talks. If you are around on April 22nd, they will be hosting their annual Easter celebration with a free Easter egg hunt for kids. 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
- National Arboretum
Take a break from the city chaos and visit the National Arboretum which expands over 400 acres in size. The youth garden is a great place for kids to explore and learn how the foods we eat are grown. There is also a play area with xylophones, sandboxes and a stage for kids to dance and perform! Another must-see is the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which offers one of the largest collections of bonsais in North America. 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D.C.