Maryland Day

There are so many great events to choose from on Saturday, April 30, including Maryland Day, which takes place from 10am until 4pm at the University of Maryland College Park. There is SO MUCH going on at Maryland Day that I can't even begin to scratch the surface on this little 'ole blog. So, instead, I urge you to go direcly to the Maryland Day website at http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/ to get all the details and plan your day.

Have fun!

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Help the National Children's Museum Launch Zone Celebrate its 2nd Birthday!

On Saturday, April 30, the National Children's Museum Launch Zone will celebrate its 2nd Birthday and they're inviting you to the party! The fun begins at 11am and lasts until 4pm.

Enjoy a magician, decorate party hats, make a rain stick, get your face painted, and more! (Well, maybe you should just let the kids enjoy all that!)

They are jumping on the party favor trend by offering mini-Frisbees and popcorn (not to mention all those great crafts your kids can take home!).

Wayne Alan of Child Time Magic will perform at noon and 2pm (shows last approx. 45 minutes).

Many of the Launch Zone neighbors are joining in the fun, too, by giving away small treats and coupons! Stop by The Peeps Store, CakeLove and Ben & Jerry's. Other stores will give away coupons and goodies at the par-tay.

Additional details:

National Children's Museum Launch Zone
2nd Birthday Party
Saturday, April 30, 11am-4pm
112 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

South Mountain Creamery Spring Festival on Saturday, April 30

We've been getting all our eggs, milk, meat and other farm-fresh goodies from South Mountain Creamery in Middleton, MD for more than four years and just adore SMC! Every Thursday morning the cooler on our stoop is filled to the brim with glass bottles of milk, eggs and meat. It is delicious!

If you, too, enjoy deliveries from South Mountain Creamery (or, even if you don't), I highly recommend a trip to the SMC Spring Festival on Saturday, April 30. It's a great way to help your kids understand where their food comes from. In our case, those very cows will have provided the milk they drank that very morning. (And one of the chickens may just be their dinner next week, ahem!)

Admission is free (though there are costs for other things such as yummy food!) to enjoy music, kids' games, hay rides, calf feedings and tours.

Additional Details:

South Mountain Creamery Spring Fesitval
Saturday, April 30 from 10am-5pm
8305 Bolivar Road, Middleton, MD 21769
http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Activities for Easter Monday

Didn't win tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll lottery? Yeah, me either. But, there are still plenty of family-friendly events to check out on Easter Monday. Here are just a few.

Easter Monday at the National Zoo
A Washington-area tradition going back 100 years, Easter Monday is traditionally known as African American Family Day at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. (But of course all families are welcome!). The event takes place on Monday, April 25, from 10am-4pm. Admission is free, as usual, but there also dozens of free family events--an Easter egg hunt, organized field games, crafts, activities, demonstrations and fabulous music. And last, but certainly not least, the Easter Panda will be on hand throughout the day!! Of course fantastic food and more will be on sale. Click here for a full schedule of events and entertainment.

Additional Details:

National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
http://www.nationalzoo.si.edu/


Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Extravaganza
Also on Monday, April 25, from 11am-Noon, Snow Hill Manor in Laurel is hosting their annual outdoor egg hunt with entertainment on the manor grounds. Note: pre-registration is required by calling 301-725-6037 but the cost is only $1 per person.

Additional Details:

Snow Hill Manor
13301 Laurel-Bowie Road
Laurel, MD 20780


Easter Monday Fun Day
Oxon Hill Manor in Oxon Hill, MD is hosting a fun day with games, prizes, face painting and an egg hunt on Easter Monday from 1pm-3pm. Admission is $2 per person.

Additional Details:

Oxon Hill Manor
6901 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill, MD 20744



Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Easter and Spring Events this Weekend

There are some really fun and unique Easter and Spring events planned for this Saturday, April 23. Here are the details.

It's Sheep Shearing Day at the Old Maryland Farm at Watkins Park! From 10am-1pm you and your kids can see sheep and llama shearing demonstrations and displays of products made from wool and hair and more. Hayrides are only $1 and you can visit all the other animals as usual. Not to mention that the Old Maryland Farm is right next door to a fantastic playground and the amazing Watkins Nature Center.

Additional Details:

Old Maryland Farm @ Watkins Park
301 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Old_Maryland_Farm.htm

If you want to do something with eggs but don't need any more candy, Natural Egg Dying at the Mt. Rainier Nature Center may be the thing for you! This Saturday, April 23, from Noon until 3pm you can enjoy the folk art of natural egg dying--be sure to bring your own eggs! It's only $2 for children ages 3-16 but all ages are welcome!

Additional Details:

Mt. Rainier Nature Center
4701 31st Street
Mt. Rainier, MD
www.pgparks.com/places/nature/rainier.html



And if you're looking for a good old Easter Egg Hunt featuring candy, the big bunny himself and more, then be sure to head to one of these events....

Cheverly Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 23, 11am
Photos with the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt -- bring your own basket
Cheverly Town Park, 6401 Forest Road, Cheverly
Free!

Capitol Hill Easter Eggstravaganza
Sponsored by National Community Church
Saturday, April 23, 10am-2pm
HUGE Easter event for the kids including an egg hunt and tons of activities
Lincoln Park, East Capitol Street, SE, between 11th and 13th Streets, SE
Free!



Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Paper Airplane Day, Friday, April 22

Looking for a fun activity when your kids are off school on Friday? The College Park Aviation Museum has come to the rescue! They're hosting a Paper Airplane Day on Friday, April 22 from Noon-4pm. On a regular day, the Aviation Museum has exhibits and activities for all ages, but on Friday, you do all that AND build your own paper airplane and then compete in the annual Paper Airplane Derby at 3pm.

Admission is always $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for ages 2-18, and free for children under 2.

Additional Details:

College Park Aviation Museum
1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive
College Park, MD 20740
http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/



Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Washington Nationals: $1 Kids' Tickets and FREE Clinics

Starting with their first season at RFK, we loved sharing Nationals' season tickets with a group of friends. But, after the kids came along, it was hard to justify the price of a seat for kids who had little or no interest in sitting through an entire game. I'm so excited about the Washington Nationals $1 kids' tickets this year!

Starting with this Saturday's 1:05pm game v. the Brewers and for three additional games throughout the season, you can purchase up to four kids' tickets for just $1 each with the purchase of one full-price ticket. You can purchase them on-line in advance or at the Box Office the day of the game. Full list of games and additional info can be found here.

So, take your kids to a game for $1, then on Saturday, April 23, from 9am-noon, take your aspiring Ryan Zimmerman to the first Washington Nationals and M-NCPPC baseball clinic of the season at the Riverdale Park field in Riverdale, MD. It's FREE!

The once-per-month clinics continue through August and are led by former major league players and local high school coaches. They are for boys and girls ages 7-15 and current Nationals players will show up for autographs. Be sure to bring all your gear and pre-register at 301-446-6800 because the first 100 kids registered will receive 2 free tickets to a future Nationals game! Click here for all the details and full schedule.

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

March Through Time this Weekend

The 19th annual multi-period living history encampment in Prince George's County, Marching Through Time, takes place this Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17 on the grounds of the Marietta House Museum. We stumbled on this event last year and really enjoyed it!

Originally from Pennsylvania (and near Gettysburg), I'm used to seeing Civil War reenactors, but I didn't realize that there are reenactors from pretty much every war out there! Last year at Marching Through Time, we saw soldiers from the Roman Legion, the Irish Republican Army, the Revolutionary War, WWI, WWII and many others! Lucas also loved the long bow and cannon demonstrations.

The entire event is free (even parking--go to the lot at the Glen Dale Community Center and take the free shuttle, it's much easier than trying to park along the busy road) but there are several vendors selling food and other wares. It would be the perfect place to find princess or knight gear for your little dress up artist.

Additional Details:

Marching Through Time
Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17
11am-5pm
Marietta House Museum
5626 Bell Station Road, Glen Dale, MD
(Free parking and shuttle at the Glen Dale Community Center, look for the signs)
Free admission; food and wares for sale

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Easter Events this Weekend

Easter is right around the corner and the area's many Easter events are starting! Two fun events are happening this weekend, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex and Magic Eggsravaganza, both on Saturday, April 16.

Admission is $3 per person at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which takes place from 12:30-3pm. Bring your own basket to hunt for eggs then enjoy arts and crafts, games and more. The Easter Bunny is available for photos (nominal charge).

Additional Details:
Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785

Another great option on Saturday is Magic Eggsravaganza from 12-2pm at the Langley Park Community Center in Hyattsville. Admission is $2 for Prince George's County Residents and $3 for others. There will be a magic show, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny (whew, he's a busy guy!) and games. Bring your own basket for the egg hunt!

Additional Details:
Langley Park Community Center
1500 Merrimac Drive
Hyattsville, MD 20783

I don't know about you, but we're going to have a hard time deciding which to check out!

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Cherry Blossom Parade and Sakura Matsura Japanese Street Festival

The blooms are beginning to turn to leaves but the Cherry Blossom Festival continues this weekend with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, both on Saturday, April 9.

The parade takes place from 10am-noon along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th streets. Seating is free along the parade route, but plan to arrive early as there are sure to be big crowds. This year's event will include grand floats, marching bands, performers and giant helium balloons.

Sakura Matsuri, the annual Japanese street festival, is making two changes this year. First, they are charging  admission: $5 per person ages 13 and up. Second, their theme is "Stand with Japan" this year and part of the proceeds will benefit Japanese recovery efforts. In addition, numerous vendors will be making donations and volunteers will be collecting donations for the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund. The Bezos Family Foundation will be making a $2 donation for every paper crane made at the children's corner.

The festival features more than 20 hours of live performances, art and cultural demonstrations, food and a wonderful Children's Corner and stretches more than six city blocks, from 9th to 14th Streets, NW on Pennsylvania Avenue. (That's approximately from the FBI building to just before the White House.)

Additional details:

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
http://www.sakuramatsuri.org/



Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Day of the Dinosaur at Watkins Nature Center

Loyal readers already know that Watkins Nature Center is one of our favorite places. Abel took the boys there today and discovered that tomorrow, Saturday, April 2, is Day of the Dinosaur at the Watkins Nature Center!

In addition to getting a neat coloring book all about Maryland's dinosaurs, kids can enjoy a prehistoric puppet show, "living links" animal show, activities & crafts, and fossil displays.

Kids: wear a dinosaur costume and you'll get a prize!

Here are the specifics:

Day of the Dinosaur at Watkins Nature Center
Saturday, April 2 from 12-3pm
301 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

$3 per person, ages 2 and up.


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!