Stephanie Shipman

Latest posts by Stephanie Shipman

St. Patrick's Day Weekend 2025 in DC: Parades, Women's History Month Celebrations, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 12:00pm

Get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit at the Ireland at the Wharf Festival. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in DC this St. Patrick's Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

This weekend has a little bit of everything—St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Women's History Month events, Nowruz festivals, and more.

Ireland at the Wharf Festival is on Saturday, with Irish dancing, bagpiping, and viewings of the Six National Rugby Championship. In the mood for a parade? Check out the St. Patrick's Day parade in Gaithersburg.

There are some festive events at libraries as well, like Family Day at the Library of Congress for Women's History Month and Ramadan Stories at Herndon Fortnightly Library.

And if you missed the Harlem Globetrotters in DC and Virginia last weekend, you can catch them on Sunday in Baltimore!

St. Patrick's Day Parades and More Best Things to Do in DC March 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:24am

Wear your green to the Greater Manassas St. Patrick's Day Parade! Photo by Lorie Shaull via Flickr 2.0

March is the official kickoff of spring in the DC area. While some chilly days may keep us inside, the month ends with the ever-spectacular cherry blossoms.

If you're Irish, or just feel like celebrating St. Patrick's Day, Ireland at the Wharf will surely be a festive time. There are also St. Patrick's Day parades in Gaithersburg, Manassas, and Old Town Alexandria. Don't forget to wear your green!

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off at the end of the month, including the opening ceremony, the Blossom Kite Festival, and many more fun events.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in DC this March. We're adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Presidents Day Weekend 2025: 12 Things To Do in DC with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:00pm

Celebrate President George Washingtons Birthday at Mount Vernon. US Army photo by Sgt Ethan Scofield, public domain

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Presidents Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

It's a double whammy: Valentine's Day AND Presidents Day weekend! The holiday weekend is full of great things to do.

Let's start with Valentine's Day: Check out The Story of Chocolate at the National Museum of the American Indian, or enjoy family Valentine's Day dances like the Island Oasis VIP Dance in Herndon or the Valentine's Day Family Dance in Silver Spring.

For Presidents Day, check out Presidential Fun Family Day at the National Portrait Gallery. Little historians can also celebrate the nation's first president in George Washington's honorary hometown of Alexandria with a birthday parade or a free visit to his home, Mount Vernon.

This is also the last weekend to catch Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage, so don't miss it! Have a great long weekend!

Valentine's Day and More Top Things to Do in DC February 2025

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 01/31/2025 - 12:00pm

Marvel at over 130 LEGO sculptures at The Art of the Brick. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

It might be the shortest month in the calendar, but February is bursting with family fun, including celebrations of Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Black History Month.

This month, Potomac Phil will let us know if we'll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter at Groundhog Day at Dupont Circle Park.

Free Lunar New Year events are abundant, including the DC Lunar New Year Parade and celebrations at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of Asian Art. There are also plenty of ways to celebrate Black History Month, including at Black History Month Family Day in Sandy Spring.

Don't miss some Valentine's Day celebrations that are fun for the whole family, including a free Taylor Swift-themed Valentine's Day roller skating event in Germantown, MD, and a Valentine's Day celebration at the Library of Congress. There are even opportunities to celebrate George Washington's birthday, including a birthday celebration at Ferry Farm.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in DC this February—we're adding more events to the DC Events Calendar every day.

Giant Pandas Return to the National Zoo!

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 01/24/2025 - 8:57am

Bao Li can't wait to meet your family! Photo credit: Roshan Patel/Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

DC is celebrating its two new residents: giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao! The pandas have been in DC since October, but they debut to the public today, Friday, January 24, 2025. Read all about them in our previous panda post.

Giant pandas have made their home at the National Zoo since 1972, when China gifted two pandas to the US as a gesture of goodwill. But after pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji returned to China in November 2023, there was an empty space at the zoo—and in DC families' hearts.

Guests can visit the pandas at the National Zoo starting today, and several local businesses have their own unique ways to celebrate the panda-monium. Check them out below and tag us on Instagram at @mommypoppinsdc if you participate in any!

MLK Weekend 2026 in DC: 14 Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Tue, 01/14/2025 - 9:49am

Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade. Photo courtesy of the Washington Informer

Looking for the best things to do in DC for MLK weekend 2026? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

The DC area is particularly meaningful to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Annual MLK Peace Walk & Parade and several other fantastic events are great ways for families to celebrate and honor Dr. King.

Want to take action? Participate in the MLK National Day of Service or help clean up a local park in Alexandria, Virginia or Montgomery County, Maryland.

Read on for details on these events and other family-friendly activities this MLK weekend 2026.

Monster Jam, DC Transit Day, America's 250th Party at the Postal Museum and More Fun Things To Do in DC this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 10:32am

Balloonacy is a fun, movement-based show that revisits the classic film The Red Balloon. Photo courtesy of Imagination Stage

Looking for the best things to do in DC this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

It's the last weekend of the first month of the year, and there's lots of fun things to do!

Kick things off with fun FREE events like America's 250th Party at the National Postal Museum, or the Third Annual Petworth Book Exchange and Winter Carnival. Watch people jump in freezing water for free at the Mosaic Polar Plunge. If your kid has been wanting to try out ice hockey for a while, Sunday is your chance: head to Try Hockey For Free Day at the Wharf!

My son loves monster trucks, and if yours does, too, you'll want to get tickets to Monster Jam at Capital One Arena.

The Auto Show kicks off, and DC Transit Day at the National Capital Trolley Museum will show all the old street cars outside!

It's also the last weekend for Time by Luxmuralis Light and Sound Installation at the Washington National Cathedral! It ends Saturday, so check it out!

Latest posts by Stephanie Shipman

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