Looking for fun family activities around the DC area? Here’s a roundup of winter festivals, holiday shows, creative workshops and January events to help you plan your outings over the next few weeks.
Crafty Kids: Tuesday Paper Crafts at Glencarlyn
Jan. 6. Crafty Kids is an opportunity for elementary school kids to engage with arts and crafts, with materials provided by the library (Glencarlyn Branch).
Location: 300 South Kensington St., Arlington, VA
Ice Skating at Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion
Jan. 1-31. The Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion is offering seasonal ice skating with discounted group rates (10 or more skaters) and private rentals available.
Location: 1818 Discovery St., Reston, VA
Washington Wizards SpongeBob SquarePants Night
Jan. 4. Join the Wizards for SpongeBob Night at 6 p.m., where the first 10,000 fans score a limited-edition SpongeBob-themed Wizards hat and can upgrade the fun by purchasing a matching special-edition jersey with select tickets. Get ready for a night of nautical nonsense as the Wizards take on the Timberwolves!
Location: Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, Washington, DC
Winter Concert with the Woodbridge Flute Choir
Jan. 10. The Woodbridge Flute Choir will be performing popular winter selections, after which there will be a Winter Open House for crafts and fun.
Location: 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA
In The Round
Jan. 10. The Mead Center for American Theater invites you for an unforgettable performance by the Chamber Dance Project, DC’s premier contemporary ballet company, accompanied by their string quartet.
Location: 1101 6th St. SW, Washington, DC
Storytime for Young Readers
Jan. 11. Join People’s Book on Sundays for a free children’s storytime and accompanying craft or activity. People’s Book hosts authors and illustrators each week.
Location: 7014-A Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park, MD
Pokémon Casual Play
Jan. 11. Game Kastle at College Park invites kids of all ages and expertise to come play Pokémon TCG with other fans.
Location: 4748 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, MD
Crafty Kids: Tuesday Paper Crafts at Glencarlyn
Jan. 13-27. Elementary school kids are invited for arts and crafts at the Glencarlyn Branch Library. January is all about winter-themed crafts, and materials will be provided by the library.
Location: 300 South Kensington St., Arlington, VA
Stomp at Broadway at the National Theatre
Jan. 16-18. Stomp at the Broadway National Theater is a fun, inventive family-friendly show centered around producing percussion music through unconventional tools used as instruments, like wooden poles, brooms and matchboxes.
Location: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Cub Corner
Jan. 17-18. A special reading of “Almost Underwear” by local teacher and author Jonathan Roth, followed by a craft session where kids can make their own canvas or fabric pals.
Location: 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD
Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Winter Concert
Jan. 18. The Kennedy Center in DC presents this acclaimed ensemble of classics, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Location: 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! Presented by Walmart
Jan. 21–22. “Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!” brings the hit DreamWorks series to the stage in a colorful, high-energy musical adventure. Kids can join Gabby, Pandy Paws and the Gabby Cats as they journey through fan-favorite worlds like the Cat-O-Sphere and Mermaid-Lantis to rebuild a broken rainbow. The show features lively puppetry, vibrant sets and popular songs including “Hey Gabby” and “Sprinkle Party,” making it a purr-fect holiday outing for families.
Location: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Jan. 23. London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is returning for an amazing program of musical masterpieces: Nielsen, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich.
Location: 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, VA
Get the USA 250th Party Started!
Jan. 24. Celebrate America’s 250th at the National Postal Museum from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., with a free, drop-in family festival featuring curator-led kids’ tours, Story Time sessions (ASL-interpreted), a Future Inventors Tinker Station, trivia, hands-on activities and more. Open to all ages; no registration required.
Location: Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC
UpSpring Aerial Studio Presents: In Light Of…
Jan. 25. Joe’s Movement Emporium presents this aerial dance performance about light by UpSpring Aerial Lab.
Location: 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD
Curious George: The Holden Meatball
Jan. 31. This kid-friendly musical adventure sees the lovable character, George, looking forward to All-You-Can-Eat Meatball Day, only to end up trying to get his friend, Chef Pisghetti, entered into the Golden Meatball Contest in Rome.
Location: 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, VA
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Seth Hagler is a freelance writer and an intern with Washington Parent. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
