Is your new year’s resolution to spend more time with your kids? Or are you searching for some interesting (and warm!) indoor educational activities for your family? Try these fun offerings in January! (OK, the first one is partly outdoors, but all the rest are inside…promise!)
Sunday January 3rd – Three Kings Day at the GALA Hispanic Theatre (Fiesta de los tres reyes magos)
Christmas is still going strong, so keep up that tree and playing the carols on your iPod – the Wise Men haven’t yet arrived! At the Tivoli on 14th Street NW on Sunday, experience this popular holiday event. Featuring the Magi, live animals, local performers, a parade through the neighborhood, and gifts for every child. After the outdoor procession, families will be entertained by a bilingual presentation of the Christmas story through song, dance and storytelling. Best of all, it’s free for the entire family (but the bringing of one gift per child in your family is requested.)
Tickets for the event will be distributed at the GALA box office at 12pm noon on Sunday on a first-come, first served basis. Parking is available at a discount in the Giant Food parking garage on Park Road,
NW (validation at the theater). A procession with the Three Kings and live animals will begin at 1:30 pm
at the corner of Park Road and 14th Street, NW and continue through the neighborhood, concluding at the theater around 2pm. Then the performance begins, but even if you don’t get tickets to the theater show, the outdoor procession is supposed to be great. After the show, churros and hot cocoa will be served and every child receives a gift from The Magi (which is why you’re asked to bring a gift with you.) For more information, call 202-234-7174.
Tiny Tots Puppet Shows at The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo Park
Beginning at age 9 months until, well, my son’s currently in kindergarten (and still enjoys them), my kids have been enraptured by these age-appropriate puppet shows for the very young by puppeteer Bob Brown. At just $5 per person and a great tolerance for fidgety kids new to live performances, we always find a Tiny Tots performance a stress-free and reasonable way to spend a winter morning. And there’s a wide variety of January shows so you can attend more than once this month if your kids dig it too!
Saturday January 2 10am & 11:30am – Snow Show
Sunday January 3 10am & 11:30am – Winter Wonderland
Saturday January 16 10am – Magic Toyshop
Wednesday January 27 10am – Winter Wonderland
Saturday January 30 10am – Penguin’s Playground
You can either purchase tickets online or call and make a no-obligation reservation for your spot by calling 301-634-5380.
Free Demo Classes at Funfit All Next Week Monday January 4 – Saturday January 9th!
At the Rockville Center, Funfit will be training new teachers and our kids are all invited to join them for as many classes as you would like! And there’s even some special Winter Enrollment bonuses for stopping by: if we sign up for a winter session class next week when we come by for a free class, we’ll get $10 off our family enrollment fee plus $10 OFF the first month of the Family Plan (with unlimited open gym playtimes) or 1 week free.
Fireside Story Times on Mondays in January at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda
Storytimes snuggled up by a fire, toasting marshmallows and nature-learning – has a better combination ever been devised? Every Monday in January from 11am-12pm, for kids 3 years and up, just $5 per kid and adult, online registration required. The Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817.
Preschool Songs and Storytimes on Tuesdays at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn
Every Tuesday from 11am-11:45am, bring your little ones by the Arts Barn for storytelling, singalongs and creative learning. No reservation is required, and the Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD.
Friday Afternoon Aviator Club at the College Park Aviation Museum
Every Friday afternoon from 2pm-4:30pm, kids in prekindergarten on up can join in the fun, hands-on aviation themed activities. Free with museum admission which is $4/adults, $3/seniors, $2/ages 18 & under (and every kid goes home with a goody bag full of penny toys, always a hit!)
and mark your calendars for
LEGO Aircraft Building Day on Saturday January 23 at the College Park Aviation Museum
Kids design their own aircrafts out of LEGOS provided by the museum and take home a picture of their creation, and top designs will be displayed through out the museum! From 11am-4pm on 1/23.
