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Things to Do This Weekend With Kids in Washington, DC: Chocolate Fest, STEM, Dinos

Enjoy maple sugaring month at the Brookside Nature Center. Photo courtesy of Montgomery Parks
Enjoy maple sugaring month at the Brookside Nature Center. Photo courtesy of Montgomery Parks
1/29/20 - By James Smith

Before you sit down for the big game, why not get up and out for some family fun. This weekend in Washington, DC, families can enjoy continuing Lunar New Year celebrations, a maple sugaring festival, and a special Groundhog Day tea party.

Fans of chocolate —and who isn't?—can have a dream weekend in Fairfax, Virginia, while STEM and theater activities abound throughout the region. 

Whatever you do this weekend, know that your friends at Mommy Poppins DC will be with you throughout 2020 with updates on the best family happenings in the capital area. Check our events calendar for the most up-to-date events in DC and beyond, and remember to sign up for our FREE newsletters to receive posts such as this right to your inbox.

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Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Kennedy Center. Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Center
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Kennedy Center. Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Center

Things to Do in Washington, DC With Kids All Weekend

Fairfax City Chocolate Lovers Festival

Fairfax, VA
Chocolate lovers of all ages can indulge at this community event. Enjoy a liquid chocolate cake walk, chocolate tastings, and even a chocolate challenge for bakers of all ages.  READ MORE

KC Lunar New Year 2020

Washington, DC - FREE
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and ring in the Year of the Rat with showcases of Chinese and Korean culture and enjoy a special display of winter lanterns. READ MORE

Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue

Fairfax, VA
Get ready to roll with the PAW Patrol as everybody’s favorite heroic pups race to the rescue on the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race. READ MORE

Toddler Trailblazers at Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center

Washington, DC
SEEC workshops offer hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in playful ways designed to support a child’s development. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring Month

Wheaton, MD
February is Maple Sugaring Month at Brookside Nature Center. Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, families can watch the whole sugaring process from start to finish. Kids can see sap drip from trees and even taste it. READ MORE

Things to Do in Washington, DC With Kids, Saturday, February 1

Dinosaur Park Open House

Laurel - FREE
Enjoy fun for all ages during Dinosaur Park Open House where visitors can see a rare deposit of fossils from the Cretaceous period. Paleontologists and educators showcase dinosaur fossils, casts, and models, while participants are invited to search for new fossils, weather permitting. There's also a dinosaur-themed playground open daily. READ MORE

Annual STEM Fair at District Architecture Center

Washington, DC
Kids in the Washington Metro area are invited to learn about design-related fields, including architecture, engineering, construction, urban planning, landscape architecture, and interior design. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about design education and talk with professional architects about their interests in the field. READ MORE

Discover the Coral Reef: Fish Feeding

Fairfax, VA
Join the Children’s Science Center Lab as it explores the world of the coral reef, shows how different sea life interact with one another, and how we can take care of each and everyone of them. READ MORE
Your kids will have fun while learning the fundamentals at a Super Soccer Stars clinic. Photo courtesy of Super Soccer Stars
Your kids will have fun while learning the fundamentals at a Super Soccer Stars clinic. Photo courtesy of Super Soccer Stars

Things to Do in Washington, DC With Kids, Sunday, February 2

Groundhog Day Tea

Bethesda, MD
You're invited to an English tea party with woodland friends. Learn about the tradition of using hibernating animals to predict the weather from a live special guest. READ MORE

Sunday Fun Day at Imagination Stage - CANCELED

Bethesda, MD
Imagination Stage brings your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. READ MORE

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About the Author

James Smith
James Stephen Smith is a seasoned journalist who transitioned from reporting at Newsday to a more relaxed life as a father and director of media relations at St. John's University. He manages the university’s messaging while also contributing to Mommy Poppins, a site he discovered after his third daughter was born in 2011. Fun fact: James nearly made it on Jeopardy but missed a Final Jeopardy question on art history—only to watch a colleague nail it and become a two-time champion.
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Read more articles by James Smith.