The Best Things to See and Do With Kids in Washington D.C. This May

Posted Apr 24, 2019 DC/MD/VA Things to Do Holidays

The final bell of the school year is about to ring and that means school's out for summ-mmer! But before that bell tolls, we have rounded up the best things to do in the last month of spring with kids in Washington, D.C.!

Thankfully, the weather has finally warmed up just in time for all these exciting D.C. activities. This month, you and your family can look forward to Cinco de Mayo festivities, Maryland's largest SLIME event, special Mother's Day celebrations, and D.C.'s signature May event, Passport D.C. During this annual month-long cultural festival, you and your family can experience the rich cultural traditions of D.C.'s vibrant diplomatic community through the Around the World Embassy Tour, European Union Embassies' Open Houses, Fiesta Asia! Street Festival and more. 

This last month before school is out will fly by, so take some time to pick the spring strawberries and smell them too! There is a ton of fun to be had with all of these exciting Washington D.C. family events!

Flower Mart 2019, Washington National Cathedral, D.C. - FREE
Celebrating the pollinator power of bees and butterflies, the Flower Mart 2019 is the premier outdoor family festival featuring an array of floral and garden plants. Along with the show-stopping flowers, there will also be boutique booths, carousel and carnival-style rides, great food, games and entertainment. The 80th annual festival takes place on May 3rd-4th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so get your flower crowns ready!

Flower Mart, Washington National Cathedral

Around the World Embassy Tour, D.C. - FREE
Travel around the world in a day without leaving D.C.! At Around the World Embassy Tour over 35 embassies in the D.C. area will be opening their doors on May 4th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to experience the cultures surrounding them like never before, with plenty of exciting and engaging workshops and performances. This event will surprise your taste buds and shock your senses with all the amazing food, art, fashion, dance and music. Past years have included dance performances, karate demonstrations, sari wrapping lessons and henna demonstrations. Many embassies are within walking distance of Dupont Circle and Van Ness/UDC Metro rail stations. Street parking at the embassy locations is available but often difficult to locate a vacant spot. Some embassies require photo identification.

Around the World Embassy Tour, Passport DC

Attend a Cinco de Mayo Family-Friendly Celebration
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the country's victory over France in 1862 in the Franco-Mexican War. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. Grab the family and head out to experience the rich colors, traditions, food and music at an area celebration. Check out our article on Family-Friendly Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in the D.C. Area for suggestions.

Mexican Cultural Institute, Corazón Folklórico 

European Union Embassies Open House, D.C. - FREE
Get a taste of European culture without all the jet lag. Twenty-eight European Union embassies will open their doors to the public allowing visitors to experience cultural heritage and national traditions. Download the "EUintheUS" App and get live updates of events including the line status at the embassies for the EU Open House on May 11th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The event brochure may be downloaded HERE.

Train Day Celebration, National Postal Museum, D.C. - FREE
Come out to the National Postal Museum for the annual celebration of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad. The Train Day: The Golden Spike Anniversary Family Festival takes place on Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with interactive learning carts, model trains, storytime, LEGO train making, mail sorting fun, toy steam train rides and a visit with Owney the Dog, a mascot of the Railway Post office. Check out this article for more family fun activities at the National Postal Museum.

Train Day Celebration, National Postal Museum

Slimeganza at Frederick Fairgrounds, MD
Maryland's largest slime event is coming to the Frederick Fairgrounds, Slimeganza! Slime lovers young and old will have a fun-filled day meeting fellow slime-making aficionados and YouTube idols, learn tips and tricks on how to craft the coolest slime, see live demos, play games, and enjoy the live DJ and light show. The awesome slime event takes place on May 11th from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Save 25% off tickets to Slimeganza with this CertifiKID offer.

Slimeganza

World & Me Family Program at Natural History Museum, D.C. - FREE
This month's World & Me Family Program explores prehistoric creature features and how we know what dinosaurs and other extinct animals look like. Kids will be able to listen to a story and create their own wearable dinosaur costume! Take your prehistoric creations home and save to wear at the museum's Fossil Hall opening celebration on June 8th. The program is open to children ages 3-8 years old and takes place on May 11th from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The Reluctant Dragon, The Keegan Theatre 
A charming tale for the whole family of an unlikely friendship and the escalating repercussions of misunderstandings, The Reluctant Dragon show is sensory-friendly and suitable for all ages. This show has select performance dates from May 11th - 26th.  Save 50% on tickets to The Reluctant Dragon with this CertifiKID offer.

Celebrate Mom this Month with these Mother's Day Events 
Mother's Day is here again on May 12th, a day to celebrate and cherish the strong, brave and supportive women in our lives. Make this Mother's Day extra special with an elegant mansion tour and tea, a card decorating workshop and a day with the Lady Washington!

• Amazing Women Mother's Day Reading & Card Workshop, Postal Museum, D.C. - FREE 
  Join the 2018 winner of the National Youth Foundation Amazing Woman Award and youth author, Gabby Jones Fields, as she reads her book, "My Mom Could Be a Super Hero" at the National Postal Museum. Her book was inspired by her mom, a USPS letter carrier. Stick around to make your own Mother's Day card at the Amazing Women Mother's Day Reading and Card Workshop on May 4th from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Open Studio: Celebrate Mothers at Freer Gallery of Art - FREE
  Enjoy a family-friendly tour at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for Mother's Day weekend at Freer Gallery of Art's Open Studio. Drop in on May 11th from noon to 4 p.m. to explore the Empresses of China's Forbidden City exhibit and create your own royal portrait and greeting cards.
• Mother's Day Fashion Tea at Tudor Place
  Take your mom to an elegant mansion tour and tea on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mother's Day Fashion Tea is a delightful event featuring rarely viewed fashion items worn by grandmothers, mothers and daughters for over two centuries. Learn about the Peters's family and how they expressed themselves through their fashion choices. 
• Mother's Day Weekend at Mount Vernon, 
  Visit the mother of our country, Martha Washington, on Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m at Mother's Day Weekend at Mount Vernon. Join Lady Washington for a stroll through Mount Vernon's incredible gardens (Mount Vernon will be hosting a garden sale on their Historic plants too!) and dine at the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant. All mothers will receive lavender sachets (while supplies last) given by Lady Washington at the Mansion's piazza. 

Amazing Women, Mother's Day Event, Postal Museum

Teen Takeover: Night at the Museum, Freer Gallery of Art - FREE
It's a teen takeover at the museum with fun activities made by and for teens! The Teen Takeover is on May 17th from 6 - 9 p.m. and is exclusively for ages 13 - 18, featuring a pop-up gallery highlighting teen artists, musical performances, museum tours, art making, free food and giveaways.

Jazz in the Garden Concert Series at the National Gallery of Art - FREE
The National Gallery of Art kicks off its Jazz in the Garden Concert Series on May 17th and will continue every Friday evening until August 23rd, from 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Spend an evening dancing among the garden's sculptures to the sweet musical sounds of different guest artists each week. There will also be food vendors available on site, so this event will become your weekly Friday dinner and a show! 

Fiesta Asia! at Capitol Hill and Silver Spring - FREE
An annual celebration in conjunction with Asian Heritage Month, Fiesta Asia! is held in two places, in front of Downtown Silver Spring (May 5th) and in front of Capitol Hill (May 18th), and features crafts, live performances, food, market vendors, interactive displays, martial arts, cooking demonstrations, a talent show and more! 

Fiesta Asia! Photo by Jeff Malet

Tiny Tinkerers Workshop at The National Building Museum
Your tiny tinkerer will learn about tool safety, practice fine motor skills and explore how to to use different types of drills to core and crank holes. The Tiny Tinkerers: The Hand Drill Workshop is on May 18th from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and is for ages 3 and up (requires an adult companion).  Save 50% off admission to the National Building Museum with our deal. 

Tiny Tinkerers Workshop at The National Building Museum

Hawaiian Cultural Festival at the American Indian Museum - FREE
Surprise your little Moana explorers with a festival they will never forget! You and your kids will explore King Kamehameha's legacy of uniting the Hawaiian Islands. This family-fun festival will teach you all about the Lua, warrior training, Hawaiian culture and clothing through storytelling, music, presentations and family activities. The Hawaiian Cultural Festival will be held on May 18th-19th from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Check out this CertifiKID article for more kid-friendly activities at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Hawaiian Cultural Festival at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend
Check back here for some fun events that will be posted soon! 

Sleepover at the Smithsonian Museums, D.C.
Join this unique sleepover adventure with an exciting night at the National Air and Space Museum (May 18th) or at the National Museum of American History (May 24th). Your child will get to experience their own Night at the Museum with interactive learning games, crafts, and more! Don't worry parents, we don't believe these exhibits will be coming to life! Save 26% for One Smithsonian Museum Sleepover with this CertifiKID offer.

Sleepover at the National Air and Space Museum, Photo by Jeremy Norwood

Go Strawberry Picking
This glorious month marks the beginning of strawberry picking season! These are some of our favorite strawberry picking places because they also include more hands-on family friendly activities like scavenger hunts and farm tours! Take the family to one of these awesome farms for a pick-your-own strawberry experience starting Mid-May. It'll be a strawberry picking fields forever experience!

• Wegmeyer Farms (Aldie, Hamilton, or Leesburg, VA) offers an authentic pick-your-own experience. In early-May at the Leesburg location you can attend a Strawberry Field Trip that includes a strawberry learning classroom about the life cycle of the strawberry, a strawberry picking demonstration, a tour of the historic greenhouse, and a scavenger hunt in the garden! Save 32% off weekday picking at Wegmeyer Farms with this offer.
• Butler's Orchard (Germantown, MD) is well known for their delicious, juicy, flavorful pick-your-own strawberries. Butler's also offers Strawberry Blossom Tours, five giant slides, wooden climbing structures including a playground-sized boat, castle, train and John Deere tractor, pedal tractors, rubber ducky derby, John Deere combine slide, farm animals, nature trail, and Picnic Area. Save 50% off picking at Butler's Orchard with this offer.
• Great Country Farms (Bluemont, VA) is also a pick-your-own farm and has attractions including wagon rides, pumpkin jumping pillow, cow pie putt putt, a dog picnic zone, farm play area, fishing pond, barn yard, mazes and a farm ninja course! Hurry this CertifiKID deal ends May 12! Save up to 50% off of One Adult or Child Admission at Great Country Farms with this offer.

Wegmeyer Farms

Rent a Boat for Family Fun on the Water, Lorton or Fairfax Station, VA
What better way to enjoy the fresh air and the warm weather than to get out on the water? Visit Pohick Regional Park in Lorton, or Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station to let the water adventure begin with Pedal Boats, Jon Boats, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Kayaks or Canoes (rental boat options vary by location). Save 34% off an hour-long boat rental with this CertifiKID offer.

NOVA Parks Boat Rentals

Visit the South Mountain Creamery Dairy Farm, Middletown, MD
Enjoy a day on the farm learning about dairy production, feed the calves, watch the cows being milked and taste some delicious homemade fresh ice cream! South Mountain Creamery is Maryland's first on-site dairy processing plant. Hurry this CertifiKID Deal ends May 14th, but you will be able to use the deal through October! Save 34% off a tour and ice cream with this CertifiKID offer.

South Mountain Creamery, Middletown, MD

Colors at The Kennedy Center
Witness a performance through color and dance with an abstract approach to understanding the relationship of emotions. This creative show explores a child's perception of emotions and how they relate it to colors. Dancers will bring colors to life through fabric, sensors, projections, movements and sounds. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Colors will be performed on May 18th and 19th. Save on admission to Colors with this CertifiKID offer. 

Go Hardcore at Heavy Metal Playground, Boonsboro, MD
Opening for the summer season on May 24th, Heavy Metal Playground is a one-of-a-kind experience that gives guests the opportunity to dig, push, stack tires, smash cars, and scoop dirt with some big machinery. Even try your hand at the Heavy Metal Playground basketball game for a chance to win prizes. Equipment use is for 8 years and up. Save 30% off an Adventure Package at Heavy Metal Playground with this CertifiKID offer.

Heavy Metal Playground, Boonsboro, MD

The Museum of Science Fiction's Escape Velocity Festival at The Gaylord National
Take your child's sci-fi passion to the next level with the Escape Velocity Festival. Experience new technology, pop culture, meet with distinguished authors, artists, scientists and astronauts. You and your child will be able to explore hands-on STEAM activities, demonstrations and more! Have your photo taken inside the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, trap ghosts with the Ghostbusters, learn to draw Pokemon and more. The festival takes place on May 24th - 26th. For the complete schedule click HERE. Save up to 50% off admission to Escape Velocity with this CertifiKID offer.

The Museum of Science Fiction's Escape Velocity Festival at The Gaylord National

Science Saturday at the National Law Enforcement Museum
Experience a fun-filled afternoon of science activities at Science Saturday in the National Law Enforcement Museum's Learning Center on Saturday, May 25th from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. This month’s theme is Forensic Anthropology and guests will learn what makes each person's bones unique and the steps to evacuate, clean and store anthropological finds and more! Free with Museum admission. Click HERE for more information. Check out this CertifiKID article for more family fun at the National Law Enforcement Museum. Save 27% off admission to the National Law Enforcement Museum. 

National Law Enforcement Museum

FantasyWood Family Festival at Merriweather Park, Columbia, MD
Experience FantasyWood Family Festival for a fantasy-filled three-day weekend (May 25th-27th) of magic with pirates, fairies, dragons, witches, mermaids and more!  Enjoy whimsical entertainment, roaming performers, fun activities, art displays and educational demonstrations. Save up to 57% off admission to FantasyWood Family Festival with this CertifiKID offer.

FantasyWood Family Festival at Merriweather Park, Columbia, MD

Make a Splash at NOVA Waterparks
Prepare to make a splash this summer with the NOVA Parks Annual Waterpark Pass when you buy your passes on sale this spring! The annual pass includes unlimited admission to FIVE Waterparks including Great Waves in Alexandria (Save up to 34% off Great Waves Admission), Ocean Dunes in Arlington (Save up to 34% off Ocean Dunes Admission), Atlantis in Centreville (Save up to 34% off Atlantis Admission), Pirate's Cove in Lorton (Save up to 34% off Pirate's Cove) and Volcano Island in Sterling (Save up to 34% off Volcano Island). These parks are scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend. This deal will end May 24th, hurry and buy your passes now! Save on NOVA Annual Waterpark Passes with this CertifiKID offer.

Pirate's Cove Waterpark, Lorton, VA (NOVA Parks)

Spend the day at Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, MD
A great way to enjoy the warm spring weather is to take the kids to a theme park for a day! At Six Flags America, experience 170 acres of family-fun with shows, attractions and over 100 rides! Six Flags America has something for everyone with a Waterpark, ten thrilling roller coasters, two children areas and endless kid rides. Hurry this deal ends May 12th! Save 41% off admission to Six Flags America with this CertifiKID offer.

For more family-fun this month check out our Things to do in May with Kids in Baltimore post! 

Tags: DC Events May Spring Families Kids Family-Friendly

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