Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Image from Ringling.com.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Barnum 200 – Fairfax, VA
Friday, April 15: 10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 16: 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 17: 1 pm and 5 pm

See elephants, tigers, clowns, flying trapeze troupe, acrobatics and more at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus performance at the Patriot Center in Fairfax this weekend. Tickets range from $12.60 to $125.95 per person, depending on seating area. Get your tickets online.

The Patriot Center is located at 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Bunny the Chimp’s 21st Birthday at the Maryland Zoo – Baltimore, MD
Friday, April 14: 11 am – 1 pm

Celebrate Bunny the Chimp’s 21st birthday at the Chimp Forest in the Maryland Zoo. Bunny and her pals will indulge in special primate-friendly treats! Sign her birthday banner and learn more about chimps. Admission fees: $14 for adults, $10 for kids, $12 for seniors and free for kids under 2.

The Maryland Zoo is located in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

More fun things to do with kids >>

Easter Egg Hunts in Washington DC Metro

It is late and I am a little dizzy from making a list of egg hunts in the area since there are so many of them. Lucky us who live in the DC metro! Check out these fun (and some are free!) Easter egg hunts and other eggstravaganza events in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

If you know of other family-friendly Easter events in the DC metro area, please leave a comment below or contact me directly!

WASHINGTON, DC
FREE: Easter Eggstravaganza at Capitol Hill – Washington, DC
Saturday, April 23: 1 pm – 3 pm

Take pictures with a life-size Easter Bunny, go on Easter egg hunt, get your face painted, play games and enjoy cotton candy. Sponsored by National Community Church. Free admissions.

Lincoln Park is located on East Capitol Street between 11th and 13th Streets, Washington, DC (map it).

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Wow, what a weekend! There are so many fun and free things to do this weekend in Washington, DC, metro, I’m still not sure which ones we’ll be going to. There are more free events this weekend for your family, so don’t forget to check our calendar of events, too. Or keep it simple and pick from one of the top ten fun things to do with kids below.

Chocolate Lovers Festival. Image from FairfaxVA.gov.

Chocolate Lovers Festival – Old Town Fairfax, VA
Saturday, March 5: 8 am – 4 pm (breakfast starts at 8 am, activities start at 10 am)
Sunday, March 6: 11 am – 4 pm

Start with chocolate chip pancake breakfast in the morning, get your kids fingerprinted by the Fairfax County’s Sheriff Office, watch a mock trial “Little Miss Muffett” at Fairfax Court House, listen to chocolate-covered fairy tale stories, enjoy live music and participate in arts and crafts. Many of the kids’ activities at the festival are free. Pancake breakfast costs $6 for adults, $4 for kids ages 4-10 and free for kids 3 and under.

Chocolate Lovers Festival will be held in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia (download map of the festival).

FREE: Family Festival Day 2011: DC Color Splash – Washington, DC
Saturday, March 5: 10 am – 4 pm

Enjoy a fun and free family day at Corcoran Gallery of Art this Saturday! Enjoy performances by local musicians, tap dancers and performers; participate in art workshops led by local artists; and explore the exhibition of Washington Color and Light. Free admissions.

Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at 500 17th Street NW, Washington DC (map it).

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Washington, DC. © Cheng Chang/iStockPhoto.com.

Oh, how I love Washington, DC! I have lived in the DC metro area for 10+ years and one of the things that I love about living here is access to free family entertainment! From free museums and historic sites to parades and festivals, Washington, DC, is a great place to live and visit for families.

Check out 100 free things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland below.

Free Museums, Monuments and Historic Sites

1. Learn about dinosaurs at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

2. Explore space at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

3. Go to the top of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.

4. Feel the grandeur of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

5. Read the words of Thomas Jefferson at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

More free things to do with kids in Washington, DC >>

Ah, Valentine’s Day! To be honest, I was never big fan of Valentine’s Day until a few years ago. I didn’t think it was worth the one day a year to get overpriced flowers and to make a reservation at fancy restaurant for their special Valentine menu. But now …. who would’ve thought that celebrating Valentine’s Day with your little one can be so much fun? No expensive flowers needed, either!

There are plenty of fun activities that you can do with your kids this Valentine’s Day weekend. Don’t forget to check out our calendar of events for more things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Michael Rosman. Image from NationalTheatre.org.

FREE: Michael Rosman: Defying Gravity – Washington, DC
Saturday, February 12: 9:30 am and 11 am

Enjoy a zany and off-beat performance by Michael Rosman, where he’ll juggle bananas, toss a bowling ball, or try to keep his balance on a unicycle! You and your kids will enjoy this fun show at the National Theatre in Washington, DC. Free admissions. Tickets are distributed about half an hour before the show starts.

The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC (map it).

FREE: The Power of Chocolate Festival – Washington, DC
Saturday, February 12 & Sunday, February 13: 10 am – 4:30 pm

This Valentine’s Day weekend, celebrate chocolate, the food of the gods to the Mayan and Aztec peoples, at the Power of Chocolate Festival at National Museum of the American Indian. At this festival, you and your kids can explore chocolate’s culture and history; enjoy live performances, such as Bolivian dance groups and presentations by experts at MARS Chocolate North America and participate in hands-on family activities. Free admissions.

National Museum of the American Indian is located at Fourth Street & Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC (map it).

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