Cherry Blossom in Washington, DC. © Robert Dodge

What a busy weekend! Between National Cherry Blossom Festival and Easter events, you’ll have so many options to choose from! Check out fun and free things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

On a sad note, there’s a possibility that the government will shut down. If it does, then Smithsonian museums will be closed. National Cherry Blossom Festival events will most likely be postponed as well. Please check the official event websites to see if activities will still be held. I will make updates to the best of my knowledge.

FREE: Petal Fest & Performance Stage – Washington, DC
Friday, April 8: 12 pm – 8 pm
Saturday, April 9: 12 pm – 6 pm

See live performances on Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Friday evening with performers from Washington, DC, community performance groups and local officials. On Saturday, enjoy performances with a jazz theme. Free admissions.

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC (map it).

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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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It’s time to spring forward this Sunday, so don’t forget to change your clocks after you tuck your kids into bed on Saturday night. Other than doubling your caffeine dose on Sunday, check out many free activities going on in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland this weekend. Happy almost Spring, everyone!

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Gaithersburg, MD. Image from GaithersburgMD.gov.

FREE: St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Plaza Party – Gaithersburg, MD
Saturday, March 12: 10 am – 1 pm

Watch the 11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 10 am to 12 pm this Saturday at Washingtonian Center. See Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, clowns, fire trucks and more in the parade. Enjoy live music and family activities in the plaza area after the parade.

Washingtonian Center is located at 209 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Raptors Upclose – Washington, DC
Friday, March 11: 10:15 am and 11:30 am

Get ready to get up close and personal with birds of prey. Learn about the raptors, including the different species, falconry as a sport and raptors’ relationship to humans. Call 202-633-3030 to get your tickets.

S. Dillon Ripley Center at Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel, 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC (map it).

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A little girl at last year's White House Easter Egg Roll. Official White House Photo By Chuck Kennedy.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 10th! Starting then, you can enter the White House online lottery for a chance to grab free tickets to the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll. You have until 11:59 pm Eastern time on Sunday, March 13th, to enter the lottery. So take your chance, cross your fingers and wait for a confirmation email. Here are some more details about this fun family event in Washington, DC.

What?
A tradition that dates back to 1878, the White House Easter Egg Roll is a special event for kids and families on the Monday after Easter. This year’s theme is “Get Up and Go!” to promote health and wellness. Activities include live entertainment, Easter egg roll, storytelling, dancing, sports and meeting the Easter bunny. You may even see the first family participate in the sports activities and dance along to live music. Celebrity appearances last year included the cast of Glee, actress Reese Witherspoon and author J.K. Rowling.

If you don’t like crowds, this is not for you. Approximately 30,000 people attended last year’s White House Easter Egg Roll.

More about 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll >>

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 >>