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 >>

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).

More fun things to do with kids >>

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).

More fun things to do with kids >>

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 >>

Justin Roberts

One of our favorite kindie bands will be back in town! If your little one hasn’t seen Justin Roberts in concert, put this in a must-to-see list for him/her. His show is always fun and energetic. We had a great time at Justin Roberts’ show in Washington, DC, last year.

When?
Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm

Where?
Show will be held at Jammin’ Java, located at 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

How much?
Tickets are $15 per person (babies under 1 year old are free). The morning show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm show. Get your tickets online.

Enjoy a video to one of his popular songs, Pop Fly: