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).

More Fun Things to Do with Kids in Washington, DC >>

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 >>

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 >>

Laurie Berkner

Get ready to march with dinosaurs, buzz with bumblebees, eat spaghetti with Victor Vito and oh yeah … have a birthday party celebration with the Laurie Berkner Band next weekend in DC!

When?
The Laurie Berkner Band will have two shows on Sunday, March 6th, at 11 am and 3 pm. Tickets are still available for the 3 pm show at Tickemaster. Tickets are either $25 or $35 per person plus Ticketmaster fees; babies who sit on an adult’s lap are free.

Where?
Concerts will be held at Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University, located at 730 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC (map it).

I hope you can make it! Our family went to the Laurie Berkner Band concert in Baltimore last year and we had a blast! Enjoy their video: