March Family-Friendly Events Guide

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Our March Family-Friendly Events Guide is sponsored by Gillis Education.

Gillis Education is a boutique education firm offering private tutoring, academic coaching, homeschooling support, and education advocacy. We also provide educational products to students, their families, schools, and community organizations, including access to our library of educational resources and evidence-based enrichment activities and our BookLove subscription box crafted to build and develop foundational literacy skills. Visit our website to learn more about our mission and schedule a coffee chat with our founder to find out how we can assist your children along their academic journeys. 


There are so many March family-friendly events! Spring is coming and flowers are beginning to bloom–including the area’s illustrious cherry blossoms. The Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled to run from March 20th through April 14th this year. We have included some cornerstone festival events in this guide, but see the festival’s website for a full list of events.

There are several family-friendly events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month, as well as numerous theater and music events. However you choose to usher in spring with your family, we hope that you share tons of laughter and joy with each other. Oh, and don’t forget to set your clocks one hour forward on March 10th! If you know of other events that we should add to this guide, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

Junie B. Jones, The Musical

Now through March 30
Adventure Theater
Glen Echo, MD
The lovable Junie B. Jones is off to first grade where she will encounter a ton of changes – new friends, new teachers, new interests. This story will be told through entertaining characters and fun-filled songs that will captivate audiences just as this beloved series of books does.

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale

Now through April 7
Imagination Stage
Bethesda, MD
This bilingual musical production updates the classic tale of Cinderella. In it, Cinderella is more concerned about a ball game than a ball. Lessons about empathy, respect, and sportsmanship are interspersed in this entertaining show. It is best for kids age 5 and older. There is an an ASL interpreted performance on February 24th and a Sensory-Friendly performance on February 25th.

Sensory-Friendly Backstage Tour

March 2
The Music Center at Strathmore
North Bethesda, MD
A few times a year, the Strathmore offers small-group backstage tours of the Concert Hall for young people with sensory sensitivities or autism. Attendees will learn how the lights and sound work, see the dressing rooms, be able to play instruments on stage, and more. Tickets are FREE and can be reserved online.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

March 2
Old Town
Alexandria, VA
The annual Alexandria Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is back! This lively parade will provide loads of family-friendly fun with over 60 spirited groups including pipe bands, Irish dance schools, and more. Before the parade, attendees can enjoy a Dog Show and a Car show. Make sure you check the website for information about the parade route and parking.

Children’s Trunk Show

March 2
Crystal City Shops
Arlington, VA
The Junior League of Washington is hosting its Children’s Trunk Show, selling pre-owned merchandise for kids of all ages. Whether you are looking for maternity wear, nursery furniture, books, kids and baby clothing, or toys, you can find it here. Tickets are required and can be purchased online.

Women’s History Month Festival

March 9
National Portrait Gallery
Washington, DC
The Portrait Gallery invites families to celebrate Women’s History Month with art activities, scavenger hunts, and story times. The Washington Ballet will perform and host workshops. Attendees will also be able to admire the Museum’s newest portraits of amazing women including Oprah, Beyoncé, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg. This event is FREE and no registration is required.

Intersections Festival: Family Fun Day

March 9
Atlas Theater
Washington, DC
The Intersections Festival, running from March 1st until March 10th, will host its Family Fun Day from 10am until noon. This FREE family-friendly event will include music, an instrument petting zoo, craft stations, and more. The event will even feature special guest artist and educator Baba Ras D.

Family Day: Women’s History Month

March 9
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
The Library of Congress invites families to celebrate important women in history and their diverse achievements through engaging and creative activities. Help transcribe Clara Barton’s correspondence. Or make part of a mural celebrating female trailblazers. And at 2pm, attend an Author Talk and book signing with authors Chelsea Clinton, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Meg Medina, the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Both events are FREE, but attendees must secure a timed-entry pass to the Library of Congress and a separate ticket for the Author Talk.

Soar Together at Air and Space Family Day: Firsts in Flight

March 9
National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
Chantilly, VA
This family-friendly event will give visitors the opportunity to celebrate firsts in flight. Demonstrations and hands-on activities will delight flight enthusiasts of all ages. This event is FREE to attend, but parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center is $15.

Drop-In Family Program: The Phillips Plays with Flowers

March 9
The Phillips Collection
Washington, DC
Have fun making art with your kids in this drop-in program, which will be enjoyed by all ages. Families will go on a tour to get inspired by the colorful and bold works of French painter, Pierre Bonnard. Guests will then use this inspiration to arrange bouquets of flowers and then sketch them with ink and watercolor.

Nowruz Family Day

March 10
Asian Art Museum
Washington, DC
The Persian New Year will be celebrated at this annual Nowruz Family Day event. Families will be able to celebrate spring with hands-on activities, storytelling, curator-led gallery tours, Persian food (for purchase), and much more at this FREE event.

Get Fit Mobile: Kids Adventure Fit Challenge

March 12
Kentland Community Center
Landover, MD
The Get Fit Mobile unit will be at the Kentland Community Center to offer kids age 6 and over the chance to burn off some energy with an exciting fitness challenge. The FREE event, which will run from 5pm until 6:30pm, aims to give kids a sense of accomplishment through fun exercise and teamwork.

Ireland At The Wharf

March 16
The Wharf
Washington, DC
Bring the whole family to The Wharf for the Ireland at The Wharf festival. Celebration, fun, and old fashioned traditions will be enjoyed with bagpipers, live music, and Irish dancing performances. The Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England will be aired on The Wharf’s big screen. All are welcome at this FREE event, however, you must be 21 to enjoy the whiskey and Guinness.

NSO Family Concert: Music of Duke Ellington

March 17
The Kennedy Center
Washington, DC
This family-friendly performance is part of the Kennedy Center’s Ellington 125 celebration. The National Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to iconic bandleader and jazz composer, Duke Ellington. This concert is geared for kids age 5 and over. Take your kids early to enjoy the Musical PLAYspace at the REACH where they will be able to try out instruments they’ll see on stage.

Petal Porches

March 20 – April 14
Various Neighborhoods in DMV
This National Cherry Blossom Festival event invites residents in the DC area to show their love for spring, cherry blossom season, and all things pink by joining their neighbors in this friendly house-decorating competition. Get creative with your yard and register your home as a participant (register by March 13th to get a free, official National Cherry Blossom Festival Yard sign while supplies last). Use the online map of participants to navigate your own tour and vote for winners. The winner of the Best Blossom Block will win a neighborhood pop-up party!

Fairytales on Ice

March 22
MC Cultural Arts Center
Silver Spring, MD
Fairytales On Ice will bring some of your favorite fairy tale characters together for a thrilling story filled with adventure, magical illusions, and special effects. This engaging show on ice also uses an all-original award-winning soundtrack. Tickets available online.

Cherry Blossom Family Celebration

March 23
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, DC
This FREE event celebrating spring and the cherry blossoms is always so much fun! Families will surely be entertained with Japanese taiko drumming and Les the DJ spinning Japanese pop music. The event will also include craft stations (origami, koinobori kite making, etc) and a scavenger hunt.

Washington Spirit Home Opener

March 23
Audi Field
Washington, DC
Our NWSL team, the Washington Spirit, is eager to win their second NWSL championship. Cheer them on as they begin this quest with the 2024 season home opener against Bay FC. This match will be at Audi Field, like all other Spirit home games this season. Check out the theme nights for the season here.

Harlem Globetrotters 2024 World Tour

March 23
Capitol One Arena
Washington, DC
The Harlem Globetrotters are not only skilled, but share an infectious joy with the crowd. Kids and adults alike will be entertained by their tricks, boundless energy, and humor. Check out the event website for information about Premium Ticket Experiences including the Behind-the-Court Meet & Greet.

Opening Weekend Celebration
A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, DC, 1900-2000

March 23 and 24
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Washington, DC
This new exhibit, which will run until March 2025, examines and celebrates African American artists who taught and were taught in DC despite facing many challenges throughout the 1900s. See artifacts and original artwork from artist-educators and their students who have become celebrated around the world, including Alma Thomas, William Buckner, Elizabeth Catlett, and more. This family-friendly event will offer hands-on activities, a panel discussion, and a guided art experience. It is FREE to attend, though registration is recommended.

Art Cart

March 23 and 30
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Washington, DC
Participate in Art Cart for FREE on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. No registration is required. Each weekly Art Cart has a theme with artwork to view, an artsy activity at the Museum, and a project to do at home.

Nighttime Farmer

March 29
Frying Pan Farm Park
Herndon, VA
Spring is a super fun time to visit the farm. There are lots of moms and new babies that must be cared for. Join the knowledgable folks at Frying Pan Farm Park to get a night tour of the farm. Attendees will learn about care that the animals need during birthing season. There is a fee to participate and all participants must be at least 13 years old.

Blossom Kite Festival

March 30
The National Mall
Washington, DC
The Blossom Kite Festival is always loads of fun. Hundreds of kites soar in the sky on the National Mall and it is truly a sight to see near the Washington Monument. Expect large crowds throughout the day, as well as musical performances and kite competitions. Bring your own kite, buy one on site, or snag a free kite kit that you can decorate.

1 COMMENT

  1. Saturday, March 21, 10am-3pm
    Family Day: Japanese Fashion Cherry Blossom Festival
    Celebrate Japanese fashion at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. Join us at the museum for a family day featuring kimono, happi coats, accessories, and the creative shapes of contemporary Japanese fashion designs. Enjoy dance performances of Eisaa and Ryubu traditional dances from Okinawa. You can also watch a demonstration on how to dress in a kimono, design your own kimono, and make a cherry blossom pendant.
    Family-friendly tours of Japanese artworks on display in Delight in Discovery: The Global Collections of Lloyd Cotsen will also be offered.
    This program is a collaboration with Okinawa Kai of Washington, D.C.
    701 21st St NW

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