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Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens will dazzle the whole family. Photo by Tony Ventouris for Montgomery County Parks
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Best Things To Do in DC in March with Kids: Cherry Blossoms, St Patrick's Day, Salamanders

Watch your creation take flight at the Blossom Kite Festival. Photo courtesy of Greater Washington National Parks
Watch your creation take flight at the Blossom Kite Festival. Photo courtesy of Greater Washington National Parks
2/26/21 - By Drew Kristofik

It's been a full year of social distancing, mask wearing, and waiting for the new normal to be over. But March in DC means spring and cherry blossoms, St. Patrick's Day, and... salamanders! And we are ready for all of it.

Cherry blossoms are always an IRL (in real life) thing, but this year's fest is also going virtual. You can join the Blossom Kite Festival from your own backyard, and Artechouse is putting a cherry on top of its new experiential exhibit, Renewal 2121, thinking ahead 100 years to what the world might look like. More into St. Patrick's green than pink? Head to Brookside for a Green and Growing Scavenger Hunt to go bragh. And Easter egg hunts (including one for dino eggs!) are starting to appear on the calendar too.

Meanwhile, one of the coolest events to share with a child happens randomly, sometime in March (or April). Sign up to be notified when the spotted salamanders start their annual breeding migration (Hint: Rain is involved), and you can bring the family out to help the little creatures on their mission. We recommend a reading of Big Night for Salamanders and The Salamander Room while you wait.

On the virtual front. you can celebrate the spring equinox, salute women's history month, and check out the NY International Children's Film Festival, which is offering its amazing lineup of kid-friendly flicks online.

Poppins@Home is a perfect place to find online fun for kids. Top picks this month include a Wonderful World of Wizards series, inspired by Harry Potter, along with Alina Celeste Music and Science through the Alphabet.

While we try to promote safe activities that occur outdoors or with social distancing guidelines in place, keep your family and others safe by wearing a mask and maintaining an appropriate distance. If you arrive at an event that appears too crowded, try using the “nearby” search feature on our event calendar to find something else to do.

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Learn about the world of frogs at Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park. Photo by John White
Learn about the world of frogs at Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park. Photo by John White

Best Things to Do in the DC Area in March

Fabulous Frogs

Arlington, VA—FREE
Tuesday, March 2
Preschoolers and their adult companies learn all about the hoppiest reptile - the fabulous frog. READ MORE

Civil War Discoveries: Infantry Drills

Arlington, VA—FREE
Saturday, March 6
Kids drill like Union soldiers by practicing marches and turns, and learn how to “load in nine times” with replica wood rifles. READ MORE

Family Fun: Womens Food Justice

Alexandria, VA
Saturday, March 6
Celebrate International Women's Day by exploring the global issues of food justice, and the women who are making a difference. Plant and take home your own mini vegetable garden. READ MORE

Maple Sugaring

Renewal 2121

Southwest Waterfront
Daily, March 12 through September 6
Sessions are every 30 minutes. Please arrive on time. Masks are required for all visitors. Purchase in advance online to save $ per ticket. READ MORE

Meet & Greet with the Easter Bunny, Egg Hunt & Pony Rides

Leesburg, VA
Saturday, March 13
Hogback Mountain Pony Rides hosts a Covid-friendly meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt. READ MORE

Salamanders Went Out on a Rainy Night

Brookville, MD
Register for the date in March
Once a year, on warm, rainy nights, elusive spotted salamanders migrate to breeding pools to mate and lay eggs. Sign up now to join Black Hill Center Naturalists on that unknown March date and you’ll be contacted the day of the hike for a chance to see them at Rachel Carson Conservation Park, in Brookville. READ MORE

Hike and Seek: Letterboxing

Bethesda, MD
Sunday, March 14
It’s a scavenger hunt with a historical twist! Little caches – called letterboxes – are hidden around the park for you to find. Follow the clues to collect them all.Register by Friday, March 12, to schedule your time slot and to receive a prize for completing the hunt. READ MORE

St. Patrick’s Day Green and Growing Scavenger Hunt

Wheaton, MD
Tuesday, March 16
Celebrate St Patrick's Day with a self-guided scavenger hunt looking for shamrocks and clues that the Leprechaun has left behind. Clues lead families on a nice walk in the garden and prompt kids to use their senses and eyes to find something special in the garden. READ MORE

Slimy Salamanders Campfire

Arlington, VA—FREE
Friday, March 19
Snuggle up at the Gulf Branch fire ring for lots of old-fashioned fun. Stories, special animal guests, games, and songs are among the possible activities. Bring your own S’mores supplies! READ MORE

Heritage Baptist Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 20—FREE
Ashburn, VA
Heritage Baptist Church hosts timed Easter egg hunts for kids, including two golden eggs each hunt that can be turned in for a prize. READ MORE

Civil War Discoveries: Build a Fort

Arlington, VA—FREE
Sunday, March 21
Kids investigate how and why forts were built in Arlington during the Civil War, then work as a team to design forts to defend the city. READ MORE

I Can Camp: Firestarting for Families

Bethesda, MD
Sunday, March 21
Practice your campfire skills and feel more empowered outdoors. Families learn how to build a fire that will withstand the toughest conditions, even if it's raining, and master the five different builds at individual firebuilding stations. READ MORE

Big Night for Salamanders

Colesville, MD
Tuesday, March 23
Following a reading of Big Night for Salamanders, kids head outside on a salamander search and make a craft to take home. READ MORE

Blossom Kite Festival

Virtual and wherever you are—FREE
Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28
This long-standing DC tradition, part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, invites people of all ages to fly kites among the cherry blossom trees on the grounds of the Washington Monument.  READ MORE

Lee-Fendall House Easter Egg Hunt

Alexandria, VA
Saturdays, March 27 & April 3
Find Easter eggs hidden in the Lee-Fendall House garden at this popular annual egg hunt. Bring a basket! READ MORE

Eggster Bunnies

Chantilly, VA
Friday and Saturday, March 26-27
Kids ages 5 and up (and grown-ups, too!) can decorate their own Easter Bunny using the wet felting technique at Sully Historic Site. READ MORE

Herp Hike

Boyds, MD
Wednesday, March 31
Spring is one of the best times to looking for herps (reptiles and amphibians). Trek through the woods of Black Hill Regional Park to a vernal pool looking for tadpoles, frogs, and salamanders. Hikers might get to see some snakes, too. READ MORE
Soar with Zog and the Flying Doctors, part of the Magic Light Celebration. Image courtesy of the New York International Children’s Film Festival
Soar with Zog and the Flying Doctors, part of the Magic Light Celebration. Image courtesy of the New York International Children’s Film Festival

Fun Virtual Events for Kids in March

Intrepid Adventures: Intrepid Women

FREE
Tuesday, March 2
NYC's Intrepid Museum celebrates Women's History Month by highlighting some of the brave, unsung women who paved the way for the inclusion of women in air and space. READ MORE

New York International Children's Film Festival

March 5-14
NYICFF celebrates the beauty and power of film, sparks the inherent capacity of children to connect with complex, nuanced art, and encourages the creation of intelligent films that represent and celebrate unique, diverse, and historically excluded voices. READ MORE

Rebel Girls Fest: Adventure Awaits

FREE
Sunday, March 7
Celebrate International Women's Day with an interactive, virtual event, jam-packed with fun activities for young girls. READ MORE

Joanie Leeds Video Premiere

FREE
Friday, March 12
NYC's Jewish Museum invites families to sing along to the catchy and empowering tunes of Grammy nominee Joanie Leeds as she performs All The Ladies, her 2020 release focusing on gender equality, female empowerment, and breaking glass ceilings. READ MORE

Video Webinar for Families: Natural History at Home - "Amazing Brains!"

FREE
Saturday, March 13
DC's Natural History Museum hosts a family science program. Brain scientist Elaine Miller and visual designer and illustrator Marli Richmond read from their book, Amazing Brains! and explore the different shapes and sizes of animal brains and why they’re so different. READ MORE

National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony

FREE
Saturday, March 20
The opening ceremony launches the National Cherry Blossom Festival with peformances from artists with ties to both Japan and the United States. READ MORE

Picture This! Watercolor Wonders for Passover

FREE
Sunday, March 21
NYC's Jewish Museum invites families to explore vibrant paintings by Chagall, imaginatively designed seder plates, and other striking works by artists in the Jewish Museum's collection. Then use crayons and watercolor resist techniques to create a unique Passover scene. READ MORE

Art & Me: Celebrating Cherry Blossoms

FREE
Saturday, March 27
Just in time for peak bloom around DC's tidal basin, ring in the arrival of spring with the Smithsonian Museum art doctors. From paintings to Japanese tea bowls, discover how Smithsonian conservators preserve these colorful artworks, then make your own cherry blossom-inspired creation. READ MORE

Virtual Festival of the Spring Equinox

FREE
Sunday, March 28
Spring signals a new beginning. The Bowers Museum's latest free virtual festival offers songs and dance celebrating a season of hope and renewal, featuring a special performance by Orange County Ballet Theater. READ MORE

More Things to Do in DC this Spring

Easter Scavenger Hunts and Other Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

Make it an Easter to remember with these unique ideas for Easter scavenger hunts and egg hunts. READ MORE

Easy Easter Crafts For Kids and Preschoolers

How to make the cutest crafts and prettiest eggs for Easter. READ MORE

How to Celebrate Passover as a Family (and Make it Fun for Kids)

Make Passover fun (and tasty) for kids with these great tips and recipes. READ MORE

Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas for Families

It's not too late to plan a budget-friendly spring break escape! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park
Rachel Carson Conservation Park
The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum Online