Sure, your kids may want to use a rainy day as an excuse to zone out with an iPad, but these places will have them remembering why there’s more to life than the small screen.
Saturday Mornings at The National
Forget Saturday-morning cartoons, National Theatre in DC offers an even better way to kick off the weekend with its free Saturday Mornings at National Theatre series. Kids and their parents are invited to the Helen Hayes Gallery during the summer to watch a free, family-friendly performance. The August lineup includes the singalong duo Fox and Branch (Aug. 3, 9:30 and 11 a.m.), a comedic introduction to the Bard with Clowning Around with Shakespeare (Aug. 10, 9:30 and 11 a.m.) and the Emmy-nominated storytelling group, Pushcart Players (Aug. 17, 10 a.m.). Tickets are free, but reservations recommended. // National Theatre: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC; recommended for age 4-10
Alamo Drafthouse Kids Camp
What’s better than a movie on a rainy day? An affordable movie on a rainy day. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (One Loudoun and Woodbridge) offers a summer kids camp program. The price of admission for designated daytime movies is $1, $3 or $5 (pick your price), with all proceeds going to a local nonprofit. It’s a nice lesson in charitable giving—and friendly on Mom and Dad’s wallet. August movies include The Great Muppet Caper, Casper and The Lego Movie. Throughout the year, the movie house hosts other kid-focused events, like family-friendly movie premieres (Frozen 2 this Thanksgiving, anyone?) // Locations vary; $1-$5; age 3 and up
Super, Awesome & Amazing at The St. James
Playground isn’t quite the right word for the indoor, kid-friendly space at The St. James in Springfield. Between the ninja course, giant trampolines, rock-climbing wall and indoor water park it’s, well, super, awesome and amazing. The St. James may be known for all things sports, but its 30,000-square-foot play space welcomes any and all kids who just want to have fun without keeping score. // The St. James: 6805 Industrial Road, Springfield; admission fees vary by day and time, starting at $15 per hour for non-members; all ages
Play N’ Learn Inc., The Playground Superstore
This playground equipment superstore (with a location in Chantilly) lets its showroom double as an actual playground. Kids can try out all of the swingsets, trampolines and more for up to two hours—a perfect place to get the wiggles out when the rain prevents outdoor playtime. Only catch? Count on your kids trying to convince you to buy a swing set of their very own. // The Playground Superstore: 4102 Pepsi Place, Chantilly; Monday-Friday, tickets may be purchased on-site; Weekends, school holidays and snow days, tickets must be purchased in advance online; $8 per child; age 2-8
This post originally appeared in our August 2019 print issue. To stay up to date on everything coming to the Northern Virginia region this summer, subscribe to our biweekly Things to Do newsletter.
