April "Family Events" in the Washington DC area!

April is Panda Month at the National Zoo: April 1 - 30, 2007. Visit the Zoo any day in April for special giveaways and activities. The first 500 children who visit the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat in April will receive crayons and a special coloring page featuring Washington's favorite Panda family.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The 136th Edition of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus takes audiences on a journey filled with imagination and circus-sized spectacles. Packed full of surprises, the all-new show breaks circus tradition with high-speed action, cutting-edge technology, and an interactive adventure. Tickets are available through TICKETMASTER [202.397.SEAT; http://patriotcenter.com/] Ages: 3 and up Each Wed-Sun 3/29/07-4/8/07

Stellaluna with the StoneLion Puppet Theatre. Share the magic of friendship in an interactive puppet show, adapted from the beloved classic picture book, Stellaluna, about a little bat in a bird family, and the discovery that what makes us different also makes us perfectly perfect! [202.357.3030; http://www.discoverytheater.org] Ages: 2-8 Each Tue-Fri 3/27/07-4/5/07 - Shows at 10.15am and 11.30am.

Parents & Kids Happy Hour - Calvert House Inn - Riverdale, MD. A chance to hang out responsibly with other local parents in a smoke free environment. The Inn provides some toys and activities (and the occasional live music show), but feel free to bring the kid's favorite toys and CDs as well. A buffet of kid-friendly foods is available, as is the rest of the dinner menu - and with a 20% discount! [301.864.5220; http://www.calverthouseinn.com] On going Each Wed; check with location for exceptions.

April 4th - 11am and 1.30pm McLean Community Center - A Dinosaur Book of World Records. Help DinoRock unearth the newest info about nature's own real-life monsters, the dinosaurs. Children can meet some new prehistoric dinosaurs in this story with puppets and music presented by the award-winning DinoRock. [703.790.9223; http://www.gocitykids.com/forward.jsp?url=http:%2f%2fwww.mcleancenter.org] Ages: 4 and up

Thursday April 5th - Banjo Man Frank Cassel performs a show aimed at young audiences every Thursday morning. Sangha - Sangha also serves as a performance space for live music, chanting, art films and documentaries, mini-lectures, and various activities for children. Takoma Park, MD [301.933.9190; http://www.banjomanfc.com] Ages: 0-6 Ongoing Each Thursday, check with location for exceptions.

Discovery Theatre presents (10:15 & 11:30am. If it's Spring, there must be bunnies! Sing bunny songs, listen to hip-hop-hippity Rabbit tales, and pose with a giant 6' tall Easter bunny; then go home with a sweet treat. $6/general admission). Also on 4/7.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show and Musical Prelude: Saturday, April 7, 2007 - Prelude begins at 5 p.m., followed by fireworks from 8:30 until 8:50 p.m. at the Southwest Waterfront Promenade

A pre-fireworks Prelude features family fun and entertainment plus food and beverage vendors at the Southwest Waterfront, followed by a fantastic fireworks extravaganza.

Family Workshop: The Gargoyle's Den Saturday, April 7, 2007 - Sunday, April 8, 2007
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Washington National Cathedral.

A fun, friendly place to come pet a gargoyle, try your hand at stone carving, and make your own gargoyle to take home. Also explore other crafts like stained glass, mosaics, and Cathedral construction.

Adams Morgan Art Market Saturday, April 7, 2007
12:00 noon Location: Western Market

Western Market is a weekly outdoor arts market in the heart of hip and lively Adams Morgan held every Saturday from noon to dark, rain or shine, from March through December.

Mother Goose And Her Fabulous Puppet Friends Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:30 AM

Diane Ligon entertains the kids with games, songs, and stories of classic children’s poems. Performances at 9:30 and 11 am Helen Hayes Gallery Tickets: Free, but seating is limited. Tickets are required, and are distributed without charge 30 minutes prior to performance, on a first-come first-served basis.

General Information: The National Theatre
Tickets: 800-447-7400
Address: 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Metro: Metro Center

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 10 a.m. - Noon on Constitution Avenue, NW between 7th and 17th Streets

One of Washington's most popular events, this spectacular parade features marching bands, performance teams from Japan and the U.S., balloons, clowns and much more.

45th Annual Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival: Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. along 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

This not-to-be-missed annual event includes arts and crafts, martial arts demonstrations, performances, a Ginza Arcade, a Japanese marketplace and "Taste of Japan" featuring yummy Japanese foods.

April 21st - The Kids & Family Expo, for parents and families with preschool through elementary school age children. 10am till 3pm at Prince William County Fairgrounds. Rt 234 South of Manassas. $2 admission for 3 years and up. Fun run, Camp Fair, Petting Zoo, Amusements, Concessions, Touch a truck, Fun and games and costumed characters! For more information check out www.pwcparks.org

Guppy Gala at the National Zoo: Friday, May 11, 2007 from 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Every year, children ages 2 to 12 participate in a wild party unlike any other, while raising funds for the National Zoo's conservation and education programs. This fun evening for kids and their families features animal encounters, rock-climbing walls, moonbounces, mazes, costumed characters, kid-friendly foods and much more. Tickets: $20 - FONZ members / $28 - nonmembers.

Check out the Fun 'N' Hip Mommies group to find out what events we're attending & what other events we're hosting that aren't listed above!!! Thanks to Washington Family, Washington DC Kids, Montgomery & Fairfax Co Recreation, Washington Post Kids Section, Washington Parent, About.com, DC-Baby, The Parent-Pages (book), and Our-Kids (a yearly subscription is needed).