Pandaversary at the Zoo
y l i m a f & s kid Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
March 1, 1985. Giant pandas Hsing-Hsing (left) and Ling-Ling (right) at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Kids Welcome at Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Cleanup
Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur…and a dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. That’s just the beginning of this hilarious, fractured, symphonic take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as retold by Mo Willems. This new classic is presented by favorite performers and the National Symphony Orchestra, featuring original music by indie pop icon and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds. $25 to $55. Best for age five, up. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, April 30 at 2 and 4 p.m. The 2 p.m. performance is sensory-friendly. kennedycenter.org.
Kids, accompanied by an adult, can join in the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Earth Day Cleanup--a DC-area tradition where thousands of volunteers cleanup sites all along the Anacostia River and its tributary streams throughout the watershed in DC, Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. On the Saturday following Earth Day, thousands of volunteers come out to dozens of different sites to pick-up trash, serve their communities, and enjoy the Anacostia River. Registration is now open for the 2022 cleanup which is on Saturday, April 22 10 a.m. to noon. Preregistration is required to volunteer and to get the coveted t-shirt at anacostiaws.org.
Mount Vernon’s Revolutionary War Weekend On April 30 and May 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine), Mount Vernon’s serene 12-acre field transforms into a battleground as Continentals, Redcoats, and Hessians conduct military drills, perform cavalry demonstrations, and engage in 18th-century tacticals. Meet the soldiers who are encamped at Mount Vernon, discuss military techniques, and greet General Washington. All activities are included in admission price: $28 for adults, 12+; $15 for age six to eleven; five and under, free. There is a $2 price reduction for early online ticket purchase. mountvernon.org. Mount Vernon hosts the nation’s largest Revolutionary War re-enactment. Photo: Rob Shenk
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On April 16 and 17, the National Zoo will celebrate 50 years of unprecedented achievement in the care, conservation, breeding and study of giant pandas. Over the past five decades, the Zoo’s pandas have become international icons, beloved both for their adorable antics and their ability to bring colleagues from the United States and China together to collaborate for a common goal: saving the species from extinction. On Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can enjoy lion dance performances, panda-shaped Bao buns and calligraphy demonstrations, courtesy of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, speak with the Zoo’s scientists who study giant panda biology and ecology, and see the pandas receive special enrichment treats. On Sunday, April 17, 10 a.m. to noon, visitors can enjoy a performance by Dong Xi, a musical collaboration between percussionist Tom Teasley and Chinese dulcimer artist Chao Tian. The Zoo’s giant pandas also will receive enrichment treats as part of the celebration. nationalzoo.si.edu/ animals/celebrating-50-years-giant-pandas.
