The Air and Space Museum’s Flights of Fancy program introduces children to stories about flight and space right in the heart of it all.
Story time is available at both the Chantilly, VA and Washington DC locations of the museum.
Children attend this engaging story time in a museum gallery related to the book’s topic.
Flight of Fancy Story Time
While the books they read change over time (you can check their calendar to see what they will be reading ahead of time), currently they are reading Suit Up for Launch with Shay!.
We have heard a book about stars read aloud surrounded by highly detailed photos of stars and a book about space exploration read in the shadow of a rocket ship.
When possible, story times are held in front of large screens that project images from the book being read to add to the experience.
The readers are very good at making storytimes interactive and often asks children questions or offers them small props to use to help act-out a story.
Crafts & Teamwork Games
The story at Flights of Fancy is always followed by a related craft or teamwork game.
Our favorite crafts include rocket ships made out of paper towel rolls and hot air balloons made out of berry baskets and pipe cleaners.
Sometimes instead they have an activity after the story, and on a couple of occasions we have been lucky enough to have playtime with a parachute and dress up in aviator glasses and scarves after a book.
When to Go
Flights of Fancy is free and is held on Thursdays 11am in the Washington DC location and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am and 11:30pm in the Chantilly location.
Length varies based upon the story and craft, but usually runs about 15 to 20 minutes.
Reservations
The Chantilly location does not require advanced reservations and is a drop-in program.
The DC location does require timed-entry passes (free) so you will need to register for those in advance in order to enter the museum.
Pricing
Admission and story time is free. There is a $15 parking fee.
Getting There
The Air and Space museum is located near the L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian stops. There is metered parking around the museum. Demand is high, but if you arrive before the museum opens at 10am you will have better luck finding a spot nearby.
The Chantilly location is 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151
The location within the museum changes based upon the theme so you should ask at the information desk where story time will be held when you arrive.
