(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children
The American Pops Orchestra is coming to Arena Stage on November 17, 2018 for an 11:00am performance for a show fit for families.
A Very Silly Vaudeville will entertain your family with the famed Broadway tapping duo, Mary Michael Patterson and Cary Tedder. They will guide you on a journey through APO’s modern take on classic American vaudeville acts of yesteryear. This talent extravaganza will feature magic, dancing, singing and lots of audience engagement.
Before being contacted by Cynthia Raso the Director of the Office of Engagement at Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) a few years ago, I had no idea the school existed. The SEEC is a school located on the Smithsonian campus serving infants through kindergartners. What makes SEEC extraordinary? First, it utilizes the Smithsonian and surrounding community as part of its classroom. Students make daily trips to museums, parks, libraries, shops, and monuments and integrate these visits into what they are learning. SEEC is more than just museum-based learning; it is also a school that thinks carefully about educating the whole child. From social-emotional learning to practicing fine motor skills, SEEC classrooms are invested in nurturing young children by employing a range of techniques that we believe will support a child’s growth and development. SEEC utilizes their almost 30 years of experience as a school to shape their family programs while taking into account the role of the parent. SEEC wants to help parents understand how best to engage with their young child at home and in museums.
At the beginning of the summer I had the opportunity to visit SEEC for a Preschool Pioneer class with my then four year old son. The class was focused on learning about light and colors. We met in the SEEC classroom, found in the Natural History Museum where children were allowed to wander, touch and interact with the various stations that were set-up. Each one being carefully selected and relating to the class lesson of light and color. The teacher began class with a small group lesson introducing the concept of light using CD’s and talking about colors. The group then took a “field trip” out into The Natural History Museum where we found a display on the color wheel. Kids learned Sir Isaac Newton created it and what it meant by allowing them to place various colored plastic sheets on top of one another to create a new color. Class ended with a hands-on activity of mixing paint and creating colors. It was a great chance to have my son see the museum in an up close and personal way with a sense of purpose. Research has shown that museum based-learning has many benefits for children and promotes the value of museums for kids. One of SECC’s goals is to help educate families on how to utilize museums in fun ways with their young children and I clearly saw this first-hand.
Tricks & Treats events are not included, click here to see what’s happening this weekend as it relates to Halloween & click here to find out information on Fall farm fun.
Now in its 11th year, Kids Euro Festival is one of the largest performing arts festivals for children in America, bringing Europe’s most talented children’s entertainers to the DC metro area each fall for two weeks of free performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, puppetry, dance, magic, and cinema. EuroFest takes place Oct. 20-Nov. 4.
Enjoy fall activities with the whole family at Fall Harvest Family Days at Mount Vernon Saturday & Sunday form 9am-5pm! Take a horse-drawn wagon ride and play colonial games on the bowling green before heading to the Pioneer Farm to observe 18th-century demonstrations and greet General Washington. Find your way through a straw bale maze and listen to the Itinerant Band play colonial tunes. Sightseeing cruises will be free throughout the weekend (while supplies last).
Maryland Renaissance Festival is ending this weekend! The Rent Fest will be full of jousting while serving up lots of turkey legs! Take a time machine back to medieval times where you’ll see wizards, knights and wenches. With plenty of entertainment, including music, jousting, mazes, puppetry, pony rides, a huge pirate playground and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits and will be begging to participate while staring in awe. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch!
Have you entered to win tickets to see Story Pirates in November? It’s not too late!
Saturday
10:00am: Pizza Party at Matchbox
A hands-on pizza making classes will please any small chef. Come in costume and join us for a Halloween-Themed Kids Pizza Party. You’ll enjoy: A chef hat, crayons, and coloring page, a tour of the kitchen and pizza ovens, a pizza class where each child will make a customized personal pizza, a candy table decorated for Halloween with cookie jack o’lanterns for decorating, and a round of complimentary mimosas for the adults. Just $30 per child inclusive of tax and gratuity. Come have a blast with us! Recommended for ages 5-12.
10:00am-4:00pm: Archaeology Family Day
The National Museum of Natural History, the Society for American Archaeology, and Archaeology in the Community invite you to a family-friendly event celebrating International Archaeology Day! Talk to archaeologists. Learn about fascinating finds, career paths, challenges in the field, and the joy of discovery. Do archaeology. Practice the skills archaeologists use to piece together the past. Participate in mock excavations, illustration, decoding ancient writing systems, experimentation and artifact analysis. Explore collections. Examine museum artifacts in the Q?rius Collections Zone. Get resources. Find out about opportunities to get involved in archaeology in your community.
10:00am-1:00pm: Glen Echo: Saturday Art Explorers
Drop in for an art activity and play in the Candy Corner Studio for $5, no need to pre-register. Play on the playground afterwards, look around the Glen Echo Park Aquarium or catch a show at Adventure Theatre or the Puppet Co.
10:15am & 11:30am: Saturday Story Sessions at Strathmore with Baba Jamal Koram: Grio StoryMan
In this delightful, interactive workshop, miniature items and toys creates a captivating story. Parents will take away effective storytelling techniques that can be used at home to promote literacy and other cognitive skills.
10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s BOO-tiful Crafts
They craft, you shop! Kids 3 and up can enjoy a quick project. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. $2 per project, ages 3+, supplies included. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event.
10:00am AND 12:30pm: Family Crafternoon at AR Workshop Alexandria
Join us and make either of our Trick or Treat Totes at the morning session. Join us for a DIY class to make aCanvas Project! Choose from a Canvas Pillow, Canvas Wall Hanging or a Canvas Tote Bag at the afternoon session and drinks for parents.
3:00pm-4:30pm: National Conservatory of Arts Open House
Please stop by to try out a new instrument, ask questions, or register for a class. Find out more information about our highly selective, full week, music based after-school program, the Capital City Music Program. Which offers comprehensive instruction in instrumental and vocal music, as well as musical theater which features singing, acting, and dance classes. Find out more information about our adult music lessons, music lessons for children, music classes, monthly masterclasses, monthly music theory classes. Find out more information about our no school camps, and other camps and workshops. Please RSVP on our Contact Us page.
3:00pm-6:00pm: DC Diaper Bank is turning 8!
It’s time to celebrate! Join them at DC Brau Brewing Company for the first ever Diaper Olympics! There will be crafts, birthday cake, amazing beer and you! Bring the kids and your desire to help families. They’re asking you to donate $24 when you get there. That amount will allow them to diaper a baby in need for a month.
Sunday
See all of the fun Halloween events happening
10:00am-12:00pm: Red Panda Art Studio: DIY Halloween
Bambinos will create many different self-portraits in multiple different ways– and we will create a customized name plate wall hanging! This morning session is intended for ages 2 to 6.
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Your child’s favorite stories will come to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Featured story: Where the Wild Things Are
11:00am-2:00pm: The Rumpus Room Family Dance Party: Halloween Edition
Welcome to the Rumpus Room, a daytime dance party for families, with sounds provided by DC’s top club DJs (who all happen to be parents themselves). Created by DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their kids, the Rumpus Room adapts the club environment (think disco ball, lights, and of course music) into safe family-friendly fun. Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. The soundtrack will be a family-friendly mix of dance hits and classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. We provide the shakers, hula-hoops, beach balls and other props. You come to dance. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome. Drink specials for adults! No adults admitted without a child. Maximum 3 kids per adult. Infants/crawling children enter free. Advance ticket sales end one hour before doors.
The weather has cooled and it’s the perfect time to pick that pumpkin or grab those last few apples from the trees.
Plan ahead for your tricks and treats this Halloween as many festivals and celebrations take place on weekends!
Have you entered to win tickets to see Story Pirates in November? It’s not too late!
Saturday
9:30am-11:30am: Open House at The Children’s House of Washington (CHOW)
Read more about the Montessori school here.
10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s BOO-tiful Crafts
They craft, you shop! Kids 3 and up can enjoy a quick project. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. $2 per project, ages 3+, supplies included. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event.
10:00am-4:00pm: The Big Build at The National Building Museum
Join us for a day filled with hands-on family fun. Discover what it’s like to be a builder and meet plumbers, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields. A special feature this year is author Joshua David Stein who will lead stroy time with activities around his new book Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture. Participate in over 30 activities including: Cement mixing, Virtual reality, augmented reality, and other technologies, Decorative arts for the home, Woodworking, Truck petting zoo, Storm water management, Spackling and Much more! All Museum exhibitions are open and free to the public during the Big Build.
10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Featured Story: Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site
12:00pm-4:00pm: Murch Elementary Fall Fair
Games and Prizes, The Famous Used Book Sale, Balloon Artist, Design-your-own Keychain, Ice Cream, Popcorn and Chips, Potomac Pizza, Hot dogs, Hair Coloring and Body Art, College Hunks Dunk Tank and More!
12:00pm-4:00pm: Art Safari at Torpedo Factory
An Alexandria tradition for more than two decades, Art Safari returns for a day of hands-on activities for kids and families. Dozens of artists lead budding arts enthusiasts in hands-on projects throughout the building. Children should wear clothing that can get a little dirty. Most activities are appropriate for ages 5 – 11. Some parental participation may be required. This year, scientists affiliated with the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) will work alongside artists to help participants understand and appreciate the interplay of art and Earth-system science. Art Safari takes place on the eve of AGI’s Earth Science Week, which runs October 14–20. This year’s theme is “Earth as Inspiration.” Earth Science Week reaches more than 50 million people worldwide, offering free education resources, information, and activities on earth science and art.
12:00pm-7:00pm: H Street Festival
H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals in Washington D.C. The festival is 11 blocks long and has 14 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different segments of audiences. The staging areas feature music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and many more.
3:00pm-5:00pm: Jazz & Lily Pads Concert at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
You are invited to our final Jazz & Lily Pads concert of the season where we can celebrate YOU, our visitors, generous supporters, volunteers, and partners for all that you do to support Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! There is live music, a photo exhibition featuring winners and honorable mentions from our 2018 annual photo contest, and a special evening park tour at 4pm. There will also be free hot dogs and apple cider, as well as a variety of activity stations (facepainting, pumpkin painting, live birds of prey and more)!Please bring a chair, blanket, picnic, and all your family and friends. This event is FREE and open to the public.
4:30pm-11:00pm:OPUS Merriweather
A multi-sensory art and music festival taking place in Columbia, Maryland. Imagine what it would be like to stand inside a 75-foot laser cathedral, to jam to DJs on a grass lawn, to experience a 16-foot tall animated owl communicating in film quotes, and to let loose during a meditative dance party. This is OPUS: the boundary-breaking festival that invites families to explore and indulge in discovery. For one night only, OPUS will bring together 25 groundbreaking artists and musicians from all over the world, merging art, music and technology for an enchanting evening in the forest. In addition, OPUS will feature a culinary village with some of the DMV’s best food trucks + restaurants featuring glow in the dark cotton candy by Fluffness and gelato from Dolci Gelati. Best part? OPUS Merriweather is FREE!
Sunday
See all of the fun Halloween events happening
10:00am-3:00pm: 11th Annual Harbor Harvest Children’s Festival
The annual Harbor Harvest Children’s Festival brings the country to Baltimore City. This event features an urban pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a hay maze, face painting, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, live music, food trucks, stilt walkers, and other fall festivities without having to leave the Waterfront. The festival is free to attend but pony rides, the trackless train, and Kid’s Pass including pumpkin patch, are additional fees.
The weather is predicting a perfect weekend for Fall festivals, pumpkin and apple picking!
Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place on weekends from August 26-October 21, 2018. The Rent Fest will be full of jousting while serving up lots of turkey legs! Take a time machine back to medieval times where you’ll see wizards, knights and wenches. With plenty of entertainment, including music, jousting, mazes, puppetry, pony rides, a huge pirate playground and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits and will be begging to participate while staring in awe. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch!
BloomBars; a local, not-for-profit community arts organization has a long list of children’s programming you don’t want to miss. King Bullfrog; a high-energy acoustic duo playing folk, blues, world, and original music for children and their grown-ups will perform on Saturday at 4:00pm.
Friday
5:30pm-10:00pm: Drive-in at Union Market
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team. 1h 38 min, rated PG. Lot opens 5:30, Lot closes promptly at 7:45, Film begins 8:15, Film ends at 9:55.
Saturday
8:00am-11:00am: Hot Wheels Legends Tour
When Hot Wheels launched the original “Sweet 16” die-cast cars in 1968, they were considered some of the most influential and legendary cars in automotive history. And now, we’re hitting the road to find custom cars worthy of joining them as HOT WHEELS LEGENDS. One finalist from each of the 15 cities will join us at SEMA 2018 in Las Vegas, where one lucky winner will be immortalized as a Hot Wheels Legend and transformed into a die-cast car sold around the world. Don’t miss this family friendly event!
10:00am-12:00pm: Shake up your Saturday at Folger Shakespeare Library: Deception & Disguise
Hide your true self and see what mayhem you can bring. Shake Up Your Saturdays is a free program that takes place on the first Saturday of every month. Family members of all ages are welcome to join the fun! Foulke Conference Room; Register to attend. NOTE: This program has a limited number of spots. Please register and receive a confirmation before attending.
10-11AM: Recommended Ages 4-7
11-12PM: Recommended Ages 7-11
10:00am-1:00pm: Glen Echo: Saturday Art Explorers
Drop in for an art activity and play in the Candy Corner Studio for $5, no need to pre-register. Play on the playground afterwards, look around the Glen Echo Park Aquarium or catch a show at Adventure Theatre or the Puppet Co.
10:15am & 11:30am: Saturday Story Sessions at Strathmore with InterAct Story Theatre
In this delightful, interactive workshop, miniature items and toys creates a captivating story. Parents will take away effective storytelling techniques that can be used at home to promote literacy and other cognitive skills.
11:00am-4:00pm: Taste of Bethesda
Bethesda’s famous food and music festival brings 60 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. Each year, more than 40,000 attendees sample the delicious restaurants, enjoy the live entertainment and visit the kid’s corner for face painting and arts & crafts.
11:00am-4:30pm: Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day: Making History, Sharing Culture Featuring Disney Pixar’s Coco at National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian Latino Center and the National Museum of American History invite you to celebrate the kick off of Hispanic Heritage Month in this day full of activities for families and visitors of all ages! Participate in hands on activities, learn about animation and storytelling, enjoy the Cooking Up History demonstration with renowned Mexican-American chef Zarela Martinez; meet members from Disney·Pixar’s “Coco” team, including character modeling artist Alonso Martinez, watch “Coco” with your friends and family, dance to the music of Grupo Bella, an all-female mariachi band. All festival activities are free, however reservation tickets will be needed for the timed film screenings of Coco.
12:00pm-3:00pm: FAMILY FUN: Children’s Arts & Crafts Workshops at Embassy of Sweeden
Swedish artist Karin Lithell leads children ages 3-10 in expressing themselves through art! Attendees are set up with everything they need to participate free of charge. Come try quilling or create your own abstract art piece inspired by Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. Free admission and no registration required. Also check out Room for Children and Storytime Sessions! Storytime Sessions are offered every Saturday at 2 pm for families to experience Swedish children’s literature. The sessions are held in Room for Children. FREE admission. No registration is required.
12:00pm-6:00pm: College Park Day at the College Park Aviation Museum
Free Admission for All! Fun for Kids and Adults! Join us for an afternoon of fun and laughter! Activities include obstacle courses, climb wall, bounce house, face painting, live bands and performers … and more! Enjoy creating different arts and crafts. Come say hello to the folks who keep you safe and check out their fire trucks and squad cars! Music all day long … our main stage will feature jazz, rock, cumbia, pop, R&B and more! Put your dancing shoes on! The College Park Aviation Museum also offers free admission and you can see their new exhibit “Delivering America: Airmail to Email.” As a special bonus you can go on the airfield and check out several helicopters and say hello to their pilots and crews.
Sunday
10:00am-12:00pm: Red Panda Art Studio: Selfies
Bambinos will create many different self-portraits in multiple different ways– and we will create a customized name plate wall hanging! This morning session is intended for ages 2 to 6.
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Your child’s favorite stories will come to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Featured story: Knufflebunny
12:00pm-4:00pm: Piketoberfest
There will be live music, craft brews, food from your favorite neighborhood restaurants, hay maze, corn hole tourney, and more. There is something for everyone at our biggest festival of the year.
Monday
What to do with your child when there is no school!
9:30am-11:00am: Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly morning storytelling and performance series for children ages 5 and under with the goals of teaching children to engage with their community, learn to love performing and become rising artivists! Rise + Rhyme is held every Monday morning in Hyattsville, MD and Takoma & Brookland, DC and every last Tuesday of the month at 9:30 AM at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington.
10:45am: The 2018 National Columbus Day Ceremony at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Plaza (across from the Union Station)
The festivities will begin with music from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Other featured parts of the program include: US Joint Services Honor Guard, Knights of Columbus Color Corps, Presidential and Mayoral Proclamations, Addresses from the National Park Service and the embassies of Italy, Spain, and the Bahamas, Youth Essay Contest winner, and the wreath presentations. This is a great event for the entire family. Do not miss this educational, historic, and patriotic ceremony.
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Many orchards are open and ready for you to pick fruit and grab your pumpkins.
Frederick’s Oktoberfest is Friday & Saturday. Friday for adults & Saturday for families! There will be a Kid’s Zone from 11:00am-6:00pm with some exciting entertainment; 2:30PM-3:15PM: Mr. Jon, 4:00PM: Root Beer Luge hosted by 106.9 The Eagle, 5:00PM-5:45PM: Mr. Jon.
Star Wars Under the Sky at Library of Congress will show “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” on Friday at 7:30pm and “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” on Saturday at 7:30pm.
Blueberries for Sal at Adventure Theatre: Run time- September 21-October 21, 2018Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother are picking delicious blueberries to can for the long winter months ahead to make delicious desserts. On the other side of Maine’s Blueberry Hill, a mama bear and baby bear are filling up for the long hibernation. But somehow Sal and a baby bear have a mixed up adventure and lose their mothers!
Saturday
10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Featured Story: Five Little Monkeys
11:00am-5:00pm: Barrack’s Row Fall Festival
A petting zoo, live music, truck touch, beer garden, magician, kids zone and the festival wraps up with a donkey procession.
11:00am-4:00pm: Leesburg Airshow
This event provides a wonderful opportunity to see a snapshot of the general aviation world. The static display area, located on the airport’s aircraft parking ramp, will feature many unique, experimental and antique aircraft. The airshow exhibitors will showcase the many facets of general aviation, such as flight training, corporate transportation and emergency rescue operations. In addition, there will be inflatables for the kids, and a variety of food vendors. The skies above Leesburg will come alive with skydiving and aerobatic performances.
11:00am-3:00pm: Family Day at Kreeger Museum
Join us to celebrate art, music, and nature. The day includes outdoor art activities for children, a djembe drum circle, performances by the Elijah Jamal Balbed Quartet, and Sculpture Garden and Gallery art talks. Picnic blankets welcome in the Sculpture Garden – Rocklands BBQ and Captain Cookie and the Milkman will be joining us to sell lunch and sweet treats! Free and open to the public.
7:00pm: Opera in the Outfield
Celebrate the 11th season of free opera broadcasts by joining Washington National Opera at Nationals Park for The Barber of Seville. Gates open at 5 p.m. for pre-opera activities, including a costume shop, instrument meet and greet, games, prizes, and more!
Sunday
9:00am-5:00pm: Fall Fest at Friends of the Soldiers Home
See flier to the left for schedule of events
10:00am-12:00pm: Workafrolic Open House
Ever wonder how you can work and bring your child along while actually being productive? Check out Workafrolic; they will have fun activities for kids 0-4 years old, mini music lessons, coffee, snacks, and door prizes and you can check out the space.
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. Featured Story: Down by the Station
11:00am-4:00pm: Then & Wow at Glen Echo
This is the Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual family festival celebrating the Park’s revitalization as an arts center and recalling its history, when the site was an amusement park. The event features kiddie rides and arcade games, as well as videos and an exhibition on the Park’s history. Admission to the park is free. Rides and some activities require tickets. The festival also celebrates the last day of the 2018 carousel season. The carousel will reopen in the spring of 2019. Festival hours are 11am – 4pm. The carousel operates from 11am – 5pm.
11:00am-7:00pm: Turkish Festival
(Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 14th Streets NW)
2018 DC Turkish Festival and Heritage Month will feature colors of Anatolia. Also known as Asia Minor, Anatolia is the western tip of the Asian continent that extends towards Europe. Anatolia’s vivid colors are a reflection of the many rich civilizations that have passed through this fertile land over thousands of years. Visitors will have a chance to get a glimpse of Ephesus at the Annual DC Turkish Festival. Dancing, singing, lots of delicious food, shopping and more!
6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: The Lion King (final movie of the season)
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie.
It’s that time of year! School is in full swing, crisp winds begin, fun fall outfits, PSL’s and jumping in leaves once all this rain ends. It also means making memories at apple orchards, festivals and picking pumpkins. We’ve created a short list of the closest places to take your Bambinos. Have a favorite place to add to our list? Let us know in the comments!
Butlers Orchard 37th Annual Pumpkin Festival (22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876)
Dates of the Festival: September 29, 30, October 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28
Spider web, twisted pumpkin corn maze, corn box, hayrides, straw maze, corn hole, giant slides, pumpkin coach, jump in the hayloft, visit barnyard buddies, pumpkinland, pedal tractors, playground, pumpkin cannon, pony rides, face painting, kids crafts, pick your own pumpkins, festival food and a farm market as you exit the Orchard.
Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837)
Pick-Your-Own Fruit
Ticonderoga Farms (26175 Ticonderoga Rd, Chantilly, VA 20152)
September 22-November 4
Admission includes hayrides, activities and access to the pick your own pumpkin field. Noah’s Ark, log cabins, hillside slides, ponds, swings, fire pits, hayrides, tire play, hay forts, rolling tunnels, s’mores roasting, animals, enormous jump and bounce pillow and so much more.
Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd. Centreville, VA. 20120)
September 22-November 4
5 giant slides, world famous hayrides, farm animals & their babies, CORNundrum cornfield adventure, rope swings, kiddie zone, goat village, local apples & fresh cider, straw tunnels, a patch pumpkin to take home, live entertainment, 90 acres of fun!
Summers Farm (5620 Butterfly Lane Frederick, MD 21703)
September 22 – October 31
Open in the Fall each year with an old-fashioned Harvest Festival — featuring a 12 acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, more than 30 activities, live weekend music, fireworks, finger-lickin’ good food … and lots more!
Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797)
Open through the first Sunday in November
The Straw Maze, built with over 1000 bales of straw, is a delightful place to get lost. The Straw Maze is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. Fee charged. All day pass. The Boo Barn is for children ages 4 – 6. It is a dark passage in the bottom of the Red Barn and is filled with animated, not too scary ghosts and goblins. The Boo Barn is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. Fee charged. All day pass.
Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135)
Open Daily in September for Apple Picking & Corn Maze Fun from 9:00am-5:00pm
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival: October 1-31
Pumpkin Chunkin: November 3-6
Apple Gala and Cider Fest is every weekend in September
Celebrate with tastings of this season’s best ciders and demonstrations of our antique cider press. Pick your pumpkins and apples, fire pumpkins from a cannon, enjoy cider donuts, get lost in a corn maze and visit with the pumpkin princess at Pumpkin Harvest Festival and bring your leftover pumpkins to Pumpkin Chunkin.
Clark’s Elioak Farm (10500 State Rte 108 Ellicott City, MD. 21042)
Open through November 4. Open Tues-Sun
Petting farm animals, hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, birthday parties, educational tours, enchanted pine tree forest, special weekend events, enchanted forest attractions and fall season pumpkin patch.
Leesburg Animal Park and Pumpkin Village (19270 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, VA 20175)
Pumpkin Village open September 15-November 6
Halloween Costume Contest & Trick or Treating Oct 28 & 29
Giant hill slides, hay wagon rides, pet and feed animals, free apple and cider snack with admission, free mini-pumpkin, kids maze, camel rides and live entertainment, pedal carts, face painting on weekends.
Wayside Farm (5273 Harry Byrd Hwy, Berryville, VA 22611)
September 22-November 4 on weekends
This year’s maze theme is Emoji…come see if you can wind your way through the 10-acre maze. The popular pig races will run on festival days. And don’t forget to visit the 8 acre pumpkin patch where you can pick your very own pumpkin right from the the vine! The farm offers hayrides, pig races, slides, and playgrounds. In addition to offering plenty of entertainment, this working farm has an 8-acre u-pick pumpkin patch. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wayside Farm is an idyllic farm setting for families looking for the ultimate farm adventure this fall. Wayside Farm would like to offer our readers 20% off admission this fall- mention Beltway Bambinos at the booth!
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Festivals:
Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends August 25-October 21, 2018
Barracks Row Fall Festival: September 29, 2018
Frederick Oktoberfest: September 28 & 29, 2018
Piketoberfest: October 7, 2018
This weekend is JAM PACKED with events due to last weekend’s rain-ing on everyone’s plans. The plans got out of hand, so we’ve highlighted a few with details and included a list below of a few others!
Saturday
9:00am-10:30am: Storybook Safari: “Where the Wild Things Are” Zoo Class
Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 3-5 to discover a whole new view of the National Zoo. “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo Walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world.
10:30am: Marsha and the Positrons at Jammin Java
Get an early listen to these new songs! Tickets are $8 (for everyone age 1 & up); or $25 for a family 4-pack. And meticulously updated scientific facts are free of charge!
11:00am-2:00pm: Little Sprouts at Beefsteak Tenleytown
Little Sprouts is an seasonal program that takes place across Beefsteak locations, designed to prove to children that veggies are both delicious and fun. The complimentary event on Saturday, September 22 will feature kid-friendly entertainment with coloring books, raffles and a plant potting activity with ThinkFoodGroup’s Chief of Produce Bennett Haynes. Beefsteak will offer small bites to sample from the menu, and children 10 & under will receive a free JV Bowl with purchase of any full-size bowl, salad or burger (this same deal applies every Wednesday at Beefsteak as part of their “Kids Eat Free” promotion).
12:00pm-3:00pm: DCPS Block Party at Anacostia High School
There will have food, special guests, opportunities to learn more about the resources from district partners, and lots of activities for students. The Ward 8 Fall Attendance Festival was cancelled due to inclement weather, so the Block Party will also be a time to recognize and celebrate the attendance strides of the Ward 8 community. The Block Party is free and open to the public.
1:00pm-3:00pm: Kids at Katzen; American University Museum
Join the American University Museum for an age-appropriate tour and hands-on art-making workshop inspired by one of the current exhibitions. Recommended for ages 5-12. Cost is $10 per child. Free for up to 2 children for members at the Family Level & above.
1:00pm-4:00pm:Brews, Booze & Bites at Tudor Place— DAY DATE!
Good weather is forecast, so come listen to live music while tasting and sipping the afternoon away in the gardens.
Sunday
10:00am-12:00pm AND 4:00pm-6:00pm: Red Panda Art Studio- Slime and other concoctions
Workshops will include open art exploration, sensory stations, a related story, and a guided project. Each workshop is $30/child.
12:00pm-5:00pm: KIDfest at Veterans Plaza
DC region’s largest family festival celebrating creativity and innovation! KIDfest, voted one of the best local festivals by Bethesda Magazine, features exciting STEM, arts, and creative activities of all kinds that inspire kids and adults alike.
1:00-4:00pm: Tenleytown Block Party (next to Best Buy & Tenley Metro)
Join us for our annual fun, family-friendly and completely free Tenleytown Block Party! Free Grilled Burgers/Hot Dogs/Drinks & More, Food Truck!!!! Free Ice Cream by Local Area Favorite Food Truck, Cotton Candy, Shaved Ice & Popcorn, Children’s Ferris Wheel & Bounce House, 24 ft Rock Climbing Wall, New Rides to include: Reckless & Super Sonic! Face Painting, Balloon Artists & Temporary Tattoos, The Fan Zone- Featuring Lounge Area with Live Viewing of NFL Games, Shaded Seating Areas, Rides & Amusements for All Ages, Live DJ/Music. Lend a hand in helping put together 150 care packages that will be distributed by Martha’s Table to our neighbors in need. (Rain Date: Sunday, September 30th, 1-4pm)
3:30pm-4:15pm: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
You and your child (ages 1-5) are invited to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. Featured story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Get your tickets!
5:30pm: Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights at AMP powered by Strathmore
As one of America’s top nationally touring kindie rock bands, Brooklyn-based Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights has played for thousands of families across the country. Leeds began her career in the club scene in New York, but she was inspired by the unbridled and unadulterated joy of children. She wanted to write music that reflected that sense of carefree adventure. On her latest release, Brooklyn Baby!, she celebrates equality, healthy eating, education, and love with a fun, silly twist.
6:00pm: Target Family Night: “Callaloo: The Trickster and the Magic Quilt“
Join the Callaloo Kids ensemble at The Kennedy Center as they adventure to the Gullah Sea Islands in search of a long lost patch for Zoe’s grandmother’s quilt. Celebrating African-Diaspora folklore, this performance includes puppetry, drumming, and storytelling for the entire family to enjoy.
Have you entered to win 4 tickets to Disney On Ice?!?!
Local theatre productions are ramping up. Make sure you plan ahead and get tickets.