Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Weekend Picks for June 3-5

Hate to say it (or accept it) but check websites for events on Sunday as bad weather is headed our way. 

Friday-

Unknown3:30pm-7:30pm: Westbrook Elementary 72nd Annual Carnival
(5110 Allan Terrace Bethesda, MD 20816)
Join us and surf on the mechanical surf board, climb the rock wall, play Superchance, jump on a moonbounce, try out Bottlemania, ride the Reckless and walk the Cake Walk! We have great prizes this year for our games ranging from iPad minis to Fitbits. Featuring local middle and high school bands such as Sonic Boom and the F-35s. Food trucks such as Jose Andres’ Pepe, DC Far East Taco, CapMac, Go Fish, Armands and Captain Cookie and the Milkman will be there.

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Memorial Day Weekend 2016 in Washington, DC

With the holiday weekend among us, we’ve chosen a few well-known picks that pay tribute to Memorial Day in addition to some familiar events. We’ve also put together a short list of suggested Day Trips that won’t keep you and your family in the car too long but will get you “away”. An obvious and free pick is to visit the various memorials along the Mall.

Washington Nationals play this weekend against my home team the St. Louis Cardinals. Bring your pup to the park on Friday or catch a giveaway game on Saturday day game or a Sunday day game!

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Weekend Picks

So we hear rain is coming back. Because we all missed it, right?! Welp, enjoy the sunshine today and then again on Sunday. Visit our Indoor Fun guide and Theatre Roundup if you want to try out a new spot or see a great show. If you have an urge to go shopping for your Bambinos (and Moms-to-be) and save money while doing-so, be sure you read about some consignment stores I shared with local photographer and Mom, Stefanie Harrington’s readers.

Washington, DC BioBlitz takes place Friday and Saturday. Teams of scientists, students, teachers, and the general public will join in a two-day race to discover and document the flora and fauna in the region’s national parks. During BioBlitz, participants will be able to discover the parks among the monuments and tourist attractions in the Nation’s capital. 

Friday-

4:00pm-9:00pm: Turk Valley Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival
(2700 Turf Valley Rd. Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Walk Thru Balloons: $3 per person, Balloon Glows (Dusk on Thursday & Friday), Tethered Rides – $20 per adult, $10 per child under 12, Balloon Flights Available $225 per person (register online), Children’s Crafts & Activities
and Food & Drink Vendors. 8:30-8:50pm- Watch as the balloons magically light up to choreographed music, with 25 hot air balloons!

Saturday-

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10:00am (doors open) 10:30am (show begins): Jammin with the Smithsonian: The Pop Ups at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
A collaboration between Brooklyn musicians Jason Rabinowitz and Jacob Stein, The Pop Ups have been setting the standard for children’s music since 2010. Tickets are $10.
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Weekend Picks

It’s a big weekend! Sadly, you may need to keep those umbrellas and raincoats handy. Two great festivals that are sure to satisfy your stomach with the great food these two cultures bring-  St. Luke Serbian Festival and Saint Sophia Greek Festival.

Saturday-

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10:00am-4:00pm: Family & Youth Casting Call at Fletcher’s Cove
(4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC 20007)
The Family & Youth Casting Call is a FREE family fishing and environmental education event at Fletcher’s Cove. Anglers will learn basic fishing skills while fishing in a stocked section of the C & O canal and practice catch and release fishing. Partnering community organizations will share information on their programs and provide environmental education activities for the kids. All equipment and bait provided by DOEE. Youth must be accompanied by parents. This is a free event and all equipment and bait provided by DOEE.
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Weekend Picks

The 77th Annual Flower Mart at The National Cathedral takes place Friday & Saturday. This event is fun for the entire family; food, flowers, performances, carnival rides and more!

Mothers Day Weekend at Mount Vernon is Saturday and Sunday.
Join the “Mother of our Country”, Martha Washington, for Mother’s Day weekend at Mount Vernon! Stroll through Mount Vernon’s magnificent gardens in bloom. Lady Washington will give lavender sachets to all mothers (while supplies last).

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Saturday-

8:00am-11:00am: Spring Celebration at Woodend Nature Sanctuary
(8940 Jones Mill Rd., Chevy Chase, MD)
Learn to identify our region’s birds on this volunteer-led walk around Woodend Nature Sanctuary. Bring your own binoculars or use ours. Join our Master Naturalists for a nature hike around Woodend Nature Sanctuary. This kid-friendly nature walk is great for all ages. Visit our Blair Native Garden to see what’s in bloom and stroll through our meadow to learn about butterflies. Take a guided tour of the historic Woodend mansion.
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Weekend Picks

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Saturday-

10:00am-2:00pm: Earth Day Celebration at National Zoo
(3001 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008 )
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is committed to saving species and our planet. Did you know that the Zoo recycles approximately 100 tons of materials and composts 600 tons of waste each year? This Earth Day, make the Zoo your go-to place to participate in green-themed activities. You’ll have the chance to get gardening tips from our expert horticulturists, take a tour of the Zoo’s green facilities, attend special demonstrations, and more. Don’t forget to ride your bike!

10:00am-3:00pm: Virginia Touch-A-Truck
(Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Dr., Sterling)
Put your imagination in gear and go! Join us for Virginia’s original TOUCH-A-TRUCK where kids get a chance to get behind the wheel and rub elbows with their hometown heroes. Come and climb on and explore your favorite vehicles including big rigs, fire engines, cement mixer, school bus, utility vehicles and so many more… It will surely be a day that will be remembered for years to come. $5

10:00am-2:00pm: Junior Ranger Day at Pierce Mill
(2539 Tilden St NW, Washington, D.C.)
Earn a centennial junior ranger badge,  make a corn husk craft, learn to make a map, find out how to tie different knots, and much more.

37-atxl10:30am: Miss Nina’s Sing-Along at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Whether you see her performing in concert, in class or listen to her original music you can witness her high-energy joy that fuels her dancing spirit. And Nina hopes its contagious! Providing children and their families the space and opportunity to enjoy music and movement together is her passion.

2:00pm: Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s “Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny”
(1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101)
“Goodnight Moon” is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while “The Runaway Bunny”’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both tales feature endearing rabbit characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Mermaid’s staged adaptation will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.

Sunday-

10:30am: Royal Family Yoga
(CityDance located at 4435 Wisconsin Ave NW)
Calling all princesses, princes, knights, and dragons! Dress in your finest fairytale inspired clothing for a royal gathering. We’ll dance, stretch, play, and imagine. Ages 3-8. Registration ends Friday.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Earth Day at Brookside Gardens
(1800 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902 )
What better place than Brookside Gardens, M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks, to celebrate Earth Day? Through volunteering, walks and tours, earth friendly activities and browsing our green craft fair, you can learn while having fun. Interactive family-friendly activities and a “green” vendor and craft fair will be offered from 12noon- 4pm. Enjoy wildflower and plant walks starting at 12:30pm. Discover how small changes in your everyday habits can make a big impact on improving our environment.

Weekend Picks

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The pick this weekend is Light City Baltimore. Premiering in 2016, Light City Baltimore is the first large-scale, international light festival in the United States, homegrown right here in Baltimore. Light City will provide a backdrop for the celebration of ideas, ingenuity and creativity through art, music and innovation. Light City will shine a light on Baltimore’s abundance of creative, cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary talent, and we welcome participants from across the globe to join us. Light City’s innovation programming will generate an ecosystem of ideas and learning during the day – while lights, performances and live music re-imagine the Inner Harbor at night. Check out the schedules online for various events. This event is over on Sunday, April 3. To make a day trip out of it, see our Top Eleven: Bambinos in Baltimore post.
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