Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekend Picks

Chocolate buzz anyone? We know it isn’t Valentine’s Day quite yet but this weekend brings a few sweet events to attend as you get ready for the 14th. The highlight of this weekend; The Chocolate Lovers Festival in Fairfax. There will be a puppet show, chocolate tastings, face painting, story time and much more that involves chocolate! Check out the schedule here. Also, be sure and check out our guide to getting delicious chocolate for your Valentine!

Also, February is Maple Sugaring Month at Brookside Nature Center. Every Saturday and Sunday you’ll have an opportunity to experience an American tradition: maple sugaring! Watch the whole maple sugaring process from start to finish. See sap drip from trees and taste it. Watch us boil it down into sweet maple syrup, then sample a tasty treat. Join in the fun and activities and learn something new at this family-friendly program! Space is limited so pre-registration is encouraged.

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Weekend Picks

Many places take a break around this time of year, but there’s still plenty to do. Be sure and visit Zoo Lights and catch a holiday show! We’ve got plenty of holiday festivities and ice rink info here.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

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Weekend Picks

Experience the Mall Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, to celebrate the season with Smithsonian. We’ve got special events galore to help you get in the holiday spirit, including musical performances, book signings, trunk shows, activities for kids, and more!  Participating museums include: National Museum of American History, National Museum of Air and Space, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art and Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African American Art, National Postal Museum, and The Smithsonian Castle. Hours are 10:30am-5:30pm and the Holiday Festival is free.

This weekend Baltimore will be having Dollar or Less Days. Many of your favorite spots will only be $1 for admission. Get there early as lines will be long but they’ll move fast. Check the above link for participating places. See our post on Baltimore for ideas of other places to go.

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Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

Home Sweet Home Gingerbread  Workshop at National Building Museum is Saturday and Sunday. Get in the holiday spirit and construct a gingerbread house at the National Building Museum. Participants will learn how to use gingerbread walls and royal icing to build a house. We’ll provide the supplies and treats to make your gingerbread home as sweet as can be. Register online!

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‘Tis the Circus! A Holiday Party on High presented by Sweet Spot Aerial Productions at Atlas Performing Arts Friday-Sunday. The holidays can be a circus – quite literally, at this holiday party! As the guests arrive, one couple’s living room is transformed as acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and other performers dazzle with spectacular routines celebrating the magic of the holiday season. Fun for the whole family – prepare to be delighted, amazed and inspired. A unique and new holiday tradition. All ages. [Read more…]

Weekend Picks

This weekends post is full of fun on Saturday! Be sure and check out our Indoor Fun post as well as the Theater Roundup post so you have a warm place to escape to as the weather gets cooler.

Friday-th

6:00pm: Family Movie Night Inside Out playing at Marie Reed Auditorium
(18th and Wyoming Sts. NW)
Admission is free, and concessions will be sold.  Come join the fun hosted by Marie Reed Elementary School PTA.

6:30pm: The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW)
Shes back in town this weekend. Catch her if you can!
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Weekend Picks

Kids Euro Festival begins this weekend and lasts through November 8. It’s like taking a trip to Europe – but you don’t need a passport! Kids Euro Festival is a two-week long festival of European arts and culture presenting more than 125 free activities to D.C. metro area children and their families. There are performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, and more… and it’s all brought to you by the 28 European Union Member States!

Be sure and check out local Orchards & Festivals as well as Halloween events happening this weekend.

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Weekend Picks

This weekend kicks off on at noon today (Friday) at the popular  Saint Sophia’s annual Greek Festival. Its open all weekend 12-6 Friday & Saturday and 12-7 on Sunday. If you haven’t been, don’t miss out on this annual Festival. Amazing food, live entertainment, marketplace, children’s games and did I mention the amazing food….

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs weekends through October 25. The festival is free to children 6 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment for you and the kids, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate!

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Fall 2015 classes in and around Washington, DC

Summer is ending {sigh} so we’ve highlighted some places offering Fall Classes. There are so many possibilities so please contact us and let us know if you have a favorite that is not on our list. Here’s to Pumpkin Spice Lattes and the turning of leaves. Happy Fall!

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Adventure Theatre: Fall Academy Classes for children ages 12 months-Grade 12 can be found here.

Curiosity Zone: Hands-on science classes in a science lab for children ages 3-Grade 5. Classes can be found here.

Hillwood Estate: Various themes and sessions for the preschool classes. Classes can be found here.

Imagination Stage: Theme-based Fall Class Schedule for children ages 12 months-age 21 can be found here.

Little Loft: A neighborhood art studio which has two locations, Capitol Hill and Takoma Park. Offering classes for preschool kids, open studio time and off school classes. Click here and choose the location to find all class options.

Meadowlark Music: Classes include parachute, scarves, instruments, drums, puppets, balls, guitar, flute, dancing, singing, giggling, clapping, movement and more! They are designed to engage caregivers and little ones in an organic way…which leads to us all enjoying our little ones’ musical discoveries in a remarkably positive and friendly environment. More information can be found here for children 0-3 years old.

Montgomery County Recreation Department: You can find The Guide which is full of classes here or you can pick one up at a Montgomery County Library or Recreation Center.

Round House Theatre: Fall classes consist of 8-week sessions on Saturdays. Classes for children ages 2-Grade 8 can be found here.

Silver Stars Gymnastics: Fall classes for children ages 18 months and up can be found here.

Smithsonian National Zoo: Preschool classes throughout the year can be found here. After school classes for children ages 6-10 can be found here. Unique, HomeSchool Classes are also available, find more info here.

The Children’s Art Studio: A 10-week Fall session for children ages PK-Teenagers. Classes can be found here.

The Creative Difference: After school enrichment classes for children ages PK-Grade 5 can be found here.

Quick Feet: Soccer for 2-5 year olds in DC, MD and VA. Classes can be found here.

Washington DC JCC: Fall Classes for children ages newborn to age 4 can be found here. After school enrichment classes for children Pre-K- Grade 6 can be found here.

 

Indoor Gym Spaces: th

BusyBees

Gymboree

Kidville

My Gym

 

Family-Friendly Yoga Studios:

Tranquil Space

Lil Omm

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