Beltway Bambinos

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

Ultimate Guide to Halloween in and around Washington, DC

Saturdays and Sundays only– 10:00am-6:00pm-: Eye Spy Train at Wheaton
All aboard the Wheaton Eye Spy Halloween Train! NO LONGER HAUNTED! This “not so scary” train ride is fun for the whole family – it’s all about fun, not fright! Each child will receive an Eye Spy card before boarding the train. As you ride through the woods of Wheaton Regional Park, look all around to find Halloween friends hiding, and mark them off the Eye Spy card. They’ll have fun Halloween activities in the Train Station Party Room, where snacks will also be available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged! Please bring a canned food donation for your neighbors in need – they’ll donate them to Mid-County United Ministries in Wheaton. [Read more…]

Tricks and Treats around Washington, DC this Halloween

Post has been updated and can be found here for 2018

I can’t count the number of times our son wore his “Max” costume from Where the Wild Things Are. Between parades, school, special celebrations and on Halloween he got lots of practicing saying, “Let the wild rumpus start”! Here’s a guide that will help your child get mileage out of their costume(s) this year. Of course, check out our guide to Festivals and Orchards, as many of them have a special Halloween celebration as well as their day-to-day happenings. DC Library also will have a variety of Halloween celebrations, including Creepy Crafts & Pumpkin Decorating! Check out Facebook and Instagram for updated events.

max
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks

The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival 2016 brings the best of DC arts and artists to the stage and H Street with performances, experiences and happenings in theatre, dance, music, vocal, choral, opera, visual arts, video, film, writing, sculpture, photography, circus, spoken word, public art, community art, and art space activation. Discover how art, culture and connection happen on H Street. The festival ends March 6. There are many family events (too many to choose for our picks), so please check out the schedule for family friendly shows.

Also, keep in mind James and the Giant Peach is at Adventure Theatre, JACK and Phil, Slayers of Giants-Inc is at Imagination Stage and Treasure Island ends this weekend at Encore Stage and Studio.

A Light Themed Art Installation at The Yards is an Installation Melding Light, Sculpture and Music to Create Wonder.

RainbowRockslide

Saturday-

10:00am: Avalon Weekend Family presents Rainbow Rock Band
(5612 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015)
Are you ready to meet the rainbow? Join Rainbow Rock Band members, the Rainbow Lady (Kate Moran) and Mister Melody (Michael Mattice), as they entertain your little dudes with tunes, laughs and lots more! Winners of a Parents’ Choice Award for their debut CD, ‘Meet the Rainbow,’ this amazing team will have microphones and more for your little one to join in the fun! Don’t miss your shot to rock! Tickets: $8 / $6.50 (Children under 2 are free.)
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks

Kicking off the Atlas Performing Arts Center 10th Anniversary, the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival 2016 brings the best of DC arts and artists to the stage and H Street with performances, experiences and happenings in theatre, dance, music, vocal, choral, opera, visual arts, video, film, writing, sculpture, photography, circus, spoken word, public art, community art, and art space activation. Discover how art, culture and connection happen on H Street. The festival begins February 26-March 6. There are many family events (too many to choose for our picks), so please check out the schedule for family friendly shows.

Michael Pigs2

Also, keep in mind James and the Giant Peach is at Adventure Theatre, JACK and Phil, Slayers of Giants-Inc is at Imagination Stage and Treasure Island premieres this weekend at Encore Stage and Studio.

A Light Themed Art Installation at The Yards is a Two-Week-Long Installation Melding Light, Sculpture and Music to Create Wonder. On Saturday, they are kicking off their US tour, families are invited from 3pm to 6pm to delight in the sight of the enormous glowing bunnies, while enjoying children’s activities, including a giant Lite-Brite.

Saturday-

10:00am: Avalon Theatre presents Blue Sky Puppet Theatre
(5612 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20015)
Blue Sky Puppet Theatre is back at the Avalon this winter! Their new production “SuperPig!” will have kids and families laughing and learning, with audience participation and humor aimed at all ages. “SuperPig!” shares the story of  Chester, who dreams of having superhero powers, but learns what heroes really are when a friend helps him out of a bullying situation. Tickets: $8.00 / $6.50 for Avalon members (Children under 2 are free)
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks

An exciting program we’ve been to a few times that occurs each Saturday is at Glen Echo: Saturday Art Explorers. This Saturday it will be from 11:15am-1:00pm (slightly different time than usual). Drop in for an art activity and play in the Candy Corner Studio for $10, 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.

20150915_175005-950x534

Saturday-

10:00am-3:00pm: African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space at National Air & Space Museum
(Independence Ave at 6th St)
Each February, the Museum celebrates the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space exploration despite the overwhelming obstacles they had to overcome. Visitors enjoy presentations, hands-on activities, and stories, and may have the opportunity to meet astronauts, fighter pilots, and others who will share stories of their challenges and accomplishments. They also learn about inspiring historic figures like Bessie Coleman through reenactments or story times.
[Read more…]

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design