Beltway Bambinos

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

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  • Home
  • Indoor Fun
    • Theater & musical productions
    • Guide to Indoor Fun for Kids
  • Fall
    • Halloween guide
    • Fall festivals, farms, orchards
    • Fall Foliage Spots and Drives
    • Fall events
    • Fall classes
    • Fall bucket list
    • Survive Daylight Savings
  • Winter
    • Holiday gift guide
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Hanukkah Celebrations
    • Holiday Tea
    • Christmas Trees, Lights & Markets
    • Ski and snowboard
    • Cut-your-own tree
    • Ice rinks and roller rinks
  • Spring
    • Cherry blossoms
    • Easter egg hunts
    • Easter basket & spring gift ideas
    • Spring bucket list
    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day weekend
    • Tax day steals and deals
  • Summer
    • Summer Camps
    • July 4th
    • Ice cream
    • Sunflower Fields
    • Summer bucket list
    • Live outdoor music
    • Outdoor movies
    • Outdoor swimming pools
    • Splash parks
    • Trains!
  • Camps and Classes
    • Fall classes
    • Spring classes
    • Summer camps
    • Mid-winter break camps
    • Winter camps and classes
    • November 2, 4, 5, 11
    • DCPS spring break camps
    • Schools out, camps are in
    • Year-round classes
    • Gymnastics and dance classes
  • Neighborhood Guides
    • Annapolis, MD
    • AU Park, DC
    • Baltimore, MD
    • Bethany Beach, DE
    • Breweries in the DC area
    • Brookland, DC
    • Chevy Chase, DC
    • Georgetown, DC
    • Philadelphia, PA
    • Lancaster County, PA
    • Madison, VA
    • Frederick, MD
    • St. Louis, MO
  • Outdoor Play
    • 15 family friendly hikes
    • Pick your own fruit and vegetables
    • Beaches and state parks
    • Outdoor fun
    • Trails, marshes and gardens
    • 20 classic outdoor games
    • Trains and carousels
  • Beltway Bambinos Concierge
    • Customized itineraries
    • Introducing Beltway Bambinos Concierge
  • About
  • Beltway Travel
    • Introducing Beltway Travel
    • Family Summer Getaways
    • Traveling with Little Ones?
    • Why Now is the Time to Plan
    • Travel Advisors Save You More Than Money
    • Why You Should Work with Me
    • How Do You Make Sure the Trip Has Something for Everyone?
    • DC Hotels with Indoor Pools
  • Itineraries
    • 5 Days in Costa Rica
    • {Winter} Staycation

Weekend Picks

May 6, 2016

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.
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: concert, flower mart, literature, Mothers Day, mount vernon, music, national cathedral, nature, truck touch, us botanic garden

Weekend Picks and Labor Day

September 4, 2015

Phew– I survived my first full week with my oldest being in full-time PreK….barely. How’d everyone else do?

Labor Day is the official end to summer but that doesn’t mean the fun in the City stops. Refer to our Summer Guide for places to cool off at this weekend.

The Kennedy Center kicks off a fun exhibit today; Skateboarding, Music and Media and runs through Sept. 13. The boys in my house will definitely want to check this out, maybe we will head there when they host an Open Skate Session! There will be art and movie screenings as well as opportunities to watch skaters and even participate.

The Nationals play all weekend in town! Friday and Saturday are evening games, do I hear a date night opportunity?! Sunday and Monday are afternoon games, perfect to take the family. 

 

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Saturday- 

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Festival will be the weekends of August 29-October 25. The festival kicked off  last weekend! The festival is free to children 11 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, 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!
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: baseball, blues, book festival, capitol, concert, Labor Day, music, parade, skateboarding

Weekend Picks: Roller skate, fly around at a fair and watch an outdoor movie

August 13, 2015

Didn’t get enough carnival rides and fried twinkles on the boardwalk this summer? Head over to the Montgomery County Fair. It is happening through Saturday, August 22. Fair and carnival hours vary as do animal exhibits in Old MacDonald’s Barn. Children 11 and under are FREE while adults cost $10. Check the schedule for daily events. Address is 16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Prince William County Fair is also happening through Saturday, August 22. Adults $10, Children over 5 $5 (with specials on various days).

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11:00am-6:45pm Weekends: Roller Skate at NPS Park before it closes for the season
(1500 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, D.C)
Have you checked out the National Park Pavilion turned roller rink? Free roller skate rentals with a valid ID.

Potomac Nationals are in town and have some fun promotions and events happening, including a Ryan Zimmerman Bobblehead giveaway on Sunday.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: art, baseball, biking, concert, fair, movies, nps, roller skate, video games

Weekend Picks: Magic Tree House, MusiKids and Engineers for a day

February 27, 2015

Arts on the Horizon will be featuring Sunny and Licorice at Atlas Performing Arts Intersections Festival this weekend. Check here for the Family Schedule of Events.

Sunny-and-Licorice_3-e1422575632440-1105x336

Friday & Saturday-

Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark, Kids! at Adventure Theatre featuring ATMTC Academy Students in Grades 2 – 5 Feb. 27 & 28
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812)
While exploring one afternoon, Jack and Annie discover a tree house full of books: Jack looks through a book about dinosaurs and wishes he could see a real one. Suddenly the wind begins to blow and the tree house starts to spin wildly. When it finally stops, Jack and Annie open their eyes to find they have been transported back to the time of the dinosaurs! Tickets are $5.

Saturday-

10:00am: MusiKids at Avalon Theatre
(5612 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC. 20015)
Come join musiKids in a brand new Adventure Day – “Down on the Bayou”! This interactive musical show will have children singing and moving to songs inspired by the colorful creatures from the bayous of Louisiana. Learn how to snap like an alligator or jump like a rabbit! musiKids Adventure Days encourage kids to sing and move along with each and every song. Recommended for children ages 18 months to 6 years old.

10:00am-4:30pm:Engineering Family Day at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 2000)
Every February, the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn ideas into reality. Celebrate Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. Explore thermodynamics, electricity, aerodynamics, and more with engineers at more than 25 activity tables and demonstrations made especially for kids. Discover Engineering Family Day is a FREE, drop-in program. $5 donation suggested. Program and activities are most appropriate for children ages 6 to 12 with adult supervision. Registration is not required.

10:30am: Saturday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) 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. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Featured story: The Wheels on the Bus

11:00am and 1:00pm: Human Rights Campaign features “Dancin’ in the Kitchen” concert
(640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036)
Join HRC for a special family concert featuring the Grammy winning duo, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer and songs from their forthcoming CD, “Dancin’ in the Kitchen,” featuring songs that celebrate all kinds of families!  Each family will receive an advance copy of “Dancin’ in the Kitchen,” a chance to meet the musicians, and snacks during the show. Seating will be limited, so get your tickets early! Adult General Admission: $10 and Children General Admission: $5

Sunday-

th10:00am: Sunday Fun Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3. Featured story: Where the Wild Things Are

2:00pm: The Wacky & Whimsical Tea for THEARC
(1150 22nd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-The Ritz-Carlton of Washington)
Enjoy a fun-filled Sunday afternoon that will include high tea, a silent auction and creative games for kids of all ages and their families, including a treasure trove, special entertainment and other surprises.  All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC).

 

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: arts, Avalon Theatre, building museum, concert, engineer, Imagination Stage, intersections, music, theatre

Weekend Picks: Blues, Jazz and Labor Day

August 28, 2014

Maryland Renaissance Festival kicked off  last weekend! The festival is free to children 11 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, 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 any weekend through October 17.  

Curtain call on some great theater performances this weekend. Check out the list and see a show.

Friday-

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
(7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW)
This is the final concert of the summer. The free concert series has featured jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—salsa, blues fusion, xylophone, Afrofunk, and more. Bring a picnic dinner.

Saturday- 

10:00am-10:00pm: Library of Congress National Book Festival  poster_enlarge
(Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Pl., NW, Washington, D.C)
This year’s festival will feature authors, poets and illustrators in several pavilions well into the evening. Festival-goers can meet and hear firsthand from their favorite poets and authors, get books signed, enjoy special entertainment, and stay up late for special new graphic novel, poetry and film programs.

12:00pm-7:30pm: 26th Annual Blues Fest at Carter Barron Amphitheater
(16th Street & Colorado Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008)
Throughout the day, visit the John Cephas Workshop Stage for workshops led by talented and well-known artists who will entertain children and adults. Check out The John Cephas Workshop Stage  from 12:00 – 4:00 pm for the Children’s Instrument Play Area. Admission is free.

2:00pm-8:00pm: 8th Annual Jazz and Blues Festival at Lake Anne
(1609 Washington Plaza, Reston , VA)
This free, family friendly, all-day event will showcase a variety of talented regional and national jazz & blues performers.

2:00pm: The Fresh Beat Band at Wolf Trap
(1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA)
It’s a “Great Day” to sing and dance “Just Like a Rockstar” with Kiki, Marina, Twist, and Shout from Nick Jr.’s sensational TV band! All patrons, including children of any age, must have a ticket to performances. Tickets range from $25-125.

Sunday-

3:00pm-11:00pm: Capitol Concert 
(1st St SE., Washington, DC 20515)
Gates open at 3:00pm, open rehearsal at 3:30pm and concert begins at 8:00pm. This year’s program explores American music from TV, movies, and beloved Broadway musicals, with a veritable “who’s who” of notable composers represented. Concert is 90 minutes in length. 

memorial_day_parade_1

Parade Guide-
Kensington, MD 46th Annual Parade and Festival

Old Towne Gaithersburg Parade

Greenbelt Parade and Festival 

Herndon Labor Day Festival 

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Filed Under: Holiday Options, Weekend Picks Tagged: blues, books, concert, festival, jazz, Labor Day, music, outdoor, parade, reading

Weekend Picks: Flowers, festivals and funk FTW

May 2, 2014

It’s May AND Friday!!! Not sure which I’m more excited about the prospect of warmer (and drier) weather upon us or having Daddy home all weekend to help and play with the toddler. Note the first 2 picks start today (Friday). With the arrival of May comes Azalea Festivals and Flower Marts you’re sure to bring something home to brighten up the yard or a nauseous child that’s been on one too many rides. Either way this weekend is one we love because it offers so many choices. Get out and enjoy a few of them.

May 2-3 (10:00am-5:00pm): National Cathedral Flower Mart
(Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin & Massachusetts Aves., NW., Washington, DC)
Attend the 75th year for the Flower Mart which benefits the Cathedral’s gardens and grounds. You can admire many flowers and there will also be garden tours, musical performances and delicious food. And for your kids, well there is enough to keep them busy too; rock wall, moon bounce, ferris wheel and a carousel.

May 2-4 from 10:00am-5:00pm: Landon School Azalea Garden Festival Main_Page
(6101 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817)
Enjoy this wonderful azalea festival while strolling the gorgeous land Landon sits on. Bearly Used is an enormous tag sale during the Azalea Garden Festival that offers deals on gently used treasures. There is a huge FunLand that will entertain your child for hours, live music including a Jazz Festival and food vendors. All proceeds from the festival support student financial assistance and faculty enrichment. General admission and parking are free. Schedule of events found here.

May 2-4 (various times): A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Adventure Theatre P3Kj957kteYW9MR2bDQFQ5fjy2nAIcByVcuLdYxMuQD-9QDQwii_sU1gN29KYAW6rVxDvYnHgWYTs0JBoRU_ZWFVYpe7vKoZfACkaTN0m9pnILgrh42P7L2-80A=s0-d-e1-ft
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, was written around 1594 or 95. It portrays the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland fairies and a duke and duchess. Taking place in a mythical Athens and an enchanted forest, there is a handsome fairy king, a misguided parent, star-crossed lovers, a weaver who’s transformed into a half-donkey, wood sprites and elves. This work is widely performed around the world, and no wonder – it’s about the world’s most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Find tickets here. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: airplane, azalea, concert, family, festival, fiesta, flower, market, music, rocket, theatre, truck

Weekend Picks: Polar Plunge, Train Show & Groundhog’s Day

January 31, 2014

groundhog-dayHave you defrosted from this week’s weather yet? There are a few outdoor events on Sunday you may want to take advantage of if Meteorologists are correct and it warms up a bit.Otherwise, there are plenty of interactive, indoor things going on. From yoga to trains, I think we have your family covered this weekend with our favorite picks. Will the Groundhog see his shadow on Sunday? Don’t know about you but I’d prefer not to have six more weeks of these frigid temps!

Saturday~

9:00am-4:30pm- Chocolate Lovers Festival at City of Fairfax (Event is also held on Sunday)
(10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax, Va)
This festival is sure to appeal to my sweet tooth AND it is a 2 day event! There will be plenty of samples up for grabs, the ever-popular Kiwanis Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast, a craft show and an art show featuring work made completely out of chocolate, taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Challenge and open houses at historic buildings. Some events are free and some has a fee, check out the events page.

9:30am & 11:00am- Saturday morning at The National TheatreGeorge Washington Carver
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC  20004)
Join George Washington Carver on an exciting FREE journey through history. Learn about the inspirational stories of groundbreaking individuals such as Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson and Madame C.J. Walker. This show introduces children to some of the most influential African Americans of the past 150 years.  Recommended ages 4 and up.
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: art, chocolate, concert, fiesta, groundhog, song, story, theatre, tots, train, yoga

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