Fall – Page 3

Fall Festivals and Orchards in and around Washington, DC

September 23, 2018

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!

Readers also recommend:

Sharps at Waterford Farm

Pumpkin Playground

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

Fall classes for children in and around Washington, DC

August 6, 2018

Class assignments are coming out, camps are ending, but the weather is still amazing and I’m forced to register for Fall sports and classes {sigh}. I say it each year but this summer went by way too quickly and I wish we could rewind time and start it over again. It’s not too late to cross some of our highlights off your list though.

We’ve highlighted some places offering Fall classes, parent-and-me groups as well as play groups. Here’s to cooler weather, the turning of leaves and continuing to stay busy exploring Washington, DC.

Audubon Naturalist Society: Tales & Trails 10-week class ages 2-4 with a caregiver can be found here.

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

Anna Banana Arts and Crafts: Art classes for ages 2-8 year olds can be found here.

Encore Stage & Theatre: Learning opportunities for children 6 months-Grade 12 can be found here.

Hillwood Estate: Various themes and sessions for ages 2-5. Classes can be found here.

Imagination Stage: Theme-based Fall Class Schedule for children ages 12 months-age 18 can be found here.

Just for Kids: Various sports for kids 18 months-age 9 can be found here.

Little Loft: A neighborhood art studio in Takoma Park. Offering classes for preschool kids, open studio time and off school classes. Click here to view many options.

Meadowlark Music: Classes include parachute, scarves, instruments, drums, puppets, balls, guitar, flute, dancing, singing, giggling, clapping, movement and more! More information can be found here for children 0-3 years old. Ukulele and guitar classes are found here for ages 4+.

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.

Nook: Nook has curated a selection of classes and workshops that offers developmental opportunities for ages 0-5 years. Find out more here.

Player Progression Academy (PPA): Offers a variety of sports from tots to high school. Find schedules here.

Quick Feet: Soccer for 2-7 year olds in DC, MD and VA. Classes can be found here.

Red Panda Art Studio: Each class is carefully planned to focus on a different art material. Children will be introduced to new art and sensory materials in a structured but exploratory setting. Classes for ages 2-4 and 4-7 can be found here.

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 and after school classes throughout the year can be found here.

Tinkergarten: Families meet outdoors to connect and learn through play. Various sessions for ages 0-8 can be found here.

Tudor Place: Toddlers get active in mind and body while learning about the world around us in weekly sessions featuring songs, stories, crafts, and movement. Classes for kids ages 2-4 can be found here.

Washington DC JCC: Fall classes and parenting classes

Kids-playing-soccer

Mom’s Groups:

New Mom support group with Dr. Ellyn Turer

Group for first and second time Moms PACE

8 Week New Mom’s Group at Lemon Tree

DC Parents of Multiples Group at Lemon Tree

Parent-and-me classes and experiences at Petite DC

A school for Toddlers and Parents and Caregivers at Intown Playgroup

Six (seven) Week Hook-Up from Mama’s Link

Indoor Gym Spaces:
My Gym

BusyBees

Magic Ground

Gymboree

Kidville

Other posts:

Yoga with your Bambino

Dance and Gymnastics classes

Year-round classes

Weekend Picks: October 13-15, 2017

October 13, 2017

Surely you’ve heard about the new District Wharf that just opened! Mark your calendar for four days (started Thursday) of live music, fabulous food, and fun at the Southwest Waterfront as we celebrate the long-awaited opening of The Wharf. The District’s biggest neighborhood event will feature free live entertainment and headliner bands, including The Great Zucchini on Saturday, restaurant openings from DC’s hottest chefs, debuts of iconic shops, and lots of waterside activities and games—concluding both Thursday and Sunday with sunset fireworks.

Fall Festivals have commenced!!! Let the apple and pumpkin picking start.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs for opening weekend! Take a time machine back to medieval times. 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. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch! The Festival ends October 22 and is open weekends only.

Saturday-

10:00am-4:00pm: The Big Build at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Be a builder for the day at The Big Build community day. Amateur builders young and old can discover what it’s like to don a hard hat, pour cement, spackle a wall, and much more as you work side-by-side with designers, builders, and artisans demonstrating their skills. Meet plumbers, electricians, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields to learn about their professions and hobbies. Free, drop in. No registration required. Recommended for ages 5-12; all ages welcome.

10:00am-2:00pm: Truck Touch at Suburban Nursery School
(7210 Hidden Creek Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20817)
Make way for Suburban Nursery School’s 10th Annual Truck Touch – one of the best fall events for families in the DC Metro area. Join the fun to celebrate the coolest trucks around. In addition to trucks, there will be cars, buses, food trucks, face painting, bounce houses, crafts and more. $5/person. Under 2 free.

10:00am: You & Me Song Circle with Imagination Stage at Avalon Theatre
(5612 Connecticut Ave NW)
You and your child are invited to join in the wild rompus in this fun, interactive musical experience with Imagination Stage! In this workshop, an Early Childhood Teaching Artist accompanied by a live percussionist guides you through a musical exploration of the classic children’s story Where the Wild Things Are. Together we will celebrate fall with our mightiest roars and dancing shoes as we bring this Maurice Sendak tale to life through song, movement, and instrument play. Best for ages 1-5, but all are welcome! $8

10:00am-4:00pm: Heritage Day at Pierce Mill
(2401 Tilden St NW, Washington, D.C)
There will be a quilting demonstration by the Needlechasers of Chevy Chase that will include “make and take” quilting for children. Master Weaver Chapuchi Bobbo Ahiagble from Ghana will demonstrate West African Kente strip cloth weaving. Chapuchi grew up among the Ewe weavers near the town of Agbozume, the largest market for Ewe Kente cloth in the world. A blacksmith, carpenters, bluegrass music, cider press, and corn sheller will round out the activities. Tours of the new orchard will be given throughout the day. And we’ll have hands-on children’s crafts. A food truck will provide lunch options. The waterwheel will be turning from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to showcase the magic of the giant wooden machine, designed by Oliver Evans. Built in 1820-1829 by Isaac Peirce as part of his large estate, the gristmill brings to life the agricultural history of Washington County.

2:00pm-5:00pm: 2nd Annual Pike District Fall Festival
(Rockville Pike & Marinelli Rd)
7 Locks Brewing (yes, Surrender Dorothy will be on tap!) and a Fall wine selection from North Bethesda Market‘s HOP N GRAPE. You’ll be hungry so nibble on sweets from local faves Ize’s Deli & Bagelry, Pike & Rose‘s Summer House Santa Monica – North Bethesda and Stella Barra – North Bethesda. Don’t forget the food truck brigade of Greatest American Hot Dogs, El Pollo Submarine, The Rolling Brick, La Strada Mobile Italian Food and Tasty Grill To Go. Wait! Don’t leave the Fall Fest without entering your name for the GRAND PRIZE drawing – Strathmore is giving away 2 tickets to a show in the President’s Box and you can win a brunch at Pinstripes! Finally, there will be a moonbounce, facepainters, balloon artists, reps from community organizations so you can learn more about what is going on in Pike District?

Sunday-

12:00pm-4:00pm: 3rd Annual Cardboard Day of Play at Annemarie Sculpture Garden
(13470 Dowell Road, Dowell (Solomons), MD 20629)
Take the Global Cardboard Challenge and join us for a day of outrageous construction, games, and imaginative play. With activities for all ages, this is an over-the-top day of building and creating! Families are invited to an afternoon of imaginative play as Annmarie Garden participates in the Global Cardboard Challenge, an annual event that highlights childhood creativity. The Main Gallery of the Arts Building will be filled with cardboard creations and activities that will delight and engage families. Children will have the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and build their way through awesome amusements, art activities, cardboard construction. From mini-golf to cardboard cornhole, families can enjoy friendly competition and groovy gameplay. Stop by one of several art stations to create your own cardboard masterpiece or cardboard hat. Visit Cardboard City or the Cardboard Farm! Builders, tinkerers and little engineers will love the cardboard construction zone. There will be plenty of great photo opportunities, so get ready to grab a cardboard prop, strike a pose and capture great memories! Members FREE; Non-members $4; kids 4 & under FREE.

1:00pm-8:00pm: Tenleytown Block Party (Rescheduled from last weekend)
(4100 River Rd)
Free Grilled Burgers/Hot Dogs/Drinks/Desserts & More, Free Ice Cream by local area favorite food truck, 45′ Inflatable Obstacle Course For Kids/Teens/Adults, Children’s Ferris Wheel & Bounce House, Face Painting/Balloons/Live Entertainers, The Fan Zone- Featuring Live Viewing Tent For NFL Games, Shaded Seating Areas, Heroes Spotlight with local Police and Fire Dept, 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament, Live DJ/Music, Cornhole & Football Toss, Help put together 150 care packages that will be distributed by Martha’s Table to neighbors in need, Cupcake Baking Competition, And Much More!

1:00pm AND 5:00pm: Peppa Pig at Warner Theatre

Shows:

How I Became a Pirate at Adventure Theatre- Sept 22 – Oct 22, 2017
(7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD. 20812)

Drumming with Dishes– Oct 6 – Oct 21, 2017
(The Lab Theatre at Convergence: 1819 N. Quaker Ln. Alexandria, VA. 22302)

The Smartest Girl in the World at Imagination Stage- Oct 7 – Oct 29, 2017
(4908 Auburn Ave. Bethesda, MD. 20814)

Fall Festivals and Orchards in and around Washington, DC

September 14, 2017

An updated version for 2018 can be found here

It’s that time of year! Crisp winds, fun fall outfits, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and jumping in leaves. 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!

Butlers Orchard 37th Annual Pumpkin Festival (22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876)
Dates of the Festival: September 30 , October 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 2017 from 10:00am-5:00pm
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, Pumpkin Cannon on Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29, Pick Your Own Pumpkins $0.65/lb, Festival Food and a Farm Market as you exit the Orchard. Admission $12/person over 2.

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837)
Pick-Your-Own Fruit

Ticonderoga Farms (26175 Ticonderoga Rd, Chantilly, VA 20152)
September 23-November 5, 2017 from 10:00am-6:00pm
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. Weekdays $10.95 & Weekends/Columbus Day (9th) $16.95 per person age 2 and up.

Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd. Centreville, VA. 20120)
Festival kickoff September 16 & 17, 2017 and then open daily September Sep 22-Oct 31 and Nov 3-7. Fall Festival hours: 10 AM-6 PM (5 PM in November)
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)
Opens September 23 – October 31, 2017
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 October. 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 October. They offer a pumpkin hayride on weekdays and weekends in October. This wagon ride fords the stream, goes through the woods and includes a stop at the pumpkin field where everyone selects their favorite pumpkin. The farm is decorated for Halloween with ghosts and goblins to delight and scare you. The fields are laden with crisp, succulent vegetables. The orchards are bent down with apples.

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: September 26-October 31, 2017
Pumpkin Chunkin: November 4-7, 2017
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 Chukin.

Clark’s Elioak Farm (10500 State Rte 108 Ellicott City, MD. 21042)
Open through November 5, 2017
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. Open Tues-Sun.

Leesburg Animal Park and Pumpkin Village (19270 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, VA 20175)
Open September 16-November 7 from 9:30am-6:00pm
Halloween Costume Contest 10/24 & 10/25
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 23-October 29, 2017 on weekends from 10:00am-6:00pm
This year’s maze theme is Pokemon…come see if you can wind your way through our 10-acre maze. The popular pig races will run at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm on festival days. And don’t forget to visit the huge 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!

Readers also recommend:

Sharps at Waterford Farm

Pumpkin Playground

Festivals:
Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends August 26-October 22, 2017

Barracks Row Fall Festival: September 23, 2017

Frederick Oktoberfest:September 29-October 1, 2017

Fall Classes, Play Groups and Parent Groups in and around Washington, DC

August 21, 2017

Quickest summer ever…..I can’t believe it’s already time to sign up for Fall classes. I feel like I was just finalizing summer camp registrations. Summer is ending {sigh} so we’ve highlighted some places offering Fall classes and parent-and-me groups as well as play groups. Here’s to cooler weather, the turning of leaves and staying busy.

foliage

Audubon Naturalist Society: Tales & Trails ages 2-4 with a caregiver can be found here.

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

Anna Banana Arts and Crafts: Art classes for ages 2-8 year olds 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.