Beltway Bambinos

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

Fathers Day Picks

DC JazzFest at The Yards will be entertaining folks Friday-Sunday.

Awesome Con is Washington DC’s Comic Con, taking place Friday-Sunday at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It is a place for fans of popular culture. At its heart, Awesome Con is a comic-con that embraces all aspects of geekdom and pop culture, with a wide assortment of comic books, collectibles, toys, games, original art, cosplay, and more. Special events include discussion panels, costume contests, trivia contests, gaming tournaments, and tons of activities for kids.

Awesome Con is proud to work with GeekDad to present exciting Father’s Day activities on Sunday, June 18 in a show of appreciation for the awesome dads in attendance. The first 500 dads to attend Awesome Con on June 18 will receive a free, limited edition T-Shirt, and will have the chance to win giveaway prizes including Awesome Con swag and Washington Nationals tickets. See below for more information. Geek dads of all ages will enjoy events including a Q&A with Stan Lee, the father of Marvel Comics; a classic arcade of nostalgic games; a panel hosted by GeekDad teaching parents how to encourage curiosity in the next generation; and more. Bring your dad to the ultimate Father’s Day event — and kids 10 and under attend Awesome Con for free with code: AWESOMEJR

Around The World Cultural Food Festival comes to the Washington Monument Grounds Saturday & Sunday.  In 2016, Around Cultural Food Festival, the largest cultural food festival in the DMV, had a record attendance of over 15,000 people for a first year event. Around the World Cultural Food Festival brings together diverse, authentic, living traditions from different countries around the world. Our mission is to preserve and strengthen the culture of each country while presenting it to the public throughout the course of this event and give all the participants a chance to learn from one another and understand the cultural differences and similarities. The event is free of charge and the public will have the opportunity to learn, to eat, to dance, to shop, to witness these vibrantly connected cultures and create their own connections with each and every single country presented in the event.

Junie B. Jones is making her appearance at Adventure Theatre this weekend. Based on the book series by Barbara Park. When Junie B. Jones, with her two bestest friends in the world, loses her new furry mittens to some “stealers,” she has to investigate. But Junie B. might have something she forgot to return, too.

Saturday-

10:00am-3:00pm: Innovations in Flight at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
Explore the engineering and design innovations that have taken place during the last century of flight. Talk with pilots of over 50 vintage and modern aircraft, on display outside the Museum for one day only. Discover the science behind flight through hands-on, STEM-based activities. Learn about the 70-year history of the U.S. Air Force, meet Air Force pilots, and see several of their planes. Free event, parking is $15.

11:00am-6:00pm: Columbia Heights Day Festival
(11th Street between Park Road and Irving Street)
The best local DC street party is back and you’re invited!! Join us in celebration of diversity and community with the neighborhood’s finest food, drink, and entertainment. Discover artisans, entrepreneurs, and area businesses in the heart of Columbia Heights. The fun is everywhere and for everyone! We have three stages of live music, dance, and free fitness classes. Kids can play at the carnival on the Harriet Tubman field while adults make their own fun at the Meridian Pint beer garden.

1:00pm-5:00pm: Creative Spark at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Experience innovation and creative expression, visible and hidden, in the world we build for ourselves through activities designed and facilitated by the Museum’s Teen Council. Investigate creativity within the Museum’s building and exhibitions with a digital scavenger hunt and get creative with an art project inspired by imaginative prompts. Activities are for all ages, but workshops for teens and a teens-only hangout space will be available. High school students receive free admission with a valid school I.D. Free, drop in. All ages.

Sunday_

10:00am to 12:00pm: 4th Annual “Fit Father’s Day” at Silver Spring Civic Center, At Veterans Plaza
(8525 Fenton St Silver Spring, MD 20910)
On Father’s Day join us for a FREE “fun-for-all” group exercise with trainers Michelangelo Bance, Tiffani Jenkins, Styves Exantus and the Ravens’ Kyle Arrington. Also enjoy fitness games, Zumba by Z Sweat Dance and Fitness and Ray & Roze Zumba, healthy snacks, yoga led by 5 Sense Wellness, an interactive playground and music from DJ Blinks and PanLara steel drum. Attendees can compete for over $2,500 in prizes from Nike, Bose, Road Runner Sports, Modell’s, Soul Cycle, Strider Bikes, Thule, Live Nation, Yokohama Tires and Vibram in the Mr Fit Fathers, Fit Mom, Fit 50+ and Fit Kid contests. Also the reigning 2-time Mr. Fit Father, James Paul Swink, will be back to defend his Gym Source title against any takers of the grand prize.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Brunch on the Baseline at Nationals Stadium
(1500 S Capitol St. S.E., Washington, DC)
Enjoy an all-inclusive brunch from the field while the Nationals take on the Mets in New York! Tickets are $75 for an all-inclusive meal.

12:30pm: Father’s Day Celebration, Meet The Team Day & Catch On The Field at Bowie Baysox
(4101 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD)
Treat Dad and the family to a ballgame! Come out early and meet your favorite Baysox players during a pre-game Meet The Team Autograph and Photo event from 12:30 – 1:00 pm. Bring your glove and a baseball and head out onto the field to Play Catch with Dad before the game from 12:30 – 1:00 pm. After the game, all fans and Dads are invited to run the bases! Game is at 2:05pm.

5:30pm: Hot Peas ‘N Butter Kids Pajama Jam Party at AMP Strathmore
Hot Peas ’N Butter moseys into AMP for a Pajama Jam that’s sure to have kids and parents alike on their feet. With delightful tunes full of flavors from reggaetón, hip-hop, and dance hall, these Parents’ Choice Award-winning musical maestros put on a unique show full of tasty beats and catchy melodies that is as irresistible as it is creative. Their interactive and invigorating music has charmed audiences across the nation and on Nick Jr. and Noggin. Don’t miss your chance to boogie with them live at AMP! Snacks, drinks, and sweets will be available for kids. Don’t worry dads, we’ll also have a beer for you! Doors open 60 minutes prior to the show. Seating will be available in the back of the house, but we plan to leave plenty of floor space for dance and play!

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Jungle 2 Jungle
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie.

Weekend Picks: June 2-4, 2017

Join us for the 37th annual Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park, (pictured above) Saturday and Sunday, June 3 & 4, 2017 from 12pm – 7pm. One of the most popular events of the year at Glen Echo Park, the Festival attracts close to 10,000 visitors. Free to the public and held rain or shine, the Festival features over 450 musicians, storytellers, dancers, and crafters from the greater Washington area. Produced by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in collaboration with the Glen Echo Park Partnership, the Washington Folk Festival is a celebration of this region’s rich cultural diversity. International performers share the music, dance, and cultural traditions they brought from their original homes while American performers showcase a variety of musical traditions that developed in this country. 

At Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days in partnership with The Phillips Collection, DC JazzFest celebrates the synergy between jazz and the visual arts with performances by more than a dozen regional artists and rising star ensembles. This free, family-friendly weekend event will feature storytelling, unique meet-the-artist opportunities, an instrument petting zoo, art workshops, and more! Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm.

Friday-

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Garden in the Sculpture Garden
(7th St SW & Independence  Ave SW)
It’s back and I couldn’t be more excited! Pack a picnic and head to the garden for an eclectic mix of jazz is performed by top Washington-area artists. Alcohol can be purchased at the garden but you can not bring it in yourself.

Gates open at 5:30pm, Movie starts at 9:00pm: Movie Nights in the Heights
(Harriet Tubman Elementary School- Irving Street near 11th St)
The movie will start when it gets dark. Set up a blanket and enjoy a picnic! In case of rain, wind, or a wet field, the movie will be moved to the Salvation Army at 3335 Sherman Ave. Movie: Space Jam

Lot opens 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:15, Film begins 8:45, Film ends at 10:20: Union Market Drive-In
(1309 5th Street NE  Washington, District of Columbia 20002)
$10 parking fee per car. Advance purchase is highly recommended.Free for walk-ups. Excited for the drive-in but don’t have a car? Rent one on Getaround for the night and get $25 off your first rental. For more information and tickets click here. Movie: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Saturday-

9:30am-10:30am: Imagination at Noyes Storybook Parade
(10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, MD)
Children and adults are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook character and bring musical instruments (including drums, triangles and cymbals) to march in the parade. Classic characters, such as The Cat in the Hat, Winnie the Pooh, and Dorothy and Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, will also be participating. The free event begins with the parade at 9:30 a.m. Lemonade and cookies will follow the parade, and the event ends at 10:30 a.m. The rain date is June 4. The parade will follow a short route that starts at Noyes Children’s Library.
10:00am-5:00pm: Strawberry Festival at Sandy Spring Museum
(17901 Bentley Rd Sandy Spring, MD 20860)
Sandy Spring Museum is gearing up for the 36th Annual Strawberry Festival!  This event has grown to over 6,000 attendees and is something you won’t want to miss!  Taking place throughout the museum’s 7 acres along Route 108, the event features live music and entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, and activities for children of all ages. Over the years the Strawberry Festival has featured a rock climbing wall, pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more! Purchase a wristband for unlimited kids activities.  $10 ahead of time (place your order before 5 pm June 3) or $15 on the day of the event  Click here to save money
10:00am-3:00pm: Imagination Bethesda
(Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda)
Celebrate children, art, and all things fun at the 23nd annual Imagination Bethesda. Activity tents line the streets, face painters bring butterflies and pirates to life, a stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing, and more! Enjoy this FREE family fun day!
(1875 Columbia Rd. NW)
Join us for the 2nd Annual Kalorama Park Community Day celebration! We are aiming to build on the success of last year’s event, this year with even more fun activities, entertainers, and local businesses and organizations. Meet your neighbors, try a new form of exercise, discover a local band, spend time with your family, and more. See you at the park!
Sunday-
(See above)
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6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harborjumbotron1
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Movie: Moana

Mom Picks this Weekend

Happy Mother’s Day to all!! We’ve found some fun things families can do together. And, in case you still need brunch plans for that special Mama here’s a list of some family friendly places.

All Fired Up offers 10% off to all Moms Saturday & Sunday at both locations.

Friday-

3:00pm-7:00pm: Jo Malone London at City Center
(996 I St NW)
Customize a cologne or candle with a beautifully engraved message. RSVP to attend.

Saturday- 

8:00am-5:00pm: Mothers Day Weekend at Mount Vernon
(3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121)
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).

10:00am-6:00pm: Bethesda Fine Arts Festival
(Bethesda Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk Ave., between Auburn and Del Ray Aves., Bethesda, Md)
Delight in fine art created by 130 of the nation’s best artists, live entertainment and Bethesda restaurants. Children’s area will be on Auburn Ave.

10:00am-12:00pm AND 1:00pm-3:00pm: Children’s Ball at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
(701 21st Street, NW)
Dress in your best for our Children’s Ball during a very special Mother’s Day weekend at the museum. Join us for fun and fancy treats, dancing beats, and a kid-centered visit to the exhibition Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair.  $10/museum members and GW students, faculty, and staff; $15/public (entrance for one adult and one child). Advance registration is required; space is limited. Register online or call 202-994-7394.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Adam’s Morgan Summer Concert
(Columbia Rd and 18th St NW)
Join us for the second show in Free Summer Concert Series! We’ll have hula hoops and bubbles for the kids as free wristbands good for discounts at businesses all over Adams Morgan. The Oxymorons take the stage with a mix of the hottest new songs, the best of the old, and their award-winning originals, giving audiences a night of hip-shaking New Orleans funk, soulful blues, Americana roots, and jam-band rock. This seriously-fun eight-piece band has been playing the DC area for more than 25 years, reeling off favorite party tunes spanning four decades and witty, well-crafted originals.

Sunday- 

8:00am-5:00pm: Mothers Day Weekend at Mount Vernon
(3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121)
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).

9:00am-12:00pm: La Bella Strada
(Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA)
Del Ray’s main street, Mount Vernon Ave. will come alive with vibrant chalk art. The second annual La Bella Strada Street Painting Festival, modeled after an ancient Italian art form, will bring artists from around the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. region to create masterpieces up and down the sidewalk. Learn more about the event here.  The event raises money for The Del Ray Montessori School, a 501c3 profit, for an outdoor playspace.

9:30am-4:00pm: Mother’s Day Brunch at Pinstripes
(1064 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20007)
Make this Mother’s Day special by treating mom to an expansive bottomless brunch fit for a queen!  Indulge in favorites like made-to-order omelets, carved prime rib and fresh shrimp, bagels with spreads and smoked salmon, flatbreads, waffles ‘her-way’ topped with berries, bananas foster or Nutella, plus a chocolate fountain for dessert. Moms will be especially encouraged to sit back and relax with mimosas and bloody Mary’s as the kids are taken care of at the ‘Kids Corner’ station with pizzas, chicken fingers, Mac and cheese and more. Adults $36, includes bottomless mimosas |  Kids 6-12 $15  |  Kids 5 & Under: Free  | $4 Mimosas & $7 Bloody Marys available all day. Please call to make a brunch reservation: 202-625-6500 Or plan ahead to Father’s Day Brunch.

10:00am-5:00pm: Bethesda Fine Arts Festival
(Bethesda Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk Ave., between Auburn and Del Ray Aves., Bethesda, MD)
Delight in fine art created by 130 of the nation’s best artists, live entertainment and Bethesda restaurants. Children’s area will be on Auburn Ave.

11:00am AND 2:00pm: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp at Adventure Theatre
(7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. 20812)
See my review of the play here. Bring your mom to see Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp this Sunday and she will receive a chocolate rose!

th1:00pm-4:00pm: Celebrate Mothers Day at United States Botanic Garden
(Conservatory Garden Court)
Looking for a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day? It is never too early to start planning your vegetable garden. Bring your mother to the USBG and help her design and plant her very own cook’s garden! Join Danielle Cook as she whips up two recipes and savor the bounty your garden will bring. Please note: This is a drop-in program and appropriate for all ages.

 

Pick-your-own summer fruit

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876)
A large variety of Pick Your Own crops are available at Butler’s Orchard on a seasonal basis. Please see the Crop Calendar. They grow over 23 different varieties of fruits and vegetables each year. $3 per person visiting our Farm.  Children under 24 months are free.  Passes grant access to our Pick Your Own Fields, the Farm Park Picnic Area, the Giant slides, the Nature Trail, and our Farm Park Animals.  (Some exclusions do apply.)

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837)
Pick-Your-Own Fruit. Expected to reopen in late May or early June.

Shlagel Farms (12850 Shlagel Rd Waldorf MD 20601)
Pick your own strawberry fields and greenhouses will be open 7 days a week from 8am-6pm during the berry picking season which is typically all of May and into the first 2 weeks of June. Strawberries are priced by the pound for you to pick and we have containers or you can bring your own. They also allow you to pick berries by the quart or flat for you if you don’t want to pick. During berry season the greenhouses are open and full of beautiful and unique hanging baskets and annual flats. There is even a milkshake trailer serving huge strawberry shortcakes, milkshakes and cones!

Wegmeyer Farms (38299 Hughesville Rd, Hamilton, VA 20158)
Known for their delicious strawberries in the spring and unique and colorful pumpkins in the fall. They take great pride in what they grow – the taste, the quality, and the appearance – and strive for the best pure experience for all visitors. They invite you to visit and enjoy our top-rated products and the authentic farm experience! Be sure and check out their other locations; Gilbert’s Corner Market, Oatlands Plantation and Hamilton The Home Farm. Special for Beltway Bambinos readers — 25% off weekdays Monday-Friday at their 3 u-pick locations, just mention Beltway Bambinos at register.

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797)
The strawberry plants are blooming now and may ripen around May 25, 2017

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135)
Pick your own strawberries OPEN 9am-5pm or until we are picked out. Check here for updates on availability. Strawberry Festival May 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2017

Readers also recommend:

Mackintosh Fruit Farm

Sharps at Waterford Farm

Westmoreland Berry Farm

June 3, 2017: Sandy Spring Strawberry Festival
Sandy Spring Museum is gearing up for the 36th Annual Strawberry Festival!  This event has grown to over 6,000 attendees and is something you won’t want to miss!  Taking place throughout the museum’s 7 acres along Route 108, the event features live music and entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, and activities for children of all ages. Over the years the Strawberry Festival has featured a rock climbing wall, pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more!

Weekend Picks: April 7-9

Easter egg hunts have commenced!!! Hop in on this free community Easter egg hunt, Eggstravaganza, where kids can collect as many candy-filled eggs as they can find. Enjoy getting to know neighbors, grab some free popcorn, take part in games and outdoor fun, and even meet the Easter Bunny! Register online. 

Saturday-

10:00am-1:00pm: Eggstravaganza at South Run Recreation Center
(7550 Reservation Dr, Springfield, VA 22153)

11:00am-2:00pm: Eggstravaganza at Four Mile Run Park
(4109 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305)

11:00am-1:00pm: Eggstravaganza at Garrison Elementary
(1200 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009)

12:00pm-4:00pm: 2nd Annual PEEPS Day at National Harbor
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
Celebrate everyone’s favorite treat with kids’ activities, a DJ, the PEEPS mascot, a movie, and the National Harbor World PEEPS Eating Championship, hosted by Major League Eating! There will also be a moon bounce maze, a climbing wall, cornhole, facepainting, and more! The Capital Wheel celebrates PEEPS Day with one free tickets for kids (12 and under) with one paid adult ticket. See ticket kiosk for details.

Saturday & Sunday- Febergé Egg Family Festival at Hillwood Estate & Garden
(4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008)
Admire the exquisite imperial eggs and other fanciful Fabergé creations collected by Marjorie Post. Experience festive folk music performed by Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble and spirited dancing by Kalinka Dance Ensemble. Enjoy stories of Russian Easter traditions in a fun family play, produced by Happenstance Theater. Take part in a traditional Russian egg-rolling game. Step into Fabergé’s Workshop to decorate your own Fabergé-inspired egg.

Saturday & Sunday (as well as other weekends in April): Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
(22200 Davis Mill Road Germantown MD 20876)
Enjoy a hayride down the Bunny Trail, race the Rubber Duck Derby, hunt for colorful eggs (we provide the basket!), exchange eggs for a goodie basket to take home, visit with the farm’s very own Country Bunny, ride pedal tractors, play in Hayromp and Playground, hop in inflatables, ride the giant slides, see bunnies, lambs and chicks, get your face painted and ride a pony. $9 per child and $7 per adult. Open 10:00am-4:00pm.

 

The Acton Children’s Business Fair held in Washington, DC, Saturday June 4, 2016. (Photo by Cal Cary/ImageSmith Media)

Saturday-

9:00am-10:00am: Weekend Walk in the Woods at Woodend Nature Sanctuary
(8940 Jones Mill Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815)
FREE family programs are here! We invite you to take an hour out of your schedule to enjoy spending time with your family outdoors. Join our Master Naturalists on the first Saturday of each month from 9-10 am for a nature hike around Woodend Sanctuary. Each hike will have a unique and exciting natural history theme.  Programs are appropriate for family members of all ages. Please come prepared to hike in sneakers and don’t forget your water bottle. We hope you will join us for our exciting new programs each month! Meet at the gazebo by the main house.

9:30am-5:00pm: STEM in Spring at Port Discovery
(35 Market Place Baltimore, MD 21202)
School may be out for spring break, but your kids can still learn while  they have FUN at Port Discovery! Immerse yourself into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) activities that challenge your visual perception during Light City Baltimore! Lasting from Saturday-April 17.

10:00am-12:00pm: National Cherry Blossom Parade
(Constitution Avenue – From 7th to 17th streets, NW)
One of DC’s largest spectator events, the energy-filled National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC runs for 10 blocks along iconic Constitution Avenue. Giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a grand spectacle of music and showmanship seen only once a year during the Festival. From the National Archives to the Washington Monument, spectators are wow-ed by the pageantry and excitement that is the nation’s premier springtime parade.

10:30am-6:00pm: 57th Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
(M St and New Jersey Ave SE)
The Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival is the largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the United States and is proud to be the grand finale of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.  Performers and vendors travel from all over the country and the world to Washington, DC to share their love of Japanese culture and traditions with the Festival attendees.Sakura Matsuri tickets can be bought in advance online and at the gate on the day-of for $10 with children 12 and under always free. Ticket sales on the day of the festival are cash only.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Emancipation Day Parade and Truck Touch
(1000-1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW)
Events include the parade at 1:00pm, the concert at Freedom Plaza at 3:00pm and fireworks at 9:00pm.

2:00pm-3:00pm: Acton Children’s Business Fair Launch Party at the Kennedy-Warren
(3133 Connecticut Ave NW)
Learn about the business coming to Cleveland Park on May 13 and how your child (ages 6-14) can participate. Hear the experiences of young entrepreneurs from the 2016 Business Fair.

Sunday-

11:00am-2:00pm: Design with Nature at the National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Explore the intersection of design, building, and the natural environment. In celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, attendees of all ages can discover ways in which environment inspires design. Learn how nature can be intentionally integrated into and around built spaces. Fold origami flowers and join other families to design a large-scale paper garden to help bring spring into the Great Hall. Construct and decorate your own nature-inspired miniature Japanese bӯobu screens. Picnic inside the Museum and listen to a springtime story.

1:00pm-5:00pm: Anacostia River Festival
(Anacostia Park: Anacostia Drive & Good Hope Road SE)
The National Park Service and the 11th Street Bridge Park present the third annual Anacostia River Festival, a premier event of the 2017 National Cherry Blossom Festival. For a taste of local D.C., come celebrate the Anacostia River and take a canoe out to explore the River, ride in our bike parade, play lawn games with your family and experience Southeast D.C.’s local arts scene at this special FREE event. This year we are celebrating biking in the District with trail rides, safety classes, quick bike tune ups and special bike activities for all ages.

 

Weekend Picks November 4-6

Babycircus
(Photot: Babycircus Finland part of KidsEuro Festival)

Costumes are put away, the candy bags are slowly emptying (or in our house the Switch Witch arrived last night and the candy is gone!) and the weather is still fantastic with beautiful colors on the trees. Plenty to do outdoors but also some fun events that will take you inside this weekend. 

KidsEuro Festival wraps up this weekend. Check out all of the wonderful events, including but not limited to storytelling, games, musicians, puppets and a lot more.

Saturday-

9:30am AND 11:00am: Jon Sands- Slam Poetry for Kids at National Theatre
The National Theatre is excited to welcome Jon Sands, an author and poet known for electric readings. His work has been featured in The New York Times, published widely, and anthologized in The Best American Poetry. He is a Youth Mentor with Urban Word-NYC, and teaches creative writing for both adults and youth at Bailey House in East Harlem (an HIV/AIDS service center). He is the Program Director of the Dialogue Arts Project, and has represented New York City multiple times at the National Poetry Slam.Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am the Friday a week prior to the performance. Click on the link to reserve tickets, and review our ticketing policies. Walk up tickets are always available, if prior registration is not completed. Please arrive to the theatre 30 minute before the show to collect a walk up ticket.
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks October 21-23

Friday-Sunday DC Flagship Grand Opening Block Party is here! Join REI for 3-day Block Party to celebrate the Grand Opening of our DC Flagship store! Friday we’ll open the doors at 10am with some big band fanfare (hint, hint) and DJs keep the party going all day. Saturday and Sunday we’ll expand the block party to a main stage with live bands, Outdoor School classes, beer gardens, s’mores, screen printing, a climbing wall, and more. Saturday’s music starts with a family band at 10am and then goes on with live go-go, a Beatles cover band, and plenty of DJ sets (Biz Markie at 3pm!). Sunday we’re teaming up with Living Classroom Foundation’s Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival to bring you a day of live bluegrass and Americana on the main stage. All 3 days the first 500 people in line receive a custom DC Camelbak bottle with a gift card. We’ll have free breakfast and coffee each morning. Everybody who attends all weekend can help REI decide how to split up $100,000 among 5 regionally focused outdoor non-profits! 

Saturday & Sunday hop on the Wheaton Haunted Train and Creepy Carousel. If you enjoy heart-racing, adrenalin-pumping, throat-constricting Halloween activities, we have a train (and carousel) for you. Who–or WHAT?–lurks in the dark Wheaton woods as you ride the Haunted Train? And what’s that perched on the ghostly horse silently screaming next to you on the Creepy Carousel? We promise to do our very best to scare the pants (metaphorically speaking) off you. We’ll show free frightening movies, and have snacks for sale, too. Purchase tickets online.

Saturday & Sunday hop on the Eye Spy Train at Cabin John Regional Park. Looking for something fun to do this Halloween that won’t give your younger kids nightmares? Ride the “Eye Spy” Halloween Train at Cabin John Regional Park! Your kids will have fun looking for familiar friends and animals hiding in the woods and marking them off their “Eye Spy” card, while you sit back and enjoy the ride! A not-so-scary train for kids under 8. Purchase tickets online.

Saturday & Sunday from 5:30pm-8:30pm you can trick-or-treat at Boo at the Zoo. Boo at the Zoo is Washington DC’s favorite Halloween treat. With more than 40 treat stations, animal demonstrations, keeper chats, and decorated trails, this frightfully fun evening is a treat for the whole family. An entertainment stage will feature magicians, jugglers, and a DJ spinning Halloween favorites. Don’t miss a themed scarecrow field. Purchase tickets.

Saturday & Sunday bravely go on a Soul Strolls in Congressional Cemetery. If they could still speak, what do you think they would say? Over 65,000 individuals are laid to rest in Congressional Cemetery. From Congressman to carpenters, suffragists to bootleggers, each resident has a unique story to tell. Soul Strolls, the Cemetery’s annual twilight tours, explore these stories through guided tours and costumed interpreters.  Typically only open from dawn to dusk, this special event allows nighttime access to the public. Don’t miss out on this exclusive experience unlike any other Halloween tour! Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes between 6 and 9 pm, and beer, wine, and cider will be for sale. Tickets

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs for the FINAL WEEKEND.  The festival is free to children 11 and under. 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!

Saturday & Sunday there is the Annual Fall Harvest Family Days at Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon celebrates the autumn season with Fall Harvest Family Days! The entire family enjoys autumn activities including wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations, corn husk dolls demonstrations and early-American games and music.
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