Beltway Bambinos

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

Fall Festivals and Orchards in and around Washington, DC

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!

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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

A family-friendly Labor Day in Washington, DC

64th Annual Greenbelt Parade and Festival takes place Aug. 31 – Sept. 3

The Washington Nats are hosting the Brewers Labor Day weekend and have fun promotions happening.

Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo

Saturday

Lake Ann Jazz Festival

Sunday

National Symphony Orchestra: Labor Day Capitol Concert

Monday

Herndon Labor Day Festival 

Kensington, Maryland 51st Annual Parade and Festival

Old Towne Gaithersburg Parade

Don’t miss:
The National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party Series, Fun House which closes September 3
18th Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Washington Convention Center on September 1
Splashing around

Day & overnight trips:

Day or overnight trips to the beach or a state park

In Shenandoah National Park, hike from waterfall to waterfall, climb the rocky Old Rag Mountain, go biking or take a guided horseback ride. If you need to cool off, head over to Shenandoah River Outfitters and go rafting, tubing or kayaking on the shady river. 75 miles from downtown D.C. at its northernmost point; see all park entrances here.

Take a step back in time in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  Although West Virginia is a small state, it’s packed with history and beautiful scenery. Kids will have fun visiting this National Historical Park. Visit Harpers Ferry for the Civil War history and re-enactors. Hike one of the many trails in the area for a spectacular view of three states—West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland—at once. Amtrak provides one train from Union Station to Harpers Ferry per day but it’s a short at about 67 miles from D.C. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center can get your hooked up with kayaks, tubes and more if you’re feeling adventurous.

2018 Easter egg hunts and other events to check out in Washington, DC

Whether it be a festival, farm or egg hunt, your Bambinos will have a blast and maybe even get to experience more than one of these egg*cellent events. Options begin March 10, 2018 and run through the weekend after Easter this year. Happy hunting!


All weekends March 10 to April 8 from 9:30 am to 5:00pm–  Ticonderoga Farms – Spring Easter Festival
(26469 Ticonderoga Rd, Chantilly, VA)
Ticonderoga Farm’s Bunny will be joining everyone at the farm. Hopping around and posing for picture opportunities during our weekend hours and playing with our favorite friend Chickadee. Together hiding eggs for all the children to enjoy finding, especially the golden eggs that provide extra fun prizes for those who find them. Egg hunts will be held at 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm (arrive 30 minutes prior). There are many other activities included with your admission to enjoy, including: giant slide hills, huge jumping pillows, hayrides, animal feeding areas, pedal kart track, swinging bridge, and much more!

March 24 & 25– Great Country Farms Egg Hunt & Marshmallow Harvest
(18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135)
Do marshmallow peeps really grow on trees? Your children will be amazed to harvest a few marshmallows to roast on the bonfire with Farmer Bob. The Easter Bunny also hid some eggs, and we need you to help us find them! There will be multiple egg hunts each day this year, with over 20,000 eggs filled with treats to enchant your children. Come see our spring chicks and baby animals, take a wagon ride, and rejoice that it is spring!

March 24– Easter Eggstravaganza
10:00am-1:00pm: South Run Recreational Center- 7550 Reservation Dr, Springfield, VA 22153
10:00am-12:00pm: Langdon Park: 2901 20th St NE, Washington, DC 20018
11:00am-2:00pm: Four Mile Run Park- 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
2:00pm-4:00pm: Buckland Mills Elementary School- 10511 Wharfdale Pl, Gainesville, VA 20155
The Easter Eggstravaganza is one of the most *EGGciting* Easter events in the area, this is a time for kids and families to come out and enjoy a fun-filled FREE event. There will be an Easter bunny, Easter Egg hunt, face painting, balloon animals, concessions, music, a moon bounce, games and much more! Come out and enjoy the festivities with us!

March 24 from 10:00am-5:00pm– 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.

March 24 from 10:30am-12:30pm: Breakfast with the Bunny at Thomas Farm Community Center
(700 Fallsgrove Dr Rockville, MD 20850)
The bunny is making a special trip to Thomas Farm Community Center. Activities include a magic show, spring crafts, games, an opportunity to meet, greet and pose with the Bunny and an egg hunt. A light continental breakfast will be served. Bring your camera. Fee applies to each person attending.

March 24 at 11:00am-2:00pm: Arlandria Eggstravaganza
Back and better than ever. This annual free family friendly event is one of the most EGGciting spring events in the Alexandria/Arlington area. This years event features entertainment by the Rainbow Rock Band, Groovy Nate, and Uncle Devin. The day also features plenty of food, activities, and games for the whole family. Including  multiple egg hunts for children under 11 with a special area for those 3 and under.

March 24 11:00am & 3:00pm: Beester Eggstravaganza at Busy Bees Falls Church
It’s Time to Grab your Basket! Join us for our FUNTASTIC Beester Eggstravaganza with 2 separate hunts depending on age! Our Beester Egg Hunt includes:5 golden eggs. Favors from our Favor cart! Pizza provided by our awesome friends from Potomac Pizza. Pssst… Easter Bunny emailed us. He’ll be dropping the treats without being seen. He understands our audience is young and may get overwhelmed by his oversized ears! Tickets are $35 per child. Adults are free of charge (like always, remember?) We want to see YOU there, so: Do-Not-Snooze! Remember: *Bring your own basket *No egg hunters over 48″.

March 24 3:00pm-5:00pm: Beester Eggstravaganza at Busy Bees Chevy Chase
It’s Time to Grab your Basket! Join us for our FUNTASTIC Beester Eggstravaganza! Our Beester Egg Hunt includes:5 golden eggs. Favors from our Favor cart! Pizza provided by our awesome friends from Potomac Pizza. Pssst… Easter Bunny emailed us. He’ll be dropping the treats without being seen. He understands our audience is young and may get overwhelmed by his oversized ears! Tickets are $35 per child. Adults are free of charge (like always, remember?) We want to see YOU there, so: Do-Not-Snooze! Remember: *Bring your own basket *No egg hunters over 48″.

March 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and April 2, 7, 8 from 10:00am-5:00pm– 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. $9.50 per child and $7.50 per adult.

March 24, 30 & 31 from 10:00am-12:00pm– Eggstravaganza! at Tudor Place
(1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007)
Rolling green lawns, bobbing spring blooms, and the elegant mansion on a hill serve as backdrop for this festive annual attraction. Join the Easter Bunny and children of all ages for an Egg Hunt and thrilling Egg Roll Contest down the grand South Lawn. Decorate eggs, play games from the past, take photos with the Easter Bunny, and make the 5½-acre gardens your play space for the morning.

March 29, 30, 31 and April 1– Easter Egg Hunt at Green Meadows Petting Farm
(10102 Fingerboard Rd. Ijamsville, MD  21754)
The hunt is free and part of your farm admission. Admission includes hands-on with over three hundred animals including: goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, poultry, rabbits, our baby kangaroo, Bindi, and more! Also included is a tractor-drawn hayride, cow milking (and it’s real) in our Dairy Barn and FREE sheep and goat feed. They will have three (3) hunts each day for children ages 1 to 12. 

March 30, 31 and April 1– The Lee-Fendall House Easter Egg Hunt
(614 Oronoco Street Alexandria, VA)
The museum’s garden will be filled with hundreds of colorful toy-filled Easter eggs! Other activities include games, crafts, refreshments, and photos with the Easter Bunny. All children of elementary school age or younger (children aged 0-12) are eligible to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt. Older children and adults are welcome to enjoy the other activities. Tickets are $12 for children aged 0-12, and $5 for all others.

March 30– Meadowside Nature Center’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
(5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD)
Search for real eggs in our meadow, then dye and decorate the eggs you find. Enjoy other spring themed activities throughout the event as well. Fun for the entire family! Don’t forget to bring a basket to collect your eggs. Reservations are required. (we want to be sure to have enough eggs for all!)Reservations available for each half hour time slot starting at 10am, finishing at 1:30-2 as the last time slot. For ages 2-12.

March 31 from 10:30am-12:30pm– 13th Annual Egg Hunt at Stead Park
(Stead Park, 1625 P Street, NW)
Join the Friends of Stead Park for the 13th Annual Egg Hunt at Stead Park for 3 hunts. Enjoy selfies with the Easter Bunny, crafts and snacks after your little ones have filled their baskets with eggs. Advance registration is recommended- Register here.

March 31 from 11:00am-1:00pm– Easter Egg Decorating Class at DBGB
This Easter weekend, round up the kids and bring them to our egg-stra special Easter Egg Decorating Class! On Saturday March 31st, Executive Pastry Chef Kelsey Burack will guide the little ones through a demonstration of dying eggs, decorating Easter-themed cupcakes, sugar cookies and cake pops. They will then take home a box of their sweet treats to share on Easter Sunday morning. And while the kids are busy decorating, we have some sweet treats and libations for the parents! Adults can enjoy our continental breakfast buffet, bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s, included in the ticket price. $65 for 1 child + 1 parent*Sans tax and gratuity

March 31 from 12:00pm-3:00pm– Easter Eggstravaganza
(Lincoln Park: East Capitol Street between 11th and 13th Street Washington, DC 20003)
The Easter Eggstravaganza is one of the most *EGGciting* Easter events in the area, this is a time for kids and families to come out and enjoy a fun-filled FREE event. There will be an Easter bunny, Easter Egg hunt, face painting, balloon animals, concessions, music, a moon bounce, games and much more! Come out and enjoy the festivities with us!

March 31-April 1 from 10:00am-5:00pm– Egg Hunt at Clark’s Elioak Farm
(10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Children of different ages (ages 1 to 3 and 4 to 6) will have a chance to hunt for eggs all day.  Our $6 per person admission fee for the farm applies, but there is no extra charge for the egg hunt. The petting farm, rides and play areas are open for you to enjoy. The eggs will then be turned in for a goodie bag. The petting farm, gem mining and rides will also be open on Easter Monday.

April 7 from 10:00am-11:30am– 7th Annual Egg Hunt at Tregaron Conservancy
(3000 block of Klingle Road, NW)
Search along the paths and woodlands for thousands of candy-filled eggs. BYO basket or bag. A separate hunting area will be set up for kids under the age of five. Donations in any amount — at the event or online — to support our free, year-round community programs will be gratefully accepted. RSVP online

 

bunny

Check out these EventBrite events for more hunts in the Rockville, MD area

Check out these EventBrite events for more hunts in and near Washington, DC

Check out these EventBrite events for more hunts in Northern Virginia

Need Easter brunch reservations? Trip Savvy has you taken care of.

 

Looking ahead…

Upon, writing various posts, I realized there were multiple occasions I’d go to post fun events for you to do and the event was already sold out.{ Enter this blog post } This will be a place for you to look ahead and reserve your spot if you’re interested in attending or save date on your calendar.

May 11, 2018: Pajama Party Movie Night: Knights, Dragons, and Magical Monster at Hillwood Estate & Museum
Enjoy a selection of award-winning, family-friendly short films featuring fanciful creatures. 5:30-8 p.m. 

May 12, 2018: Action Children’s Business Fair
Young entrepreneurs, ages 6-14, will line Connecticut Ave in Cleveland Park and set up shop, literally

May 19, 2018: Gaithersburg Book Festival

Shows-

Keep in mind our local theatre performances

 

Paw Patrol Live!: The Great Pirate Adventure at The Hippodrome
May 12 & 13, 2018

Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival: June 9

The Nextival: July 13-15

Music-

Strathmore Children’s Art Talk & Tour at the Mansion

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2018, 10:15AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2018, 10:15AM

Young art lovers can get behind the brushstrokes and into the head, heart, and history of the artists with these kid-friendly Saturday tours. Children take part in an educational guided tour of the current exhibitions followed by a hands-on art activity. Ages 7 & up. Accompanying adults are free. Reservations required.

Night Out at the Museum:
National Museum of Natural History Sleepovers

Sleepover guests will experience the museum through an interactive exploration of exhibit halls consisting of games, puzzles and challenges; exhibit-based craft projects; and sleeping under the museum’s giant North American right whale, Phoenix. Sleepovers at the National Museum of Natural History will be heldMay 18, June 1, June 29, July 6, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.

National Museum of American History Sleepovers

Participants will solve a mystery of historic proportions during an interactive exploration of exhibit halls. When the devious diva Miss Rose steals six valuable objects from the museum, kids must discover what is missing before the evening’s end. Using their detective skills, they will collect clues to guide them to the crime scene. Along the way, they will take part in games, experiments and craft projects—and even become a presidential candidate. Sleepovers at the National Museum of American History will be held May 11, May 25, June 15 and Aug. 10.

National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center Sleepovers

Kids and their chaperones will explore the whole world of flight, from its pioneering days through the era of commercial aviation to the excitement of today’s space program. After they grab a flight checklist, they will take off for a night that includes plenty of games, art activities and close-up looks at some of the most historic and fascinating craft ever to take to the skies. Udvar-Hazy Center staff will be on hand to offer information and insights about the aviation treasures on view. Sleepovers at the Udvar-Hazy Center will be held July 14, July 28 and Aug. 18.

***Already occurred but will update with new dates as they become available***

February 10, 2018, 10:00am – 4:00pm: Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at National Postal Museum

Love is in the details at the annual Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at the National Postal Museum! Come out and create heart-felt handmade cards and visit the museum’s stamp store to send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. Free, no need to RSVP.

Feb. 14-19, 2018: Disney On Ice presents Frozen at Capital One Arena (also in Baltimore Jan. 31-Feb. 4)

February 17, 2018 from 10:00am-4:30pm: Discover Engineering Family Day at The National Building Museum

Celebrate National Engineer’s Week by trying out exciting, hands-on engineering experiences and talking with professional engineers of all kinds. See a complete list of all activities. Free, drop in. All ages.
MIX slime, and learn about different chemical reactions
INVENT a creative way to launch a ping pong ball into the air
EXPLORE like a real surveyor, using map and compass to find your way
DESIGN a motorized bot to walk across a table
SPIN paper helicopters and test the best design

February 17, 2018-February, 19, 2018: Celebrate Washington’s Birthday on President’s Day at Mount Vernon

February 23, 2018-March 10, 2018: Atlas Intersections Festival

The 8th annual INTERSECTIONS Festival will feature more than 100 performances in dance, music, theatre, family programming and youth development, and will be seen by over 7,000 patrons and arts lovers.

Kids in the Kitchen at YMCA Anthony Bowen presented by Junior League of Washington

February 25, 2017 (no time listed yet)

Kids in the Kitchen is an annual spring event that showcases ways kids can eat smart and make healthy lifestyle choices. Targeted to children ages 3-13, local chefs host healthy cooking demonstrations, fitness experts lead high-energy exercise sessions and certified nutritionists are on hand to answer questions. Kids in the Kitchen is a fun-filled day of games, crafts, hands-on learning, and exciting prizes – all to celebrate and promote nutritional literacy.


Magic of Spying: Tradecraft Trickery at The Spy Museum

February 25, 2017 from 11:00am-12:00pm

In the real-life world of espionage, spies often call upon the art of magic and illusion to distract the enemy, make evidence disappear, and escape unnoticed.  Join professional magician, Peter Wood, as he demonstrates the art of misdirection, sleight of hand, and other illusions used by skilled spies. This one of a kind performance, custom-designed for the Spy Museum, is guaranteed to fascinate children and adults alike. The Magic of Spying is for children ages 7 and up. One adult is required for every five KidSpy agents. Space is limited—advance registration required.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Sometime mid-March 2017 (Details to follow)

Blossom Kite Festival

April 1, 2017 from 10:00am-4:30pm

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is kicking off kite season. The seventh annual Blossom Kite Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations, Rokkaku Battles and the Hot Tricks Showdown. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to fly on the Public Field.

Fabergé Egg Family Festival at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

April 8 & 9, 2017 from 10:00am-5:00pm

Celebrate spring’s arrival in Russian style! Admire the exquisite imperial eggs and other fanciful Fabergé creations collected by Marjorie Post. Enjoy festive folk music and dancing. Take part in a centuries-old egg-rolling game. Step into Fabergé’s Workshop to decorate your own Fabergé-inspired egg. $18, $15 Senior, $12 Member, $10 College Student, $5 Child (ages 6-18), free for children under 6. Please note: As with all festival days, members do not receive free admission to Fabergé Egg Family Festival and guest passes are not accepted.

10th Annual Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place

April 8, 14 & 15, 2017 from 10:00am-12:00pm

Rolling green lawns, bright spring blooms, and the elegant mansion on a hill serve as backdrop for the 10th year of this festive annual attraction. Join the Easter Bunny for a special day as children of all ages enjoy games, crafts, an Egg Hunt, and thrilling Egg Roll Contest, down the grand South Lawn. Bring your own basket, spoon, and one hard-boiled egg per child. Member child: $7 | Non-member child: $10 | Accompanying adult: $5

Tudor Place Family Member Presale: January 3–31
Tickets on sale to the general public February 1

Maryland Day :March 24-26, 2017

Sleepover at the National Archives

A night of adventure awaits at the National Archives! Join us for a special sleepover at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, and spend the night next to America’s most precious treasures: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. During the event, kids ages 8-12 along with their adults will explore our nation’s treasured records, meet author Kathleen Krull and comic book artist Carolyn Belefski, sleep in the Rotunda near the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and make memories to last a lifetime. Guests also will be treated to movies in the museum’s William G. McGowan Theater before turning in for the night, and will enjoy breakfast – including pancakes flipped by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero! – and more activities the next morning.

Nov. 4, 2017 at 11:00am:  Saturday Family Story Session at Strathmore
Local storytellers teach kids how to weave narrative tales, instilling a love of learning with every word. Music, movement, art, and interactive play: it’s all about understanding other people, enjoying different cultures and boosting imagination and creativity. Recommended for ages 3–8.
Nov. 5, 2017 from 10:30am-12:30pm: Forest Hills Playground Harvest Hoedown
(Rescheduled due to rain)
Nov. 12, 2017 from 2:00pm-8:00pm: Tree Lighting & Fireworks Show at National Harbor
Santa’s Frosty Follies, Holiday Movie, Santa at the Carousel, Tree Lighting & Fireworks
Nov. 24- Dec. 2, 2017:  Tenley WinterFest
Tenley WinterFest is an eight-day celebration of the holiday season designed to showcase local businesses, community groups, and the neighborhood – all with a unique Tenleytown flair and lots of yetis.

Nov. 26, 2017 at 5:30pm: Kids Pajama Jam Party at AMP Strathhmore
Get ready to ring in the holidays with a special festive Pajama Jam! Described as “the best-sounding band in children’s music” (NPR’s All Things Considered), three-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could are here to shake, dance, and groove their way through classic holiday favorites and new holiday jams alike! Their rootsy, accordion-laced take on children’s music is energetic, spirited, and will provide the perfect soundtrack for your holiday.
Dec. 2, 2017 from 1:00pm-4:00pm: Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland
Celebrate the holiday season in Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda with a variety of performances, live ice sculpting, a visit from Santa Claus and more!
Dec. 2 at 4:00pm: Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long
Kick off the holiday season with family and friends at Wolf Trap’s 2017 Holiday Sing-A-Long! This musical celebration hosts a performance by the United States Marine Band and a Sing-A-Long of Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs with local choir and vocal groups from the metropolitan Washington area.

Dec. 9 from 10:00am-4:00pm: Annual Holiday Card Workshop at the National Postal Museum
Kick off the holiday season by creating heartfelt, handmade cards at the National Postal Museum’s Annual Holiday Card Workshop! We’ll have pretty papers, vintage stamps from around the world and lots of other supplies to inspire your creativity as you create one-of-a-kind holiday greetings. After making your cards, visit the museum’s stamp store to send your cards to friends and family with a special Postal Museum postmark!

Dec. 9 & 10, 2017: Dollar or Less Day in Baltimore
In the spirit of the Holidays, Baltimore area attractions will open their doors the weekend of December 9 & 10, 2017 and offer free or $1 admission.

Dec. 9 at 3:00pm: Woodshop for Kids at the Building Museum
Use a drill to craft a wood toy you can give as a gift or enjoy yourself.

Dec. 9 at 11:00am: Kids Gingerbread House Workshop at DBGB

December 10 and 17 from 1:00pm-2:30pm: Gift Making workshop for kids at Little Loft Art Studio
Calling all elves! Make your own gifts this season! Our handmade gifts are designed to be practical as well as thoughtful, and they’re a great conversation piece to hear about your child’s creative process and artistic choices. Sign up for one or both. Join in – or drop off and do some holiday shopping in the neighborhood while you wait. Shop small this season – support local businesses! Hot chocolate and holiday music provided. Ages 5-10, $32/day
Sign up for one only or both.

Dec. 17 at 11:00am AND 2:00pm: 1, 2, 3 Andres plays at Bender JCC
Join for a magical holiday story, song and dance benefiting the Greater DC Diaper Bank

Dec. 17 from 1:00pm-4:00pm: Family Afternoon at the Building Museum
Construct paper house lanterns and handmade books to create feelings of home.

Jan. 15 at 11:00am: New Orchestra of Washington (NOW) Family Concert
Bring the whole family to enjoy a special family concert! The colorful program will engage listeners both young, and young at heart. After the concert, you may opt to stay, for the instrument petting zoo and pizza lunch. If you are looking for something to do on a cold holiday, this is it!

February 3, 2018 from 1:30pm-3:30pm: Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

come see a FUN Company play – Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb! Afterwards we’ll have snacks and make art around the themes of the play, and play theatre games–all for free!  Recommended for ages 3-7.

February 3, 2018 from 10:00am-5:00pm: La Chandeleur Day at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

La Chandeleur, also known as Crêpe Day, marks the halfway point between winter and spring.  In France, families celebrate by eating crêpes, which are round and golden like the springtime sun. Snack on a tasty treat of sweet crêpes. Hear classic French tales inspired by scenes from La Fontaine fables that are pictured on tapestries covering chairs from France displayed in the mansion. Explore Hillwood’s French treasures through interactive, docent-led, family-friendly gallery talks and a printed activity guide. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French Sèvres porcelain.

Weekend Picks (Overload!): October 27-29, 2017

Now in its 10th year, Kids Euro Festival brings Europe’s most talented children’s entertainers to the DC metro area each fall for two weeks (beginning this weekend through Nov. 5) of free performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, puppetry, dance, magic, and cinema. With programs both for the general public and for school groups, more than 10,000 DC-area children and their families enjoy Kids Euro Festival programs each year. Schedule of events found here.

Fall Festivals can be found here, most are ending soon.

Rosslyn Harvest Fest is Friday (4:00pm-10:00pm) & Saturday (10:00am-5:00pm). Enjoy the change of seasons and celebrate autumn in the streets of Rosslyn during Harvest Fest! Halloween festivities, trick or treating on Saturday, beer garden, inflatable corn maze, scavenger hunt, D.J. Dia de Los Muertos face painting and more fun.

Even more great family-friendly events posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Like us to get notified of events that don’t get added to blog posts.

Friday-

Oct. 27- 3:30pm-6:30pm- Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Come and see wool carding, spinning, and fish net making in the historic area before greeting “Martha Washington” on the piazza of the Mansion. In order to burn off all the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing in the upper garden. Historic chocolate-making demonstrations and chocolate tastings will take place. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine. Purchase Tickets.

Oct. 27– 5:30pm-7:30pm- Hilloween at Eastern Market
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St. Count on moon bounces, hay rides, treats, face painting and many, many costumes.

Oct. 27– 6:00pm-7:00pm & 7:00pm-8:00pm- BOO-stravaganza at Frying Pan Park
Come celebrate the Halloween season with this variety event at the farm. Ghouls, princesses, and superheroes come to the indoor arena to start the extravaganza. Attendees enjoy a variety of themed games, dare to enter the slightly-spooky BOO barn, and take a wagon ride through the woods at night. Finish the evening with a small treat bag for the road. Reservations required.

Saturday–

Oct. 28- 10:00am-2:00pm- Washington International Horse Show Kids Day
Hundreds of children and their families attend WIHS Kids’ Day — a free, fun, family-friendly event created to share the joy of horses with the local D.C. community and teach kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. Children participate in more than a dozen hands-on educational and fun activities, including pony rides, the Discovery Communications Horseless Horse Show, the Horse Stars Hall of Fame interactive exhibit, coloring station, face painting, pony brushing lessons from Clay Hill Stables, plus giveaways from Georgetown Cupcake. Klinger, the famous horse from the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon, often attends as a special guest to greet the children. There’s even a pony kissing booth with Mini Cooper, the mini pony! Outdoor activities will be held in front of the Hotel Monaco at 700 F Street NW (the street will be closed for the event) and face painting and other events will be held on the Capital One Arena concourse.

Oct. 28– 10:00am- John Henry at Avalon Theatre
For the 13th year, John Henry brings his playful musical style to the Avalon for our annual Halloween concert party. Children are encouraged to come in costume (adults too!) and sing and dance along during the show! Treats will be distributed afterwards.

Oct. 28– 10:00am-12:00pm- Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Halloween is “spooktacular” at Tudor Place! Wear your costumes (optional) and follow meandering paths to find treats (not tricks!) in every corner of the enchanting North Garden. Enjoy pumpkin-decorating and other crafts, face painting, and outdoor games amid lovely autumn color. Register online ahead of time.

Oct. 28 10:00am-3:30pm- Witches & Wizards at B&O Railroad
Train Ride on the Wizards Express! Hop on board Platform 2 3/4 to the Wizard & Witches Express for a magical adventure. See above link for all of the details!

Oct. 28- 10:00am-12:00pm- PIKEkids Trick-or-Treat
Join us for tricks, treats and neighborhood fun. Bring your costumed kids and trick-or-treat bags for an early Halloween celebration at all your favorite Pike & Rose establishments. RSVP for kids.

Oct. 28–10:00am- Trick or Treat with the BOOtiques
Start trick-or-treating early and stop by the dozens of shops of the Old Town Boutique District dishing out treats to goblins and ghouls of all ages!

Oct. 28- 10:30am- Spooktacular Story Time at Tenleytown Library
Start your day off with a spooktacular fun story time for the whole family, filled with Halloween-themed songs, rhymes, and books. Wear your costumes. Your librarian will be wearing hers!

Oct. 28- 10:30am-1:00pm- Adam’s Morgan 10th Annual Apple Festival and Pie Baking Contest

Oct. 28- 10:30am-11:15am- Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist 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. Five Little Pumpkins is the story

Oct. 28- 11:00am-2:00pm- The Rumpus Room: Halloween Edition
The Rumpus Room, DC’s only daytime dance party for families, returns in time for Halloween! This October we’ll be getting (slightly) spooky in the club, so put on your costumes and come dance with us! Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ghosts, goblins, witches, dragons, and pumpkins of all ages. The soundtrack for the day will be a family-friendly mix of dance hits and Halloween classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome.

Oct. 28–11:00am- Spooktacular Party for Kids at DBGB
Pastry Chef Kelsey Burack is on the hunt for some hauntingly talented Junior Pastry Chefs! Join DBGB DC for our first-ever kids pastry party, featuring hands-on instruction in the creation of Halloween treats. Students will learn to make: – Oreo Mummies – Chocolate Ghost Tarts – Halloween Cupcakes. $75 participation fee per child. Fee includes participation for one child accompanied by one parent. Recommended age for participation is 7-12 years old. Continental breakfast, coffee and mimosas will be provided for adults to enjoy as the Junior Pastry Chefs make their treats.

Oct. 28– 11:00am- Pumpkins in the Park
Celebrate fall with some fresh air, creativity, and FREE family-friendly entertainment! The Capitol Riverfront BID is hosting the 4th Annual Pumpkins in the Park in Canal Park on Saturday, October 28th from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. The fun includes pumpkin decorating, face painting, a giant pumpkin moonbounce, a festive backdrop & photographer for fall family photos, and more! This event is FREE and open to all. Kids and kids-at-heart are welcome to join. Pumpkins will be available on a rolling basis throughout the event, so come early to get yours.

Oct 28– 12:00pm-4:00pm- Pumpkin Rock n Roll at Warner Circle Park
The park will be transformed into a full-blown Halloween extravaganza. Participate in a fun costume contest and parade, and enjoy family-friendly attractions including festival-style musical performances, food trucks, inflatable rides and slides and a rock wall. The main event is a derby race of Halloween pumpkins-turned-boxcars! Admission is free.

Oct. 28– 1:00pm-4:00pm- Fall-O-Ween at Market Commons
Bring the entire family and join us for this fun, FREE event! At Fall-o-Ween, festivities will include: mini pumpkin decorating (sponsored by Whole Foods Market), scarecrow decorating station, trick-or-treating & kids’ crafts at stores, petting zoo, Big Barn Puppet Shows at 1, 2 & 3 p.m., music with Kidsinger Jim, face painting, balloon art & sand art and food. And be sure to snap a photo with all of your fall favorites — a scarecrow, wizard, mummy & Frankenstein!

Oct. 28– 1:00pm-4:00pm- Glen Echo Fall Frolic
Fall Frolic is the Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual Halloween-themed family event. It’s open to the public, and visitors of all ages are invited to the Park to explore the arts through hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, trick-or-treating and visiting open studios. It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone! For the kids, there will be pumpkin decorating and face painting ($1 fee for pumpkin; $1-$2 for face painting). All other craft activities and trick-or-treating are free! Adults will enjoy strolling through the Park’s open studios and galleries, including Glen Echo Pottery, the Art Glass Center, Photoworks, Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery, and more. The celebration will conclude at 3:30 with a costume parade through the park.

Oct. 28– 1:00pm-4:00pm-  7th Annual Little Goblins Parade

Oct. 28– 3:00pm-5:00pm– Rosedale Pumpkin Carving Party
Bring your blankets and pumpkins. Rosedale will provide all the child-safe carving tools, plastic gloves, and tons of designs to make your Halloween pumpkin super special!

Oct. 28- 3:30pm-6:30pm- Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Come and see wool carding, spinning, and fish net making in the historic area before greeting “Martha Washington” on the piazza of the Mansion. In order to burn off all the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing in the upper garden. Historic chocolate-making demonstrations and chocolate tastings will take place. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine. Purchase Tickets.

Oct. 28– 7:00pm-8:30pm- Legends by Lantern at College Park Aviation Museum
Find out what happened to Corporal Frank Scott and see the airfield by lamplight while hearing tales of the past. Wear your costume on this tour that starts with a hayride, and concludes with hot cider and a fun Fall activity. Director’s choice costume awards will be given each hour! The 8:30 pm tour will be spookier and for adults only.

Oct. 28 (various times)- 4th Annual Pumpkin Hunt at Lee-Fendall House
Alexandria’s ghosts and goblins will fill the Lee-Fendall House garden with hundreds of colorful toy-filled Halloween pumpkins for local children to discover. Other activities include crafts, refreshments, spooky stories, and a costume parade. All children of elementary school age or younger are eligible to participate in the Halloween Pumpkin Hunt. Older children and adults are welcome to enjoy all other activities. Tickets are available for sale online.

Oct. 28– 4:00pm-8:00pm- 3rd annual Haunted Garage and Day of the Dead Festival at Oyster Adams Bilingual School
Join us for a walk through the haunted garage and for traditional Day of the Dead activities such as decorating sugar skulls. Wear your costumes. There will be an inflatable obstacle course, pumpkin painting, spooky cake contest and a fortune teller. Ticket price: $10/child over 2 years of age; food concessions sold separately.

Sunday-

Oct. 29- 9:00am-4:00pm- 50th Anniversary of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Free events throughout the day will include an early morning bird walk, ranger programs, a Theodore Roosevelt reenactor, Civil War reenactors, children’s Teddy Bear storytime, tours of the Island, Island safari walks, games, exhibits, crafts, and food vendors.

Oct. 29–10:30am-12:30pm- Friends of Forest Hills Playground Halloween
The neighborhood looks forward to this party every year, and this year’s event features face painter, Jan Taylor of Fairytales in Motion, costume parade, a bake sale and pizza from Armand’s. The proceeds from the bake sale and pizza sales go toward events like this party and the summer concerts, plus playground improvements.

Oct. 29- 11:00am-11:45am- Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Spookley the Square Pumpkin is the story.

Oct. 29- 11:00am-3:30pm– Witches & Wizards at B&O Railroad
Train Ride on the Wizards Express! Hop on board Platform 2 3/4 to the Wizard & Witches Express for a magical adventure. See above link for all of the details

Oct 29- 12:00pm-4:00pm- Mini Golf Fore Good at Adventure Theatre
Follow the yellow brick road to ATMTC Academy for a “hole lot of fun” swinging clubs through a mini golf course in our studios. Best of all: All the proceeds from this fundraiser go towards DC area kids!

Oct. 29– 12:00pm-2:30pm- Harbor Halloween
Trick-or-Treating: Noon – 2:00pm, Howl-Lo-Ween at The Black Dog: Noon – 2:30pm, Movie: Hocus Pocus: 12:30pm, Chef Pumpkin Carving Contest: 2pm. One free Capital Wheel child ticket with each paid adult ticket for children in costume.

Oct. 29– 2:00pm & 4:00pm- NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular at Kennedy Center
When is it ever cool to “boo” the orchestra? On Halloween, of course! But watch out, because at this frightfully fun concert, ghoulishly attired musicians might “BOO” you from behind their instruments in return. Don your best costume, come one hour early to the Atrium for trick-or-treating plus a special Haunted Hall Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo,” and then take your seat in the Concert Hall for a program of goose bump-inducing favorites! Ages 5+

Oct. 29– 2:00pm- 21st Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
Don your best Halloween costume and march in the 20th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, which historically has attracted thousands of participants. Awards will be given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Awards will be presented in a brief ceremony after the parade, along with refreshments and goodie bags for the children. Adults, children and dogs are all welcome to join and for free.

Oct. 29– 3:00pm-5:00pm- Busy Bees Not So Spooky Halloween Party Falls Church & Chevy Chase
Dress up in your awesome costume & join us for a “Not So Spooky Halloween Bash!” Unparalleled fun in the playscape, followed by a lil’ parade leading to our party room, where each child will choose a pumpkin and a kit to turn it into their own masterpiece! Top the fun off with cupcakes and milk! Oh wait, there’s more: There will be 3 BuzzyPasses waiting to be found. One FREE birthday party to the BEST FAMILY COSTUME! Purchase tickets.

Weekend Picks: October 20-22, 2017

Now in its 10th year, Kids Euro Festival brings Europe’s most talented children’s entertainers to the DC metro area each fall for two weeks (beginning this weekend through Nov. 5) of free performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, puppetry, dance, magic, and cinema. With programs both for the general public and for school groups, more than 10,000 DC-area children and their families enjoy Kids Euro Festival programs each year. Schedule of events found here.

Fall Festivals are in full effect. Let the apple and pumpkin picking start.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs for CLOSING 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!

Halloween Events pulled from our Tricks & Treats post:

Oct. 20-22– 5:30pm-8:30pm- 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.

Oct. 20-21 & 27-28 (Various Times)- 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. Purchase tickets.

Oct. 21 & 22–9:00am-5:00pm- 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.

Oct. 21–12:00pm-5:30pm- Air and Scare at National Air and Space Museum (Virginia Location)
Explore the spooky side of air and space at Air & Scare, our annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. Arrive in costume to get into the Halloween spirit and enjoy safe indoor trick-or-treating.

Oct. 22– 10:30am-1:00pm- Friends of Forest Hills Playground Halloween
The neighborhood looks forward to this party every year, and this year’s event features Abracadabra Alex, our famous costume parade, a bake sale and pizza from Armand’s. The proceeds from the bake sale and pizza sales go toward events like this party and the summer concerts, plus playground improvements.

 

And a few non-Halloween events:

Saturday:

10:00am-4:00pm: Family Day: (Un)Common Threads at George Washington University Museum & the Textile Museum

11:30am-2:00pm: 20th Annual Community Sports Day at Stead Park

1:00pm-3:00pm: Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center Open House

Sunday:

12:00pm-4:00pm: Fall Back to Bethesda at Rock Creek Mansion on Cedar Lane

Catch these shows before the curtain closes:

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

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!

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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

Weekend Picks October 14-16

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(Photo: StrangeCosmos)

Friday, Saturday & Sunday Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will take over Montgomery County Fairgrounds. More than 200 exhibits will showcase the high-quality work of independent artisans from across the U.S., as well as local up-and-coming talent. You’ll find an extensive array of contemporary alternative clothing designers, fine artists, metal workers, leather workers and more, each with handmade craftwork for both everyday use and special occasions. Free parking, kids 12 and under are free, $8 online / $10 at the door for others.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday NSO Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie: Halloween Extravaganza at The Kennedy Center is back by popular demand! Spooky fun abounds as Cirque de la Symphonie wows with sensational acrobatics and powerful music in a new Halloween-themed spectacular. Bring the whole family for this breathtaking and lively high-flying display.2 hour show, purchase tickets online.

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs weekends through October 23.  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 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 fublue-angels-in-dynamic-dive-with-contrails-2012-20120617-154601n 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 you can fly high celebrating Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show in Baltimore.

Friday-

6:00pm-9:00pm: Spooky SPY Family Night at International Spy Museum
(800 F Street, NW  Washington, DC)
Ditch your Halloween costume and change your whole identity! Has your brother been spying on you? Is grandma really a secret agent? Does dad really have lethal ninja skills? Now’s your chance to find out as your family of spies gains exclusive afterhours access to the Museum! Test your family’s spy skills as you run top secret missions, go deep undercover and transform your appearance with the help of professional make-up artists, challenge yourself in Code Cracker competitions, explore all forms of spy tradecraft, and enjoy SPY snacks. Come in disguise as your favorite spy! Ages: 5 and up (one adult required for every five KidSpy agents)* Space is limited—advance registration required.  *Includes exclusive after-hours admission, SPY snacks, scavenger hunt, prize competitions, and more!

7:30pm-9:30pm: Hocus Pocus Movie at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park
(13220 Yates Ford Rd Clifton, VA 20124)
Join Adventure Links for our October Halloween Movie Night series under the stars at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park! Every Friday night in October we’ll be showing a halloween movie on our outdoor movie screen. Bring a blanket and enjoy a free movie! Upcoming shows: October 21st – The Nightmare Before Christmas & October 28th – The Blair Witch Project.

 

Saturday-

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class.
Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.
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