Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekend Picks

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Washington Nationals will host Winterfest this weekend at The Convention Center. Test your skills at a variety of baseball attractions and game. Transform yourself into a human snowball in the Steal Home Challenge. Jump into a giant stocking and slide down the “The Slider”. Strike a pose at the life-size snow globe photo station. Take a photo with Santa. Donate a toy to a child in need*. And much, much more! Tickets are; Adults: $30 per ticket, Kids, ages 4-12: $20 per ticket, Kids, ages 3 & under: Free. Open to public 11:30am-4:00pm, other times for season ticket holders.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone. [Read more…]

Weekend Picks

Experience the Mall Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, to celebrate the season with Smithsonian. We’ve got special events galore to help you get in the holiday spirit, including musical performances, book signings, trunk shows, activities for kids, and more!  Participating museums include: National Museum of American History, National Museum of Air and Space, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art and Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African American Art, National Postal Museum, and The Smithsonian Castle. Hours are 10:30am-5:30pm and the Holiday Festival is free.

This weekend Baltimore will be having Dollar or Less Days. Many of your favorite spots will only be $1 for admission. Get there early as lines will be long but they’ll move fast. Check the above link for participating places. See our post on Baltimore for ideas of other places to go.

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Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

Home Sweet Home Gingerbread  Workshop at National Building Museum is Saturday and Sunday. Get in the holiday spirit and construct a gingerbread house at the National Building Museum. Participants will learn how to use gingerbread walls and royal icing to build a house. We’ll provide the supplies and treats to make your gingerbread home as sweet as can be. Register online!

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‘Tis the Circus! A Holiday Party on High presented by Sweet Spot Aerial Productions at Atlas Performing Arts Friday-Sunday. The holidays can be a circus – quite literally, at this holiday party! As the guests arrive, one couple’s living room is transformed as acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and other performers dazzle with spectacular routines celebrating the magic of the holiday season. Fun for the whole family – prepare to be delighted, amazed and inspired. A unique and new holiday tradition. All ages. [Read more…]

Weekend Picks

Santa’s LEGO Block Party at B&O’s Magical Holiday Express will kick off this weekend. Santa will arrive on the train at 10:30am on Saturday.Check out the schedule, each weekend a new theme and event.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town also begins this weekend at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

Saturday-

th9:00am-10:30am or 11:30am-1:00pm: Ele-Fun at The National Zoo
(3001 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008 )
Bring your little animal lover to the Zoo this Sunday morning for “Ele-Fun,” a preschool class for 2-3 year olds! What gentle giant weighs over 10,000 pounds and can use its nose to topple a tree or pick up a blade of grass? An elephant, of course! Learn fascinating facts about the largest living land mammal and try out your own trunk, before visiting the Zoo’s elephant herd. Zoo Classes use crafts, hands-on activities, and the Zoo’s animal collection to help your child learn about environmental conservation and life science while building important developmental and social skills.
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: Yuletide lights and shopping or Superhero and Circus Yoga

The magic of Christmas begins this weekend. ICE! at The Gaylord National Resort will be a hit with your Bambino(s) as this year Frosty the Snowman is featured. Santa HQ begins this weekend where families experience the unparalleled wonder of Santa’s world in the modern and digital age. Visitors can take an ELFIE selfie and star in their own holiday video, explore Santa’s Observatory using ELF-RAY Vision, test out the ‘Naughty O’ Nice Meter,’ and enjoy a memorable photo with Santa. Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Light where the gardens come to LIGHT at night. More than 500,000 lights illuminate the trees and displays of flowers, animals, fountains, a stream, and much more.

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Saturday-

10:00am-6:00pm: Museum Shop Around at Strathmore Mansion
(5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852)
Join us on a treasure hunt when the area’s finest museum gift shops bring their wares to Strathmore. You’ll find toys, jewelry, one-of-a-kind gifts—some handmade, all art-inspired—for yourself and everyone on your holiday list. National Building Museum, Brookside Gardens, Imagination Stage and National Geographic Museum are a few participating Museums. Admission $9 (Stars $8) At the Door; Cash/Checks Only.

[Read more…]

A guide to Spring Break camps in Washington, DC

2015 Spring Break Camp Guide is available!

Spring Break Camps? We had no idea this existed but it’s amazing that it does. Sign us up! We’ve found an assortment of camps for your child. Registration has already opened for most so don’t delay find a good fit for your child and sign up today. And it’s not too early to start checking out our Summer Camp Guide.

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Maryland:

Imagination Stage- April 14-18, 2014
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
Mornings, afternoons or full day camps in Drama, Dance, Filmmaking,or a combination. Make it an awesome Spring Break, and get your child’s creative juices flowing. It’s way more fun than hanging out at home. Ages 3.5-Grade 8.

Montgomery Parks Spring Break Camps- April 14-18, 2014
(Various locations in Montgomery County)
Archaeology, tennis, ice skating and golf are just a few camps your child can choose from. One day camps, half day and whole day depending on the camp you choose. Ages 5-12. 
[Read more…]

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