Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

The countdown is on for holiday fun! There are several festive events and activities you can still do, from holiday shows, ballets and concerts, tree lightings and holiday markets, and gift guides to purchase from (you still have time).

Be sure to click the above links as there are plenty of events happening this weekend that are included in those above posts.

Holiday events our family hopes to do still this season: Light Yards, Georgetown Glow, US Botanic Garden and the light exhibit at Brookside Gardens.

Winter Lantern Festival comes to the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area for its FIRST immersive DMV Winter Lantern Festival! From New York with 150,000 annual guests, 3 years in a row, this is an experience you don’t want to miss! Starting Dec. 16 to Feb. 12, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II will be transformed into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of experience. Our lanterns and bright displays will light the night and bring warmth this holiday season!

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience! Walk into the depths of a dark forest and discover fantastic beasts and iconic wizarding world moments illuminated like never before. Follow a trail through a mysterious and magical forest full of interactive moments, mesmerizing lights, and theatrical illusions. Come face-to-face with magical creatures from the Harry Potter™ and the Fantastic Beasts™ films, such as Hippogriffs, Centaurs, Unicorns, Nifflers, and more.

Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the Dulles Expo Center is in town Saturday & Sunday from 10am-4:00pm. There will be 250+tables of trains for sale, 60+ exhibitors from across the country, huge operating model train displays, free workshops and demonstrations, free test track – test run your trains at the show, free door prize giveaways and more.

Saturday

11:00am-2:00pm: Rudolph’s Rockin’ Reindeer Games at Boro Park
Get your groove on with friends, families and neighbors at this holiday-themed dance party featuring a live DJ. Move and sing to your favorite seasonal tunes while sipping hot cocoa, doing arts and crafts and capturing memories (with Santa photo ops!) for your holiday card. Take part in a special scavenger hunt and compete in reindeer games like freeze dance, red light green light and limbo! Santa photo opportunity will be from 11:30am-1:30pm. Rudolph’s Rockin’ Reindeer Games is FREE and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, but not required through Eventbrite. 

1:00pm-4:00pm: JoAnn Hill at Steadfast Supply
We just had our first post by JoAnn and we are thrilled to welcome her back soon. You can meet her and purchase her amazing books on Saturday!! Perfect for gifts (hint, hint).

1:00pm AND 4:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

Sunday

1:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage– ASL Interpreted Show
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

3:45pm-5:15pm: National Menorah Lighting
Musical performances, special guest and the lighting will occur on the Ellipse. Register to attend at link above.

4:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

5:30pm: Northern VA Night of Lights
Join a family-oriented, community-wide candle lighting event featuring holiday-themed activities, including latkes, dreidel playing, doughnuts, kids crafts, music, a photo booth and more!

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See a fun new musical for kids at Imagination Stage!

Rock your Socks and Get your tickets today!

NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE

Mo Willems’ Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience

November 20 – January 8

Based on the book Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer

Buy tickets here!

A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

Extra weekday matinees over Thanksgiving and winter break.

Check out this sneak peek video from rehearsal

This performance takes place at Imagination Stage:
4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

Imagination Stage is a nationally-recognized theatre arts center in Bethesda, MD, respected for more than 43 years of high-quality, innovative programming. Each year, it produces several professional theatre productions for children ages 1+ and hosts classes, camps, and workshops for ages 1-18.

Imagination Stage’s professional productions are also available for field trips, groups, and birthday parties.

Be Part of the Adventure!

See S.P.I.E.S. 2: Flight of the Hawk at Imagination Stage
Buy your tickets today!

S.P.I.E.S. 2: Flight of the Hawk

OCTOBER 29– NOVEMBER 20


Join S.P.I.E.S. in person, where it is more interactive than ever! This follow-up to the online hit S.P.I.E.S. & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis combines live theatre and filmed adventure scenes to create a collaborative and exciting experience where each audience gets to be the hero and solve the puzzles–and no two performances are alike.

“All 5-10 year-olds can be at the center of a spy story–decoding, problem solving, and ultimately saving the day! This show will send kids home feeling empowered.”
– Janet Stanford, Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director

Performances:
Saturdays at 11:00am and Sundays at 11:00am and 1:00pm
JUST ADDED: Friday, November 11 at 7:00pm

Buy tickets today!

Make it a special S.P.I.E.S. Birthday party!
Birthday Parties at Imagination Stage come with a ticket discount, room rental, and on-site staff.

Theatre is back at Imagination Stage!

See In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson at Imagination Stage. Buy your tickets today!

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

OCTOBER 15, 2022 – OCTOBER 22, 2022
Based on the book by Bette Bao Lord

Adapted for the stage by Mark Branner

Adapted from the award-winning novel, this play tells the touching story of a young Chinese American girl and her family moving from China to the United States in 1947. Using humor and a rich multimedia staging, the play celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of those who bring new perspectives to our country.  Best for ages 7+.

“The story of a Chinese girl coming to New York City in the 1940’s is full of humor, struggle, and, ultimately, fulfillment as Shirley discovers the secret joy of living between two worlds.”

– Janet Stanford, Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director

Purchase tickets here!

Click here to see a promotional video!

Cool off this summer at Imagination Stage with MR.POPPER’S PENGUINS

Mr. Popper, a painter of modest means, dreams of taking an Antarctic adventure. So he’s thrilled when a penguin named Captain Cook waddles out of a mysterious box left on his doorstep. Full of puppets, songs, and fun, this musical is best for ages 3-10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins starts next Wednesday, June 22 at Imagination Stage.

Mother Goose opens this week at Imagination Stage!    

This brand-new, music filled piece, is sure to captivate your kids!

Mother Goose

March 19 – April 10
Weekday and Weekend Performances!

Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and more come to life through adorably engaging puppets and props. The magical Mother Goose invites your little ones to join in with each rhyme’s story. Mother Goose is best for ages 1-5.

Devised by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Janet Stanford with Imagination Stage artists. Music is by Debbie Jacobsen. The show is directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer. The show is sponsored by PNC.

Tickets can be purchased here: $12

Looking for something for the older kids this weekend?

P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical is now on stage through March 27. This completely contemporary, high-energy musical update of Pinocchio is best for ages 5-11.

“A wonderfully engaging upgrade to the Pinocchio story with sick beats, fresh rhymes, and a technologic reboot.” – DCMTA

Romeo & Juliet, performed by IStage Performance Ensemble, will run March 18 – 20. Shakespeare’s most loved romantic tragedy is best for ages 11+.

To review our COVID-19 Safety precautions and requirements, please visit our website.

Imagination Stage is a holistic theatre arts organization for all children and youth.  For more information about our shows, classes, and camps, please visit our website.

P.NOKIO: A hip-hop musical opens this week at Imagination Stage

P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical

February 26 – March 27

Book and Lyrics by Psalmayene 24

Music by Nick “tha 1da” Hernandez

Directed by Tony Thomas

For your comfort, shows are capped at 50% audience capacity.

G.Petto is an ingenious computer games designer who one day discovers that his newest game character, P.Nokio, can live outside the computer! G.Petto is thrilled at the prospect of having a “son,” and with the help of the Graffiti Fairy, he teaches P.Nokio how to become a real boy. But, P.Nokio falls in with con artists and finds himself in a web of lies that endangers his father. To save G.Petto, P.Nokio must wise up, keep it real, and learn that words and truth are the mightiest weapons of all. A completely contemporary, high-energy musical update of Pinocchio that will have your kids dancing in their seats. Best for ages 5-11.

Purchase tickets here.

Imagination Stage is a holistic theatre arts organization for all children and youth. For more information about our shows, classes, and camps, please visit our website.

Balloonacy will entertain kids this February at Imagination Stage

Did you know that Imagination Stage, a trusted community organization for over 41 years, has professional theatre performances, classes, and camps, for children as young as 1 year old?

We wanted to share with you one of the safe, indoor opportunities designed especially for families with small children. 

Balloonacy
February 5- 20, 2022
By Barry Kornhauser
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer

A beautiful, movement-based show that revisits the classic film “The Red Balloon.” Nothing can go right for the character of the old man, whose days are gray and dreary–until he is visited by a friendly red balloon. In the playful physical style of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, the old man–an adult version of the boy in the film–regains his youthful spirit, with the help of the red balloon! Best for ages 1-11. 

Click here to watch a short trailer of BALLOONACY.

Socially-distanced seating is available. Visit their website to learn more about their COVID safety precautions.

See the performance schedule and buy tickets here.

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