Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

Below are our most popular summer focused links- check ’em out while they’re around:
Summer bucket list
Outdoor summer movies
Ice cream shops!
Splash parks and more water fun
12 sunflower fields
8 games to play in the pool + must-haves for water play
Road trip!
20 classic outdoor games

All weekend
The Maryland Renaissance Festival
Running every Saturday and Sunday through October 23 in Crownsville, Maryland. There is enchantment and merriment from the moment you enter the castle gates with likely the largest number of adults dressed in costume that your child has ever seen.

Hi-Lawn BBQ & Picnic
Head to Union Market’s rooftop for cocktails, bbq and lawn games.

Maryland State Fair
Located in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland the fair is Sept. 1-5 & 8-11. There are rides, competitions, food and more!

National Book Festival
Books bring us together! Come to the nation’s capital over Labor Day weekend as we return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 3. If you can’t join us in Washington, D.C. for a day of free talks and activities, several programs will be livestreamed, and video of all talks can be viewed online after the Festival concludes.

National Cinema Day
September 3 you can see a movie for $3! See above link for DC area theatres participating.

DC Jazz Fest
The 18th Annual Festival has performances all weekend long.

Sunday
8:00pm: The NSO’s free annual Labor Day weekend concert returns to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol! This year’s event features Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leading the orchestra in music by Aaron Copland, John Williams, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, and others. Special guest Jimmie Herrod (Pink Martini, America’s Got Talent) joins the celebration to perform favorites by Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell, and more! The performance is FREE to attend, no tickets required. Seating is first-come, first served. Gates open to the public at 3:00pm and you can catch the open dress rehearsal at 3:30pm.

Monday
10:00am-2:00pm: Kensington’s Labor Day Parade & Festival
Enjoy marching bands, equestrian shows, dances & floats. After the parade there will be food trucks, music and activities.

Day destinations (less than 2 hours away)
Trails, marshes & gardens
Beach & state parks
Outdoor fun
15 ways to get outdoors
Adult getaways
Family overnight trips


Labor Day weekend in and around Washington, DC

This weekend definitely doesn’t feel like a typical Labor Day weekend but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the long weekend. Some ideas of things you can do while being outside and keeping a safe distance are below as well as a few events happening.

Day destinations (less than 2 hours away)
Trails, marshes & gardens
Beach & state parks
Outdoor fun
15 ways to get outdoors
Adult Getaways
Family Overnight Trips

All weekend
Park Up DC drive in has movies all weekend long for families as well as adult movies.

Our family is missing in-person Nationals games but luckily we can cheer them on by watching MASN or listening to games on the radio. This long weekend brings a tournament between Nats vs. Braves. You can bring the stadium food to your house by ordering the best ballpark bites.

Sunday
The National Symphony Orchestra returns for their annual Labor Day Concert. Composers” William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, and more! The performance will be livestreamed at the pop-up drive-in Park Up DC (on RFK Stadium’s campus). Up to 350 cars can attend the free show, but if you don’t make it, you can see the concert broadcast on the Kennedy Center’s social media channels on Monday, September 7. The drive-in concert itself is on Sunday, September 6 at 7pm. Please Note: You must reserve a space.

Monday
Herndon Labor Day Festival

Plan ahead
The National Landing BID (née Crystal City BID) is hosting a series of drive-in movies, starting Thursday and running weekly in September. The film series dubbed “Ride in Reels” the venue is the empty lot at 33rd Street S. and Crystal Drive. Gates will open for moviegoers at 7pm. Prior registration is required to attend. Would-be attendees are encouraged to sign up for the National Landing BID newsletter; a link will appear in the Monday newsletter for Thursday’s movie. When registering, participants select their vehicle type or choose one of the non-vehicle spaces for those walking or biking to the movies.
Films scheduled for the drive-in are:
Sept. 10: Finding Nemo
Sept. 17: Just Mercy
Sept. 24: The Goonies

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

Have a family-friendly Labor Day by checking out this post we created for you.

Anacostia Park Centennial Celebration is Friday and Saturday. Help kickstart the next 100 years with incredible experiences in the park. The centennial birthday bash will become a part of park history, don’t miss your chance to be a part of it. Enjoy family fun activities in the park including painting murals, live raptors, catch and release fishing lessons with a competition for biggest fish caught, photobooth stations, arts and crafts, bike repair pop up shop, photo exhibits, roller skating performances and much more! Reminisce on Summer in the Parks during its 50th anniversary with an evening concert on Friday, on the lawn featuring Go Go stars and headliner Chuck Brown Band. Enjoy music from opening acts Trouble Funk and Reminisce All Stars as the night is hosted by DJ EZ Street.

Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place on weekends from August 26-October21, 2018. The Rent Fest will be full of jousting while serving up lots of turkey legs! Take a time machine back to medieval times where you’ll see wizards, knights and wenches. 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 and will be begging to participate while staring in awe. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch! This weekend is the only time they offer kids entry as FREE.

Friday

6:00pm-9:00pm: Friday Night Live Concert Series
Kick off your weekend with live entertainment, great company, and fantastic food, wine and beer from the restaurants at Rockville Town Square 
on The Square in Rockville Town Square. Music ranges from 80’s and 90’s cover bands, funk and soul, roots rock blues and southern rock.

7:00pm-9:00pm: The Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 8th Season. Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a few minutes walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike.

Saturday

9:00am-7:30pm: 18th Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Washington Convention Center
All presentations and public activities at the festival are free and do not require tickets. Author talks, book signings, characters and so much more. Spread the love of reading to your child. 

10:00am-2:00pm: Zoo Bop at the Maryland Zoo
Kids, get your dancing shoes on and singing voice ready! Zoo Bop is a children’s outdoor music festival at the Zoo. 1,2,3, Andres will make an appearance at 1:00pm! Families will enjoy two live performances from kid-approved rockstars! Plus, bop around to kids vendors, food trucks, and fun activity tables. You won’t want to forget to explore the Zoo, too.

10:00am-12:00pm: Shake up your Saturday at Folger Shakespeare Library: Thunder, Lightning or in Rain
Explore the sun and storms of Shakespeare’s worlds. Shake Up Your Saturdays is a free program that takes place on the first Saturday of every month. Family members of all ages are welcome to join the fun! 10:00am-11:00am: Recommended Ages 4-7 & 11:00-12:00pm: Recommended Ages 7-11.  Register here. 

An exciting program we’ve been to a few times that occurs each Saturday is at Glen Echo: Saturday Art Explorers. This Saturday it will be from 10:00am-1:00pm. Drop in for an art activity and play in the Candy Corner Studio for $5, no need to pre-register. Play on the playground afterwards, look around the Glen Echo Park Aquarium or catch a show at Adventure Theatre or the Puppet Co.

Don’t miss:
The National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party Series, Fun House which closes September 3

Splashing around

More activities for the weekend can be found here. a

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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.

Weekend Picks and Labor Day 2017 in and around Washington, DC

We survived the first two weeks of being back in school and are sad to say good-bye to pool days. In addition to the Weekend Picks, we included a short list of quick day or overnight trips for your holiday weekend as well as some Labor Day activities in our area. 

Shenandoah National Park

North Shore Beach

Harpers Ferry

Luray Caverns

Baltimore

Explore the art of recycling at the museum’s 38th-annual Celebration of Textiles Festival at the Textile Museum Saturday and Sunday. Try your hand at weaving with recycled materials and designing a paper dress; watch local fiber artists at work; enjoy live music and dance; and explore the ingenious designs in the exhibition Scraps: Fashion, Textiles, and Creative Reuse. Free; no reservations required. In addition to performances, visitors will be able to make upcycled jewelry with Scrap Baltimore, weave with recycled materials, design a paper dress and join a knitting circle with Project Knitwell.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs this weekend!  The festival is free to children 7 and under. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, jousting, mazes, puppetry, pony rides, a huge pirate playground and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch! The Festival ends October 22 and is open weekends only.

Saturday-

8:30am-7:30pm: 17th Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Washington Convention Center
(801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Starting at 9:30 a.m., more than 100 authors, illustrators and poets will make presentations on stages dedicated to kids, fiction, history, poetry, contemporary life and more. Many fascinating thematic programs and panel discussions will be offered throughout the festival. A Main Stage of 2,000 seats will feature seven of the most popular festival authors. The exposition floor on the lower level of the Convention Center will also offer a wide array of fun and exciting activities and programs for festival attendees of all ages. From the literacy corner reading space to special story times and a fun hunt for Waldo, festival sponsors will offer family-friendly activities throughout the day.

11:00am-6:00pm: DC Veg Fest at Yards Park, DC
(Intersection of N St. SE and First St. SE)
DC VegFest is a fun, free, and flavorful way to discover the many benefits of choosing plant-based foods for our health, the planet, and animals. The free event offers: Complimentary samples of vegan cuisine, Live Music, Busboys & Poets Beer Garden, Humane Rescue Alliance Barking Lot, Kids’ Zone (including yoga, kids’ hands-on cooking demonstrations, a moon bounce and more) and Inspirational Speakers & Cooking Demonstrations. Rain or shine– lots of areas are tented. 

Sunday-

3:00pm-11:00pm: Capitol Concert
(US Capitol West Lawn)
The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free Labor Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol each year, the Sunday before Labor Day. The annual concert is produced by the Kennedy Center. Open rehearsal is at 3:30pm and the concert is at 8pm. The concert will be moved indoors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall if inclement weather.

Monday-

9:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.

(35 Market Place Baltimore, MD 21202)
Greatest children’s museum, 45 mins from DC– worth the trip.
10:30am: Rocknoceros Concert at Jammin Java
(227 Maple E, Vienna, VA. 22180)
Rocknoceros is three guys: Coach, Williebob, and Boogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music together since 2005 and are celebrating their 10th year together with a brand new album.

Labor+Day

Labor Day Parade Guide & Festivals-

Kensington, Maryland 50th Annual Parade and Festival

Old Towne Gaithersburg Parade

63rd Annual Greenbelt Parade and Festival 

Lake Ann Jazz Festival

Herndon Labor Day Festival 

Weekend Picks and Labor Day 2016 in and around Washington, DC

We survived the first two weeks of school. How’d everyone else do? Here’s a list of quick day and overnight trips, festivals, parades in addition to some Weekend Picks.

Labor Day is the official end to summer but that doesn’t mean the fun in the City stops. Refer to our Summer Guide for places to cool off at this weekend.

46th Annual Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo is September 2-5.The 46th Annual Labor Day Art Show features more than 200 artists from the greater Washington, DC area and over 450 works of art including photography, painting, ceramics, jewelry, glass, textiles, and more. Free admission.

15th Annual Page-to-Stage New Play Festival at Kennedy Center is Saturday-Monday. The Kennedy Center hosts more than 50 D.C.-area theater companies in a series of free readings and open rehearsals of plays and musicals being developed by local, regional, and national playwrights, librettists, and composers.

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Here’s a short list of quick day or overnight trips for your holiday weekend-

Shenandoah National Park

North Shore Beach

Harpers Ferry

Luray Caverns

Baltimore
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks and Labor Day

Phew– I survived my first full week with my oldest being in full-time PreK….barely. How’d everyone else do?

Labor Day is the official end to summer but that doesn’t mean the fun in the City stops. Refer to our Summer Guide for places to cool off at this weekend.

The Kennedy Center kicks off a fun exhibit today; Skateboarding, Music and Media and runs through Sept. 13. The boys in my house will definitely want to check this out, maybe we will head there when they host an Open Skate Session! There will be art and movie screenings as well as opportunities to watch skaters and even participate.

The Nationals play all weekend in town! Friday and Saturday are evening games, do I hear a date night opportunity?! Sunday and Monday are afternoon games, perfect to take the family. 

 

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Saturday- 

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Festival will be the weekends of August 29-October 25. The festival kicked off  last weekend! The festival is free to children 11 and under this weekend. 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!
[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Free yoga, live music and Labor Day Parades

Monday- Happy Labor Day from the beach! Most of the usual programs are back in session– hooray! Here is a link to DC Kid Library Events for the week. Also, check parade schedules and routes here. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
10:45am: Crawlers & Me (8-15 months)
11:45am: Walkers & Me (12-24 months)
4:00pm: Littles Yoga (3-6 years) Drop-off

Tuesday-

10:00am: Rocking Tot Tuesdays with The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Grab an instrument, get on stage or practice your moves on the dance floor. This is a perfect spot for your little one to move and groove. Suggested donation $7.

10:45am: Once Upon a Fairy Time at PB & Jack
Once Upon a Fairy Time is back with her special fairies and pirates show! Includes stories, wiggling, bubbles and more! Included in your admission! The idea behind PB & Jack is to create a place where both kids and parents can have fun, hang out, and attend activities and classes. PB & Jack opens at 9:00am. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
5:00pm: Kids Yoga (5-10 years) Drop-off

yoga-with-baby-300x200

Wednesday-

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andres at Union Market
(1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC. 20002)
Access the free market parking lot from 6th Street NE or travel via metro to NoMA-Gallaudet. Come early for coffee and stay for lunch!

10:30am and 11:15am: Born to Read Storytime at Bethesda Library 
(7400 Arlington Road Bethesda, MD 20814)
Stories, rhymes, songs, chants, sign language and other early literacy activities for babies 0 to 23 months with an adult. Free tickets will be handed out 30 minutes prior to the program. Space is limited so register here. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
3:15pm: Walkers & Me (12-24 months)
4:15pm: Jumpers & Me (2-4 years)

5:30pm: !Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! at BloomBars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
!Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! is a sure bet every time. Children of various ages enjoy this interactive show that teaches Spanish language and Latin American culture.

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