Beltway Bambinos

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

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  • Home
  • Indoor Fun
    • Theater & musical productions
    • Guide to Indoor Fun for Kids
  • Fall
    • Halloween guide
    • Fall festivals, farms, orchards
    • Fall Foliage Spots and Drives
    • Fall events
    • Fall classes
    • Fall bucket list
    • Survive Daylight Savings
  • Winter
    • Holiday gift guide
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Hanukkah Celebrations
    • Holiday Tea
    • Christmas Trees, Lights & Markets
    • Ski and snowboard
    • Cut-your-own tree
    • Ice rinks and roller rinks
  • Spring
    • Cherry blossoms
    • Easter egg hunts
    • Easter basket & spring gift ideas
    • Spring bucket list
    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day weekend
    • Tax day steals and deals
  • Summer
    • Summer Camps
    • July 4th
    • Ice cream
    • Sunflower Fields
    • Summer bucket list
    • Live outdoor music
    • Outdoor movies
    • Outdoor swimming pools
    • Splash parks
    • Trains!
  • Camps and Classes
    • Fall classes
    • Spring classes
    • Summer camps
    • Mid-winter break camps
    • Winter camps and classes
    • November 2, 4, 5, 11
    • DCPS spring break camps
    • Schools out, camps are in
    • Year-round classes
    • Gymnastics and dance classes
  • Neighborhood Guides
    • Annapolis, MD
    • AU Park, DC
    • Baltimore, MD
    • Bethany Beach, DE
    • Breweries in the DC area
    • Brookland, DC
    • Chevy Chase, DC
    • Georgetown, DC
    • Philadelphia, PA
    • Lancaster County, PA
    • Madison, VA
    • Frederick, MD
    • St. Louis, MO
  • Outdoor Play
    • 15 family friendly hikes
    • Pick your own fruit and vegetables
    • Beaches and state parks
    • Outdoor fun
    • Trails, marshes and gardens
    • 20 classic outdoor games
    • Trains and carousels
  • Beltway Bambinos Concierge
    • Customized itineraries
    • Introducing Beltway Bambinos Concierge
  • About
  • Beltway Travel
    • Introducing Beltway Travel
    • Family Summer Getaways
    • Traveling with Little Ones?
    • Why Now is the Time to Plan
    • Travel Advisors Save You More Than Money
    • Why You Should Work with Me
    • How Do You Make Sure the Trip Has Something for Everyone?
    • DC Hotels with Indoor Pools
  • Itineraries
    • 5 Days in Costa Rica
    • {Winter} Staycation

Weekday Adventures: Storytime on the Lake, UkeFest and a Drive-in

August 10, 2014

Need some more carnival rides and fried twinkles in your life? How about a tractor pull? Head over to the Montgomery County Fair. It is happening through Saturday, August 16. Fair hours are 10am-12midnight and carnival hours are 12:00pm-12:00am and animal exhibits in Old MacDonald’s Barn are open each day beginning at 3 pm. Children 11 and under are FREE while adults cost $10. Check the schedule for daily events. Address is 16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Prince William County Fair is also happening through Saturday, August 16. Adults $10, Children over 5 $5.

Washington, DC Library events for the week can be found here. 

chicagoTASTEcarnivalfestival

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: adventure, boat, film, geocaching, library, movie, music, science, story, ukulele, water

Weekend Picks: Free jazz concert, a day at the farm and an evening with the clowns

August 8, 2014

Have a great weekend! There are some exciting events this weekend that we hope to make it to, starting with The Backyard Bash. Our son loves wide open spaces to run in and enjoys picking fruit and petting animals so we will hang out at Ticonderoga at some point. There are a few evening events for those with older children that sound like a blast! The weather should be gorgeous so if you’re looking to head to an outdoor water park or splash park here’s your guide! 

Saturday-

AR-71222997710:00am: Bob Brown Puppeteer at Glen Echo
(7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md)
Lights are on, doors are open as Bob Brown tells the story of Old MacDonald through puppets during the Tiny Tots performance. Recommended for ages 0-4, $5. My 3 year old saw Bob Brown at camp this week and hasn’t stopped talking about it!

10:00am: Mr. Gabe and the Circle Time All-Stars at Lake Fairfax Park Amphitheater
(1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston, VA 20190)
Mr. Gabe and his band, the Circle Time All-Stars, perform a mix of traditional children’s songs, family-friendly pop songs, and originals from Mr. Gabe’s award-winning CD, Play Date. Free event part of the Fairfax County “Arts in the Parks” series.

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: afrika, bach, beach, building museum, clown, culture, Farm, Indian, movie, music, outdoor, party, puppet

Weekend Adventures: Get outdoors at Family Garden Day, MoCo Farm Tour and a day at Ticonderoga Farm

July 25, 2014

Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm to celebrate its agricultural heritage, promote local farms, and indulge in seasonally fresh food.  Celebrate Montgomery County’s unique agricultural treasures by spending a day or two in the country petting farm animals, going on a hay ride or enjoying a freshly-picked lunch by a scenic pond. Support the local agricultural economy by purchasing fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and more at one of seventeen participating farms, plus, this year includes a special photo contest.

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Citi Open is in town and tennis matches will be held through Aug.3. William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center is easy to get to and sits in Rock Creek Park.

Saturday-

9:30am and 11:00am: The National Theatre presents Mary Ann Jung: Pee Wee Pirates
(1312 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
Ahoy there, mattes! Set sail with Captain Jean, the Pirate Queen on a rollicking ’round the world adventure in sailing. In this fast-moving show, kids volunteer for duty hoisting the rigging, swabbing the deck and looking for land while learning details of foreign cultures the world over. Free performance, tickets distributed 30 minutes prior to each show.

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: art, family, Farm, garden, harvest, movie, music, pirates, story, tennis, theatre, yoga

Date Night: Bethesda Outdoor Movies

July 21, 2014

Bethesda Outdoor Movies
(Woodmont Triangle, Corner of Norfolk & Auburn Avenues)

Enjoy five nights of free blockbuster hits at downtown Bethesda’s 9th annual outdoor movie series. Show times begin at 9pm at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues. A limited number of chairs will be provided and attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs. A date night in the works as most of these are not kid-friendly or at least for the littlest ones. Check out this list of eateries in Bethesda for dinner beforehand.

July 22: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
July 23: Moonrise Kingdom
July 24: Citizen Kane
July 25: Pitch Perfect
July 26: Top Gun

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Filed Under: Summer Tagged: bethesda, dinner, movie, outdoors

Weekday Adventures: Tim and the Space Cadets, Kids in the Garden and Rocking Tots

July 20, 2014

Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has several shows this week. Details here.

The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre has a new show this week: Soul in Motion Players: Drum and Dance. Showtimes are Tuesday-Friday at 10:15am and 11:30am.

soul-in-motion-players-drum-amd-dance

Monday-

9:30am: Harambe at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
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.

9:30am-11:00am: Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets
(5531 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md. 20781)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly Busboys and Poets series for local stay-at-home parents and early rising families of all kinds! Featuring performances and stories for children ages 5 and under. Today’s featured artist is Marsha Goodman-Wood.

10:30am-11:15am: Mr. Knick Knack at Reston Town Center (Pavillon)
(11900 Market St, Reston, Va. 20190)
Unique, heart-centered music for kids! Free.

Tuesday-  

10:00am-11:00am: Kids in the Garden at Pinstripes
(3222 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007)
Pinstripes’ new chef, Ryan Ross, will host a free “Kids in the Garden” day in which children of all ages are invited to come by Pinstripes and dig in the dirt while learning about gardening, plants and seeds. Chef will do a demonstration in Pinstripes’ outdoor Chef’s Garden on the process of planting to growing to eating, after which the children will have an opportunity to plant their own seed to take home. Children are welcome to stay for Pinstripes’ Mom & Tots program, a Monday-Friday ongoing program in which kids bowl for $5 and parents bowl for FREE from 10am-noon. Reservations for Kids in the Garden Day can be made by calling 202-625-6500.

garden

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.

10:00am: Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Pavilion (2nd floor)
(10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW)
Every Tuesday at 10:00am you can get into the magnificent butterfly pavilion for free! Make sure and get a free ticket by the entrance. We visited this last month and were amazed by how many butterflies were flying around, some even landing on a shoulder. Look closely and you could spot a frog under some trees.

7:00pm-10:30pm: NoMa Family Film Night
 features The Lego Movie
(Sursum Corda Plaza, L and First Streets, NW)
Now in its fourth year, the NoMa BID is proud to present Family Film Night at Sursum Corda, where families and children gather for free family-centric movies and free food. Family Film Night will take place on four Tuesdays this summer.

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: art, garden, movie, music, theatre

Weekend Picks: Animals under the sky, water lilies and the great outdoors

July 18, 2014

Saturday-

9:00am-2:00pm: Animals in the Sky at The National Zoo
(3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC)
Take a journey to the stars without leaving the Zoo! The Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s mobile planetarium is coming to the Zoo’s Visitor Center for an out-of-this-world event. Enter the inflatable dome for a 15 – 20 minute narrated presentation that will guide guests through animal themed constellations. Then, embark on a scavenger hunt through the Zoo to find animals found in popular constellations.

10:00am-2:00pm: Great Outdoors Festival at Little Bennett Campground
(23701 Frederick Rd., Clarksburg, MD)
Free Hayrides all around the campgrounds throughout the event (10:30 & 11am, 1 & 1:30pm). Nature Exploration Hike with a Black Hill Regional Park Naturalist at 10:30am. Beginning Orienteering Course Run with Quantico Orienteering at 11am. Mountain Biking Skills Mini-Clinic & Bike Inspection with Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts at 11:30am. Live music with the Flower Hill String Band Two sets: 11am-Noon and 12:30-1:30pm. Campfire building demonstation and s’mores at Noon. Pitch-a-Tent Contest with prizes at 12:30pm. Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S. Search and Rescue Demo at 1pm. Bluebird Box Building Demo with the Maryland Bluebird Society

10:00am-4:00pm: Lotus and Water Lily Cultural Festival at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Center
The annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival is here! Come experience your National Park with FREE activities for the whole family. See a spectacular display of lotus and water lilies in full bloom! Enjoy gardening workshops & traditional Asian & African dancing performances! Hands-on activities including face painting, lotus tea tasting, and painting demonstrations! Visit educational and cultural exhibitors and much more!..

RainbowRock-2013

10:30am: Rainbow Rock Band at Ebenezers Coffeehouse
(201 F St NE, Washington, DC)
Rock the rainbow with your bambino. Classic and original children’s songs will entertain your child.  These talented tunesters will keep you bopping in your socks until you just can’t rock anymore!  Always on hand, inside the box of fun, tambourines, shakers and more for your little one to join in the fun, and if they are feeling like completing their rock star appearance, how about a nice little temporary Rainbow tattoo, from none other than Pattycake Patty or the lovely Rockin Rox Anna. $6 advance/$8 door

10:30am: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Combining the excitement of hip hop with the magical world of childhood, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is a one of a kind, stand out star in the family music scene. With sophisticated instrumental funk and positive, witty wordplay, he and his family band have earned a loyal national following. $10 general admission, doors open at 10am.

11:00am and 12:00pm: Nationals players at DC Libraries
(4 different libraries)
Washington Nationals players will visit four neighborhood libraries to read to kids and answer questions from eager fans. 

12:00pm-4:00pm: Mariner Music Fest
(Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge 169 West St. Annapolis, MD 21401)
Rooftop – Just for Kids! – Tickets $5 (Ages 2-12)
Live Music performances for Kids including “The Singing Lizard” {The Singing Lizard’s unique Electro-Kindie style will have kids and adults dancing and singing with joy in no time!}  And, Miss Mandy from Chesapeake Music Together!  We’ll also have an instrument petting zoo, where kids can touch and play real instruments, arts and crafts and more fun!  **Parents will need to purchase a full price ticket to bring their children to the event. But, the adult ticket is for all day, so parents can come back later and enjoy all the bands!

1:00pm-4:00pm: The DC Scoop at Union Market
(1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC)
DC’s sweetest event is back! Ice Cream enthusiasts from near and far will gather at Union Market to celebrate summer’s sweet treat. The event will be held in the indoor event space above the market, Dock 5 and the alley behind it. There will be ice cream available to taste and buy from local artisans and Ice Cream makers from other markets as well. There will be a wide array of products including gelato, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and of course, good old-fashioned ice cream!

7:00pm: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 at Cinema Del Ray
(Mount Vernon Rec Center: 2017 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22307)
The fun begins at 7:00pm. Free open air movie showings sponsored by Jen Walker. Snacks are even available for purchase, bring blankets and cozy up.

Sunday-

12:00pm-4:00pm: Goddard Model Rocket Launch
(8800 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD)
Attempt to land your rocket within a “moon” drawn on the ground. Trophies and model rocket kit prizes awarded to the top youth and adult finishers. The contest is free. On-site registration is required on contest day. You must bring your own rocket, motors and recovery wadding. For more details download the contest flyer, or call (301) 286-8981. 

Launching-a-model-rocket

12:00pm-4:00pm: Bubble Days at Maryland Science Center
(601 Light St Baltimore, MD.21203)
Come see the sudsiest spectacle of the summer at the Maryland Science Center’s 9th annual Bubble Days. The fun will be bubbling up all over the building—and outside too! Craft your own bubble solution and wand, create bubble art to take home, experiment with homemade bubble wands, and compete in our bubble blowing contest. World-renowned bubble artist Casey Carle will be here to perform his fantastic BubbleMania show. You will be amazed at what Casey can do with seemingly ordinary soap bubbles! Performances will be on our Atrium Stage at Noon, 2:00, and 4:00pm. All activities are free with paid admission and completely free for members. Same hours on Saturday.

1:35pm: Washington Nationals host Milwaukee Brewers
Kids Run the Bases- Kids ages 4 – 12 are invited to run the bases on the field immediately following the game, field conditions permitting.

 

2:00pm: Reverb at The National Building Museum
(401 F St NW, Washington, DC)

Enjoy the melodic sounds of Reverb as they take you on an a cappella musical journey! Presented in collaboration with Washington Performing Arts. This event is free.

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: festival, library, movie, music, Nationals, outdoor, planetarium, rocket

Weekend Picks: Star Wars Yoga and Pilot for a Day

June 12, 2014

Saturday-

10:00am-2:00pm: Pierce Mill in Rock Creek National Park
(Tilden Street (same as Park Road), NW and Beach Drive, Washington, DC 20015)
Mill in Operation (11 AM – 2 PM) – watch the waterwheel turn and learn how the flow of water into the “buckets” brings the wheel to life and sets the machinery inside the mill in motion Visitor Center (10 AM – 4 PM) – learn about the Peirce family and the other mills that operated along Rock Creek. There will be games for children, including a self-guided treasure hunt, water flow and gravity toys, checkers, and other simple toys from the milling period.

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: books, carousel, festival, mill, movie, pilot, playgrounds, reading, theatre, yoga

Weekend Picks: Bait a hook, Choo-Choo biketrain and carousels

May 29, 2014

After the rain we will welcome a sunny weekend. Lots to do outdoors, enjoy a festival or two, a bike ride or a fishing excursion and top the weekend off at the Nats game or watching Finding Nemo. 

Saturday-

8:30am-10:30am: Black Hill Boats hosts Kids Fishing Day at Little Seneca Lake
(20920 Lake Ridge Drive Boyds, MD 20841)
Participants will learn to bait a hook with worms, put their line in the water and pull in fish. Prizes for kids who catch the biggest, smallest and greatest number of fish. Ages 3-15, $8. Register online for Montgomery ParkPASS #268199.

9:30am: Choo choo! Take the Kidical Mass Biketrain to Tour de Fat
(2801 8th St NE, Washington, DC 20017)
Tour de Fat is a wacky, whimsical and family friendly festival and celebration of bicycling. Tour de Fat is FREE and open to the public. The day is jam-packed with live music and entertainment, local vendors, interactive bicycle activities, and of course beer! And what more fun for the kids; costumes are strongly encouraged–they’ll be bringing bike decorating supplies to help you make a statement with your bike!

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10:00am-11:00pm: Herndon Festival
(777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170)
Carnival, vendors, fireworks and a 5/10K race. There is also a Children’s area with hands-on activities including a model train display and live entertainment.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: baseball, bike, boat, campfire, carousel, fair, festival, fish, folk, Montgomery County, movie, music, Nationals, play, symphony

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