Beltway Bambinos

This weekend kicks off on at noon today (Friday) at the popular  Saint Sophia’s annual Greek Festival. Its open all weekend 12-6 Friday & Saturday and 12-7 on Sunday. If you haven’t been, don’t miss out on this annual Festival. Amazing food, live entertainment, marketplace, children’s games and did I mention the amazing food….

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs weekends through October 25. The festival is free to children 6 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment for you and the kids, 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-

10:00am-4:00pm: National Fossil Day at The National Museum of Natural History
(10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20560)
Join us for programs and activities about fossils on the ground floor and in Q?rius, the Museum’s interactive science education space. Visitors of all ages are invited to talk to paleontologists, handle fossils and discover more about how fossils reveal the history of life on Earth. Art will meet science in Q?rius Jr. (1st floor), where visitors will be able to make their own fossil rubbings. Explore the exhibition, “Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World” (2nd floor), and see ongoing research and fossil preparation in at the FossiLab. See website for a detailed schedule of events.

10:00am-4:00pm: Falls Church Fire Station #6 Open House
(555 N. Washington St)
Did you ever wonder what it’s like to use a fire hose, sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck or have questions on how to protect your family from fire? Firefighters from the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department and the Arlington County Fire Department will conduct fire and emergency medical demonstrations, lead activities for those young and old, provide tours of our station, fire apparatus, tools, equipment and much more! There will also be invaluable fire safety and prevention information available to take home.

10:00am-12:00pm: Observe & Create at The Kreeger Museum
(2401 Foxhall Road, NW Washington D.C. 20007)
Our Saturday art workshops are a fun and educational way for children to explore art and art-making in a unique museum environment. Young artists use wood and paper to create several works of art that explore paint, color, texture, and print. Participants learn about elements of visual balance, as well as materials and their source, as they discuss the natural environment and the importance of trees in our landscape. Registration: Regular/$20 Members/$15

10:00am: Baby/Toddler Music at Whole Foods Friendship Heights
(4420 Willard Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815)
Guitar, Singing, Dancing, Maracas, Scarves, Instruments, Drums, Puppets and more! Come see what all the excitement is about! Meadowlark is a small local mom-owned business (a passionate music educator and performer has a kid and voila! Meadowlark Music is created). Classes come with an original CD (a big hit for sick babies, traveling babies, and those that are having trouble falling asleep). Sign up at the Customer Service Desk to join in.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
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. Activities in Saturday Song Circle are best for 1-3 year-olds but 4-5 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome to join in the fun.The LIttle Engine That Could is the story this weekend. $8 per person.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Art Safari at Torpedo Factory
(105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
The City of Alexandria’s Mobile Art Lab will be on-site to help celebrate. Artist Lisa Schumaier (studio 16) will create a giant papier-mâché giraffe, inspired by the Art Safari logo. Hands-on projects are available for children of all ages to participate in; wear clothing that can get messy. Website has a list of activities and locations. Visitors can enjoy a special birthday treat and leave special greetings and memories on a giant birthday card. At 2 pm, hundreds of children and their families will sing Happy Birthday together.

1:00pm-3:00pm: DC United Match-Partido de Estrellas at Marie Reed Rec Center
(2200 Champlain St NW)
The Partido de Estrellas celebration will feature musical performances and dances by local musical groups, Salvadoran and Mexican Cuisine from El Tamarindo, and music by local area DJ’s. Highlighting the event will be two friendly, 7-v-7 celebrity charity soccer matches that will benefit the Latino Student Fund of Washington, D.C. Teams will be made up of local Latino media members, community leaders, local dignitaries and former D.C. United players. The free event will be open to the general public and will bring plenty of fun soccer and cultural related activities for families and children to enjoy.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Haunted House & Home at The National Building Museum
(401 F St NW)
Come celebrate Halloween at the National Building Museum! Have you ever thought ‘what makes some spaces spooky?’ or ‘why do some houses seem horrifying?’ Learn about the elements that make a space scary and design a table-top haunted house of your own using craft materials, creativity, and a little bit of hocus pocus. This is a free, drop-in program recommended ages 6-11; activities for younger children available upon request.

7:15pm: Big Hero 6 showing at Stead Park
(1625 P Street NW near Dupont Circle)
Grab a blanket and join the fall fun, free popcorn available.

Sunday-

10:00am-4:00pm: Germantown Family Fall Festival
(The Shops at Town Center)
The fall festival will be an afternoon full of delight and autumn-themed fun. Families can choose between pumpkin painting, face painting, spin art or jumping in one of our moon bounces. Or you could do it all!  Admission is free, but light snacks will be for sale. Don’t forget to grab a flyer at the event – the Shops will be running specials all day in celebration of the season and holiday. This fun-filled day for all ages is definitely not one to miss!

10:00am-10:45am: Sunday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Activities in Sunday Fun-Day are most appropriate to 3-5 year-olds but 1-2 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome! Trashy Town is the story this weekend. $8 per person.

11:30am: Baby and Me Yoga at Tranquil Space
(1632 17th St NW, between R and Corcoran)
60 minutes: Babies 2 weeks to 6/7 months are welcome! This Baby and Me Yoga class is open to women in all stages of postpartum, dads, relatives and caregivers.  Our teachers will guide you through vinyasa yoga to help you reconnect with your body. We combine baby yoga and massage with yoga for you!  The community of caregivers in this class will nurture you emotionally as you care for your infant. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, strengthen your core muscles, and play with your baby at the same time. Classes are for babies not yet crawling. You are free to drop-in class by class for $20. 

12:00pm-5:00pm: Oktoberfest at The Kentlands
(Kentlands Market Square)
Wine-tasting featuring local Maryland vineyards and retailers, a traditional Beer Garden, food vendors and the ever-popular performances of the Alte Kameraden German Band and Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian Dancers will grace Old Farm, the grounds around the Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion. A second stage showcasing a cappella performance groups, artists and crafters, free horse-drawn wagon rides, apple cider pressing, traditional Oktoberfest crafts for children, and nonprofit vendors offering activities and giveaways are also featured at this location