Beltway Bambinos

December snuck up on me! And for some odd reason, I am on top of the holiday shopping and prepping, for once. Lots of holiday happenings have started in our area. Check out the holiday guide for more details.

Celebrate the season with The Smithsonian Holiday Festival this weekend. They’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 Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Sackler Gallery, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African Art, and The Smithsonian Castle. Hours are 10:00am-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. You can also see Christmas Village while you’re there.

(Photo: Christmas Village)

Saturday- Tenley WinterFest wraps up today. Check the schedule for fun events like a children’s book sale, tree sales, story time and movie night.

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.

9:30am-10:30am AND 10:30am-11:30am: 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.

10:00am-12:00pm: Community Christmas Festival at Foundry United Methodist Church
(1500 16^th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009)
Join Friends of Stead Park and Foundry United Methodist Church for free photos with Santa, Christmas crafts and snacks. You can purchase a gingerbread house to decorate for $15.  Pre-purchase yours online. Please bring a donation of NEW hats, gloves or scarves to be given to our adult unhoused neighbors.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Santa Fly-In at College Park Aviation Museum
(1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, 20740)
This will be an experience to remember! Watch Santa fly into the historic College Park Airport! Make some holiday arts and crafts and then have your picture taken with Santa Claus. $5/person (includes museum admission)

1:00pm-4:00pm: Bethesda Winter Wonderland
(Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda)
Variety of performances, live ice sculpting, a visit from Santa Claus and more!

4:00pm: Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-Along
(1645 Trap Rd. Vinenna, VA)
Kick off the holiday season with family and friends at Wolf Trap’s 2016 Holiday Sing-A-Long! This annual musical celebration hosts a performance by the United States Marine Band and a Sing-A-Long of Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs with choir and vocal groups from the metropolitan Washington area. Wolf Trap will be participating in Toys for Tots by collecting new, unwrapped toys at the entrance to the Filene Center before the Sing-A-Long. Donations are voluntary and not required. Admission is free and no tickets are necessary. Parking is free but limited so please plan on arriving early. Bring a candle and join the tradition of exiting the Filene Center with a candlelight processional during the last verse of “Silent Night.” There will also be a ‘Jing-A-Long’ during the singing of Jingle Bells so remember to bring a bell and your holiday cheer!

4:30pm: Tots & Tykes Yoga at Lemon Tree Playgroup
(2100 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, DC, 20009)
These classes are designed to introduce body awareness and movement concepts to children from crawlers through age 4 using songs, rhymes, and games. Children learn basic poses and simple breathing techniques through creative play. No experience or mat is required.  Online registration is available here.

5:00pm-7:30pm: Cathedral Commons 2nd Annual Community Holiday Tree Lighting
(3401 Idaho Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016)
Come as Cathedral Commons brings a Winter Wonderland to Cathedral Heights with a flurry of activities sure to ripen your holiday spirit!  Join in front of Giant as we prepare to countdown to the tree lighting at 7:00 PM. Enjoy sounds of the season with musical performances from Lafayette Elementary and the Thomas Circle Singers.  We’ll also have complimentary photos with Santa (for cats and dogs, too!), giveaways for kids, and festive holiday flavors you won’t want to miss.

Sunday-

8:00am: 11:00am: Pajamarama in Takoma Park
(7007 Carroll Ave)
Visit Old Takoma retailers in your pajamas and receive awesome discounts on all their wares for the annual local holiday shopping event. Mr Gabe performs at Republic, 9:30am Free family performance!  Plus Republic’s bar will be open starting at 8am with coffee, hot beverages and sweet and savory pastries. Send the kids to The Nature Lab while you shop! Pajamarama Wishing Star🌟 Ornament Workshop at The Nature Lab on Sunday December 4th from 9:30 to 11:00 am Register Here

10:30am-12:00pm: Make Room for Latkes at Edlavitch DCJCC
(1529 16^th Street NW)
Chanukah is coming and with it, eight nights of family fun! Join  PJ Library, the Edlavitch DCJCC, InterfaithFamily/DC, Federation’s Jewish Food Experience, the Jewish Primary Day School, and the interfaith program, Love and Religion, for hands-on Chanukah activities including: arts and crafts to decorate your home, some unique “spins” on latke toppings, a mitzvah (good deed) project, stories, dancing and a dreidel contes, “burning questions” discussion for the adults while the children play—bring any questions you have about celebrating Chanukah as a Jewish or interfaith family!  It’s a perfect morning for Jewish and interfaith families with children ages 2 and older. Of course, there will be latkes to eat, plus lots of take-home information and recipes to make your Chanukah even happier. Registration fee covers all food, supplies and activities. If you’ve attended before, please know that the activities and format are new this year! $15 at door.

11:00am-2:00pm: Gingerbread House & Train Workshop at Ritz Carlton Pentagon City
(1250 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA 22202)
Children will explore the art of gingerbread house and train decorating with our pastry team in the Grand Ballroom. $39 per adult; $69 per child ages 12 and under (inclusive of gingerbread décor and lunch)

4:00pm-6:00pm: Gan Shalom’s Winter Show featuring The Great Zuchinni
(Redrocks Neapolitan Bistro- 1348 H Street Northeast Washington, DC 20002)
Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Silent Auction and of course the hilarious Great Zuchinni