Did you see, we made our first reel?! Phew, that took a lot of effort, thanks as always for your support. Make sure to check out the reel for a peak into the holidays at Gaylord National.
All weekend
The biggest and best Halloween guide is here! From here until Halloween there are many fun events happening.
Fall is here, which means there’s plenty of fruit to pick, perfect pumpkins to be found and fall festivals happening every weekend!
We are so thrilled that we were able to update the theatre and musical productions blog post with in-person shows!
Maryland STEM Festival lasts through November 14 with several family friendly events including a parade, fair and more.
The 28th Annual Loudoun Fall Farm Tour boasts over two dozen locations as part of this exciting tour through rural Virginia. Of these many farms, Hope Flower Farm will be open and inviting guests to wander through the blooming dahlia fields, picnic and take photos on the lovely 25 acre farm.
Van Gosh: The Immersive Experience
Family-friendly drive in movies from DC Party Box; Spooktober themed!
La llamada de Sylvia Méndez at Gala Hispanic Theatre
Maryland Renaissance Fair only 2 more weekends!
The Okee Dokee Brothers at McLean Community Center
Luchadora at Adventure Theatre
Friday
1:00pm-2:00pm: Maryland STEM Festival: Railroad Bridge Engineering Workshop
As part of the Maryland STEM Festival, the Museum is offering a special educational workshop for kids & families! In this workshop, participants will learn what it takes to be a railroad bridge engineer by designing and building a railroad bridge that will be able to withstand the weight of a train car. This workshop is included with regular Museum Admission, and participants are welcome to drop in any time from 1-2 PM!
6:00pm-9:00pm: LuminoCity Festival Holiday Lights at Roer’s Zoofari
Be ready to enter a world straight out of your wildest imaginations as you step into our unforgettably spectacular night of lights in Roer’s Zoofari. Set upon a world lit up with towering lit-up sculptures, The LuminoCity Festival will take you to a dazzling new world with Lumi, the LuminoCity mascot, as your guide. The immersive outdoor event will be a festive, and timed-entry experience for guests of all ages! We have an all-new exhibit entitled Lumi’s Utopia and we will be bringing back Lumi’s Friends this year for another exciting holiday festival. Lighting up Virginia from October 15, 2021 to January 2, 2022.
6:00pm-9:00pm: Outdoor movie at The Lane: Hocus Pocus
It’s like a normal movie night, but WAY BETTER. Not your living room, order from the cafe for dinner (popcorn is free!), and they’ll clean up all of the tiny pieces of popcorn that end up everywhere. Hocus Pocus will be on the big screen so come ready for a spooky good time. Comfy clothes and PJs welcome! We’ll have blankets set out for each family. Free for members! Cost is $20/kid (adults are free) for non-members. Reserve your spot here.
Saturday
10:00am: Brunch on the Go
Brunch on the Go is back at The Yards! They’re partnering with Pacers to produce a cardio club alongside a brunching set from some of The Yards’ favorite restaurant spots. How it Works: Purchase a ticket for two that will include a walk or run around The Yards with instruction from Pacers. After the workout, guests will head to pick up their brunch to-go box at the participating restaurant for the date selected.
10:00am: Frying Pan Farm Family Farm Day
Celebrate Frying Pan Farm Park’s 60th Anniversary. Food trucks – tours – tractor parade – fun photo ops – farm demonstrations – more!
10:30am: The Animation Behind Moominvalley
How does animation work? Join Moominvalley director, Jay Grace, to hear all about how the award-winning Moominvalley TV series came to life! You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s creative process—from character sketches to the completed, 3D animation. Follow along as the story transforms from text to a gorgeous animation, and learn a few tricks on how to draw Moomintroll on your own! Recommended for ages 6+.
10:30am: Djembe Drumming at the Kreeger Museum
Join teaching artist Manny Arciniega for a drum circle exploring the foundations of rhythm!
11:00am: Natural History at Home: Creativity and Communication – Exploring the Art of Ancient Humans
Join museum educators on ZOOM as they walk your family through science skill-building activities and ways to explore the natural world and collections. During this program, families will explore art made by ancient humans! Anthropologist Briana Pobiner will join us to share about different artifacts from our collection, the Hall of Human Origins exhibit, and from other locations around the world. Together we will make observations of these objects to learn more about how art and imagination have been a part of our human story here on this planet. Both throughout and after the program, families will be encouraged to create art together using methods and inspiration from ancient human artworks and artifacts.
11:00am-2:00pm: All Saints Fall Festival
Fun for all ages! Food, bounce houses, s’mores, prizes, pumpkin patch, playground, bake sale, Thrift Shop sale, music & *much* more. All are welcome! Tickets only $10 per person & includes games and lunch. Click HERE for advance tickets.
12:00pm-4:00pm: Kids Euro Festival: Sweedish Embassy
Join the European Union and our Member States for one of the largest performing arts festivals for children in America: The Kids Euro Fest will feature in-person European performances, interactive workshops, food vendors and music that everyone in your family will enjoy. As always, the Kids Euro Fest is completely FREE, but please make sure to RSVP and review the EU’s privacy policy here.
12:00pm-5:00pm: Jam Session at the COOP
A benefit concert for Small Things Matter to find the Kokua Foods Food Bank, serving over 1000 families and individuals in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville and Hyattsville. There will be live music by Groovalicious, Marsha and the Positrons, and Flo Anito and Seth Kibel. Food trucks: Corned Beef King and Dalia’s Falafels, Beer by Main Street Pearl, wine by TPSS Coop, non-alcoholic drinks. Children’s activities: free or nominal cost.
2:00pm-6:00pm: Tails on the Rails
Welcoming four-legged friends to the B&O! Dogs will have a blast during this afternoon of exploration and play at the B&O Railroad Museum — and don’t worry, there are plenty of treats for owners too! Hit up a photo booth, including props, to take pictures with your pups that you’ll cherish forever, take a train ride to a puppy play date at Carroll Park, and finish off the day with a Yappy Hour under the B&O’s spacious outdoor pavilion! Tickets include one free beer or wine during Yappy Hour! 2-2:45 PM: Take pictures at Photo Station with props, 2:45 PM: Owners and dogs board train for train ride, 3:15-3:35 PM: Puppy Playdate at Carroll Park, 3:45 PM: Train Ride back to the B&O, 4-6 PM: Yappy Hour.
Sunday
12:00pm-1:30pm: Pumpkin Patch Express
Take a Halloween-decorated train ride out to the B&O’s pumpkin patch, located at the site of the First Mile Stable, kids will select a pumpkin, tour the stable and meet the horses. After returning to the B&O, kid’s will decorate their pumpkins, play carnival games, win prizes, enjoy a fall snack, and receive tokens to use on our children’s rides.
12:00pm-8:00pm: Colorful Fest
A Block Party & Fair from The Capital Pride Alliance at Dock 5, located at Union Market, featuring small independent businesses, community groups, artisans, food, and entertainment, with DC Tracy Young to headline the tea dance. You can also enjoy events by partners, the 15th DC Latinx Pride Official Dance Party, Club Pride, in partnership with the All Things Music Festival, Cake a Fall Pride Party, and the QTAAPI Cultural Festival. Join to celebrate the vibrant and colorful LGBTQ+ community!
2:00pm: Historia Natural En Casa: Mixtec & Mayan Language Past, Present and Future
Join museum educators on ZOOM as they walk your family through science skill-building activities and ways to explore the natural world. During this program, families will explore the importance of language to communities around the world. Join us as we welcome Dr. Omar Aguilar and Dr. Genner Llanes Ortiz who will share with us how they are passing knowledge of language to others. Families will look closely at ancient codices to learn how symbols and images are used to share knowledge in the past and today, too.
Plan ahead:
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