Take to the water and take in the first tinges of fall colors
This weekend is jam-packed with awesome things to do! The opening of a new waterfront area and re-opening of a museum, opportunities to build and check out cool vehicles, seasonal celebrations, early Halloween fun, loads of live entertainment, outdoor recreation, and so much more. Happy Weekend!
The Wharf Kick Off Celebration
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Through the weekend
Admission: Free
Celebrate the grand opening of The Wharf in Southwest DC! The official kickoff already happened, and festivities will continue into the weekend through Sunday. Daytime and evening fireworks; lots of live performances, including Reptiles Alive and Tee Great Zucchini for kids; buskers and bubble artists; food tastes and treats; games along the waterfront; paddling and dragon boat experiences; and tons more. Expect a crowd, and plan on fun!
IlluminAsia
Where: Freer|Sackler Gallery | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 5pm – 12am & Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the grand reopening of the Freer|Sackler at a festival featuring Asian art, food, and cultures. IlluminAsia will transform the museums’ grounds with an Asian food market, interactive cooking and art demonstrations, live music by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, and creations by local and international artists. Inside, visitors can experience the re-imagined galleries and innovative exhibitions, as well as performances, conversations, and other immersive activities for all ages.
Fall on the Farm
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park | Herndon, VA
When: Thursday – Sunday
Admission: Free, but carnival ride passes are $16-25
Fall is a busy — and fun — time on the farm, and you can be part of it at Frying Pan’s annual festival! Carnival fun and games start Thursday with rides, games, fair food, and more. On Saturday & Sunday, you can also watch the cider press in action, milk a goat, shell corn, peel apples, meet farm animals, and see traditional farm demonstrations.
More Autumn Fun & Fests
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Say “huzzah!” to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, pick some pumpkins, get lost in corn mazes, go on and hayrides, whiz down giant slides, bounce around on jumping pillows, and so much more. There are activities galore to you embrace the autumn spirit, and the KFDC guide to fall festivals has details on all of them.
The Big Build
Where: National Building Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Any kid (or adult, for that matter) with an interest in building and construction will dig the National Building Museum’s huge annual event celebrating all things, well, building. The Great Hall will be full of different stations where guests aren’t just welcome, but encouraged, to try their hand at all kinds of construction and design techniques alongside experts demonstrating their craft. Meet plumbers, electricians, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields to learn about their professions and hobbies — and try working alongside them. All ages welcome, but best for kids 5-12.
DCschoolHub Preschool & Private School Fair
Where: Norbeck Country Club | Rockville, MD
When: Saturday, 9-11am
Admission: Free
The DCschoolHUB Preschool & Private School Fair will be experiential, fun, and a creative way to learn about area programs all in one day. More than 50 preschools and private schools from DC, Maryland, and Virginia will be represented. Education professionals ranging from Robbye Fox, the College Lady, to tutoring services, and even an expert on how to afford and maintain students in private school on a budget will also attend. In addition to table reps with handouts, select schools will be providing informational demonstrations on site.They will also have door prizes, giveaways, and more! Bring the whole family!
Kids in the Castle
Where: Heurich House Museum | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Heurich House Museum will once again open its doors for free, kid-friendly, self-guided tours. Kids in the Castle gives families the chance to explore the ornate details of the Heurich. Children and parents are invited to wander through the house at their own pace and complete a photo scavenger hunt to win prizes. Once visitors have finished their tour, they can relax and play games in the museum’s Castle Garden, enjoying the fall day in the convenient Dupont Circle oasis.
Wicked Fun
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Halloween may not be for a few more weeks, but you can get the party started with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit. This post has details on where the tricks and treats are happening.
World of Wheels
Where: Dematha High School | Hyattsville, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Have your kids ever asked you to stop at construction site so they could get a better look at the bulldozer? Is your child crazy for police cars? Then you won’t want to miss Pepco’s World of Wheels for CASA! Court Appointed Special Advocate of Prince George’s County is hosting its annual World of Wheels for CASA, a touch-a-truck event and family festival. They’ll have a fleet of police, construction, utility and other vehicles for you to see, touch, and sit in., including custom “T-Bone” bikes and a police boat as well as fan favorites like the Pepco utility truck, Bates trucking trash truck and the Safeway tractor trailer. Adding to the excitement will be food, music, and an assortment of activities for kids of all ages. Dematha High School is located at 4313 Madison St. in Hyattsville, MD.
Truck Touch
Where: Suburban Nursery School | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5 (under 2 are free)
Make way for the Suburban Nursery School 10th Annual Truck Touch, one of the best fall events for families in the DC Metro. Join the fun to celebrate the coolest trucks around. In addition to trucks there will be cars, buses, food trucks, face painting, bounce houses, crafts, and more. New this year we will have a donation drive, so bring your (bagged) gently used clothing, toys and household items at the entrance. Items collected will help fund SNS. Tax receipts available.
Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am & 2pm
Admission: $17.50/ages 10-17, $19.50/adult
Join Watson Adventures on a unique Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt that kids and adults will love! Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together (but all-adult teams are allowed to compete separately) Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Read about this super fun adventure in this KFDC post.
Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Say arrrgh! to How I Became a Pirate at Adventure Theatre
* Reserve FREE tickets for Traveling Lantern’s Robin Hood this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show
* Peppa Pig Live! comes to Warner Theatre on Sunday
* Imagination Stage’s newest production The Smartest Girl on the World, begins this weekend
* Pinnochio just began its run at The Puppet Co. (no lie!)
* And little ones will love Baby Bear’s Birthday, the Tiny Tots show at the puppet theater
* Our Town is now on stage at the Olney Theatre
* Take the sippy cup set to Art on the Horizon’s adorable Drumming with Dishes in Alexandria
* Make it a KidFree outing to Arena Stage for The Price or Native Gardens
* Or have a date night at the Lansburgh Theatre for The Lover & The Collection
* Death of a Salesman, on stage at Ford’s Theatre, is best for ages 13+
Heritage Day
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Peirce Mill’s annual celebration of traditional crafts will have lots of fun, interesting things for kids to do and see. Master Weaver Chapuchi Bobbo Ahiagble from Ghana will demonstrate West African Kente strip cloth weaving, and the Needlechasers of Chevy Chase will have a quilting project for kids to make and take home. More hands-on activities for children will be offered in a craft tent, and a blacksmith, a carpenter, bluegrass music, a cider press, and a corn sheller will be there, too. A food vendor will provide lunch options for hungry millers.
Heroes of Play 10k
Where: Anacostia Park | Southeast DC
When: Saturday, 7am registration, 8am race
Admission: $35
Walk or run to benefit children experiencing homelessness in DC. This 5k race, hosted by the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project welcomes participants of all ages and abilities to come out in support of play. Every penny raised will help fund programming – including field trips, healthy snacks and supplies – that directly benefits children and youth living in temporary housing. Participants who raise at least $100 will get the $35 registration fee refunded. Award-winning journalist Lesli Foster of WUSA9 as our Grand Marshal. She will kick off the event, and present prizes during the closing ceremony.
Opera Outside
Where: Meridian Hill Park | Columbia Heights, DC
When: Saturday, 11am
Admission: Free
Washington Concert Opera and Washington Parks and People invites the public to a casual outdoor concert on the upper field of the park. Enjoy performances of operatic gems and other favorites by an ensemble of exciting rising stars. All ages and pets are welcome. Bring a blanket and/or chairs so you can enjoy the music in comfort!
You & Me Song Circle
Where: Avalon Theatre | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: $8 ($6.50 members)
You and your child are invited to join in the wild rumpus in this fun, interactive musical experience with Imagination Stage! In this workshop, an Early Childhood Teaching Artist accompanied by a live percussionist guides you through a musical exploration of the classic children’s story Where the Wild Things Are.
Fall for the Book Festival
Where: George Mason University | Fairfax, VA
When: Friday & Saturday
Admission: Free
This literary festival based at George Mason University and locations around Northern Virginia features headliners that include Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Colson Whitehead, New York Times bestselling author Mohsin Hamid, and New York Times bestselling author Lev Grossman, among others. It’s also a family-friendly outing with a robust list of poets, historians, novelists, memoirists, political journalists, graphic novelists, children’s authors, YA writers, cookbook authors, and more. And for the first time, Fall for the Book is partnering with the City of Fairfax’s Fall Festival on Saturday to bring a day of literary and artistic events to audiences from throughout the region.
Cider Days
Where: Locust Grove Nature Center | Bethesda, MD
When Saturday & Sunday, 2-3:30p
Admission: $7
Fall is the perfect time to sip on fresh apple cider! At Locust Grove Cider Days learn about pollination and the history of apples. You will get to press your own apples in our hand cranked press and then sample the cider and discover some lesser-known apple varieties. Registration required, as space is limited.
All Aboard for a Model Train Open House
Where: Historic Depot of the W&OD Railroad | Vienna, VA
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
Chug on down to Vienna to watch model train and trolley activities that realistically depict an actual railroad that existed in North Carolina in the 1950′s, the Western North Carolina (WNC). As described in Model Railroader magazine, every hill, town, building, locomotive, rail car, and industry in this layout is modeled after those places and things as they looked in that era. Well, almost everything. To satisfy popular demand, expect an occasional sighting of Thomas the Tank Engine (and a few of his friends) chugging around among the bigger steam and diesel locomotives. The Vienna Depot is located at 231 Dominion Road NE in Vienna, VA.
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by boathouse
Enjoy the weekend on the water, where you can paddle and explore. A bunch of places around the area rent kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, rowboats, and pontoons. Fletcher’s Boathouse is a popular place to go, and you can also paddle from nearby Thompson Boathouse and Ballpark Boathouse next to Yards Park. Bladensburg Waterfront Park also has vessels for rent along with free pontoon boat tours on weekends from 5-5:45. If you’re up for a bigger excursion, you can rent your own pontoon at Solomons Island. And you can see where else you can explore by water in this round-up of great places to row.
World of Montgomery Festival
Where: Montgomery College | Rockville, MD
When: Sunday, 12- 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the rich diversity of the DC area at the 9th annual World of Montgomery Festival with multicultural music, food, dance, exhibits, and hands-on activities. In the spotlight this year are the cultures of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and India, which are the four largest immigrant populations in MoCo. Join an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, dance with a Chinese dragon, see henna art painting, enjoy live perfromances on two stages, explore the Global Spice Market, watch international chefs in the Global Kitchen, try your own hand at making tortillas, rice balls, and roti — and much more!
Cardboard Day of Play
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: $5/adult, $3/child
Enjoy an afternoon of imaginative play as Annmarie Scupture Garden participates in the Global Cardboard Challenge. The Main Gallery of the Arts Building will be transformed into a cardboard wonderland as families build, create, and play their way through awesome amusements, art activities, cardboard construction, creative play, and tons of tinkering. Stop by one of several art stations to create your own cardboard masterpiece. Visit Cardboard City, the Cardboard Farm, or let little engineers build and tinker in the cardboard construction zone! Go ahead of the event for even more artistic delights at Annmarie.
Family Fun Day with Frederick
Where: Frederick Douglass House | Anacostia, DC
When: Sunday, 3-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Park Service to celebrate the life of abolitionist, author, activist, and statesman Frederick Douglass. Enjoy a fun afternoon of house tours, games, living history programs, music, and dramatic performances on two stages and porch stage performances. Douglass was the minister to Haiti, so there will be Haitian Dance lessons, followed by a Haitian band performance. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the park grounds or plan to buy concessions from food trucks available just outside the park gate.
Think Outside
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
It may not be ideal autumn weather, but it’s beginning to look like the season at least. Get out and enjoy the first tinges of color on a hike, in a garden, exploring a park or historical site, or playing a sport. This post has tons of recommendation for great places to hang outside.
Inside Scoop
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you want to plan an indoor outing, this post has over 90 ideas for places to go, all of them taking place inside.
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Dr. Christina Johns of PM Pediatrics just contributed an informative guest post about respiratory medicines.
* Tickets for Spirit of Autumn, the new seasonal exhibit at ARTECHOUSE, are going fast, so be sure to get yours if you want to go before it closes November 5!
* A new 30 Days of Dinner was recently posted on Not-So-SAHM, and there are some really tasty-sounding recipes among the meals.
* If you like to shop online, this is a service you need to know about.
* NPR All Songs Considered is running a little poll on songs should be “retired” — and giving you a chance to nominate tunes that should be over, too.
