Apple picking at Waters Orchard last year
Happy Long Weekend!
Season Finales
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
This weekend is the last for many pursuits that we’ve been enjoying all summer long — outdoor swimming, concerts and movies under the stars, special museum programs among them. If you’re hoping to get in one final jazz show in the Sculpture Garden, check out the Building Museum’s FUN HOUSE, take the kids to the Newseum for free, see the fairy houses at Annmarie Sculpture Garden, or jump in at an outdoor public pool, then check out the 2018 Summer Guide, which has details on all of these diversions, plus many more.
National Book Festival
Where: Washington Convention Center | Mount Vernon Square, DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 7:30pm
Admission: Free
Call all bookworms! The 18th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will feature more than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators from every literary genre. Even better, they will all be there presenting book readings, talks, Q&A’s, book signings, and more. These will take place along with lots of other reading-related activities for all ages.
Centennial Birthday Bash
Where: Anacostia Park | Anacostia, DC
When: Friday, 6:30-10pm & Saturday, 9:30am – 8pm
Admission: Free
Head to the river during the last days of summer and celebrate the 100th year of a neighborhood national park, Anacostia Park! Enjoy an evening summer concert on the lawn on Friday, and all day fun in the park on Saturday. Join an early morning group fitness classes, take fishing lessons (with a competition for the biggest fish caught), explore the river on a boat tour, listen to live music, get rolling at a disco skating party, go on scavenger hunts, and much more at the Anacostia Park Birthday Bash!
Merriment Galore!
Where: Maryland Renaissance Festival | Crownsville, MD
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: $19/adults, $17/seniors, $8/7-15, free/6 & under
Take a glorious day trip back to medieval times at Ren Fest, where there is something for everyone. Besides the amazing variety of entertainment — jousting matches, cheeky comedy shows, fire eaters and sword swallowers, juggling acts, Celtic music, and much more — walking among knights, maidens, pirates, and villagers in puffy shirts in a 16th-century village as you chomp on turkey legs and down cups of mead is an interesting little jaunt back in time that any age can enjoy (well, maybe not the mead).
How ‘Bout Them Apples?
Where: Orchards & farms around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
The apple picking season has begun! Several farms in the area have opened their orchards for guests to start gathering. This round-up of area farms and orchards offering PYO opportunities has details. And I always recommend calling ahead to be sure the pickings are good the day you plan to go.
Page-to-Stage Festival
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, 10:30am – 11:30pm
Admission: Free
More than 60 theater companies will present readings and rehearsals of plays and musicals during the 17th annual Page-to-Stage Festival — all free and open to the public. Several performances are family-friendly, including a Hip Hop-infused take on The Prince and the Pauper, City Kids Theater’s A Fairy Tale Day in Court, Arts on the Horizon’s Sailing on String PLAY-shop, a hilarious whodunit by Faction of Fools, and more. Plus, there are many more for older kids and adults. See the schedule for details and the full list of shows. And note that while tickets are not required, seating is limited.
Root for the Home Team
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats are home this holiday weekend and hosting the Brewers on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the Cardinals on Monday (and Tuesday & Wednesday). There are some great promos and giveaways to enjoy along with the action on the field, including truckers hats, kids’ pajama sets, and a zip-up hoodie (see the website for details). Before you plan your ballpark outing, check out these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.
Virginia Scottish Games
Where: The Plains, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $20/adults, $5/age 5-12, free/under 5
Celebrate Scottish heritage at this annual fair featuring everything from music and dance to sports and games to food and cars, even Scottish dogs. Much of it will be showcased through competition, but there is plenty that all visitors can partake in, too. Two-day adult passes are available for $30. Festival gates will close at 6pm both days, but Saturday’s concert will continue until 9pm. And children under 12 are free on Sunday!
Apple Gala & Cider Fest
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $12/adult, $10/child
September may mean back to school for many, but at Great Country it means back to the farm for freshly pressed cider and freshly picked apples. Celebrate the start of the apple picking and cider pressing season with tastings of Rinkers freshly pressed cider — touted as the best in the Valley — demos, picking, donuts, and more. Of course, the farm’s five-acre play area will be open for fun and amusement, too!
Labor Day Weekend Festivities
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: Free
It’s an exciting weekend at Glen Echo. Along with the 48th Annual Labor Day Art Show throughout the weekend, there will be an Open House to check out all kinds of art classes on Saturday, a Family Dance on Sunday at 5pm, and the 12th annual Irish Music and Dance Showcase on Monday. The public is welcome to enjoy all of it for free!
Shake Up Your Saturday
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am & 11am
Admission: Free
Join the Folger’s family program that takes place the first Saturday of every month. In this “Thunder, Lightning, or in Rain” themed session kids ages 5-11 will explore the sun and storms of Shakespeare’s worlds. Go here to sign up — ages 4-7 at 10am, and 8-11 at 11am. And read more about the Folger Shakespeare library in this KFDC post.
Zoo Bop 2018
Where: Maryland Zoo | Baltimore, MD
Date: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $9-25/adult, $5-19/child
Get your dancing shoes on and singing voice ready for Zoo Bop, the children’s outdoor music festival at the Maryland Zoo. Families will enjoy two live performances from kid-approved rockstars! One of them is local fave, Latin GRAMMY-winning 123 Andrés at 1pm! Plus, bop around to kids vendors, food trucks, and fun activity tables. Of course, plan to explore the Zoo, too.
Weekend Walk-on: Cosmic Egg
Where: American Visionary Art Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5
Join the museum for this month’s Weekend Walk-in, a hands-on, drop-in, art-making workshop in the AVAM classroom! During this session, make your own mini version of artist Andrew Logan’s Cosmic Galaxy Egg sculpture with a special clay-like material and sparkly bits. Supplies & boundless inspiration provided. Read more about the wonderful American Visionary Art Museum here.
Shakespeare Free for All
Where: Sydney Harman Hall | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
See Romeo & Juliet for free as Shakespeare Theatre Company presents its annual Free For All program, when they offer complimentary performances of a Shakespearean classic to the public. Tickets are available through an online lottery or by waiting in line day-of with a limited number available.
Family Movie Time
Where: Arlington Cinema Drafthouse | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: Varies by show
The whole gang can enjoy some entertainment at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse this weekend. See a screening of The Incredibles (Saturday @ 12:30pm, Sunday @ 3:30pm, & Monday @ 11:30am), watch Ant-Man and the Wasp (Saturday @ 3:30pm, Sunday @ 9:15pm, & Monday @ 7pm), or catch Hotel Transylvania 3 on Monday @ 2:30pm.
Syria Fest
Where: Pennsylvania Ave. 12th-14th Streets | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 7pm
Admission: Free
The Syrian Cultural House welcomes all to the second annual Syria Fest, a free family-friendly outdoors cultural festival showcasing the beauty of Syria and its people. From the markets of Damascus, the music of Aleppo, the sweets of Hama, and more, the Syria Fest will bring Syrian heritage, culture, and cuisine to the heart of our nation’s capital.
Battle of the Uniteds
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 7:30pm
Admission: Tickets start at $22
Kick it at a soccer match on Sunday evening, as the DC United host the Atlanta United. Word has it the new stadium is awesome. And if you go a little early, there should be some pre-match pop-ups and activities on the plaza.
Labor Day Concert at the Capitol
Where: U.S. Capitol Building West Lawn | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 8pm
Admission: Free
The National Symphony Orchestra continues its annual Labor Day Weekend tradition with a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Musicians Aaron Goldman onflute, Craig Mulcahy on trombone, and Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist alumna Leah Hawkins, and guest conductor JoAnn Falletta join the National Symphony Orchestra this year. Gates open to the public at 3pm, and if the 8pm show is too late, you can catch the open dress rehearsal at 3:30pm. In the case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall (and there will be no rehearsal). You can call the NSO Summer Concert Hotline at 202.416.8114 after 2:30pm for updates.
Rise+Rhyme with King Bullfrog
Where: Busboys & Poets | Takoma Park, MD
When: Monday, 9:30am
Admission: $5
Take the littles to a kindie rock show on Monday morning as Mr. Jeremiah from King Bullfrog entertains during this session of Rise+Rhyme. The weekly series welcomes children 5 and under with their caregivers to enjoy a morning of performances and stories from 9:30-11am. Plan on breakfast, too — full service will be available while the kids are grooving.
Labor Day Parades
Where: Gaithersburg & Kensington, MD
When: Monday
Admission: Free
For some holiday pageantry on Monday, head to Maryland — both Gaithersburg and Kensington celebrate with Labor Day parades. The 80-year tradition in Gaithersburg will include fire engines, high school marching bands, giant balloons, horses, and clowns in its procession through Olde Towne. Kensington is hosting its 51st Annual Labor Day Parade and Festival. Dance troupes, equestrian groups, fire trucks, and more town representatives will be part of the show making its way around starting at 10am. And you can march and sing with Washington Revels, perfect for families and one of the easiest way to learn what Revels is all about! The fun will continue afterward at a festival on Armory Avenue with live music, food vendors, crafts, and more.
Weather or Not
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The current weather forecast on my iPhone app has a lot of little lightening bolts, which in my experience could mean anything from t-storms all weekend to a little rain overnight that doesn’t even affect us. So, if you want to plan your activities as the weather plays out, keep these two posts bookmarked:
The Great Indoors
The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* The Washington Post has good information about paying respects to Senator John McCain.
* Fractal Worlds, the current exhibit at ARTECHOUSE has been extended until September 30, so you still have plenty of time to immerse within its digital dimensions.
* Do you know about Acorns? It’s a neat, easy way to invest and save money. We signed up earlier this year and have a nice, little “ski trip” fund going. (Full disclosure, I shared my referral link, but it really is a great app!)
* If you’re doing some Labor Day shopping, check out The Mom Edit’s picks for the best sales.
* I’m currently reading Stay with Me
* It’s time to start thinking about fall fun, and this new round-up has the scoop on the many ways to celebrate the season around the DC area!
