The Weekend Round-Up: September 21-23

Happy Weekend!

It’s Fall, Y’all!
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall officially begins this weekend, and there are tons of ways to celebrate the season, from city streets to country farms. Ticonderoga, Cox, Great Country, Montpelier, Clark’s Elioak, and many more farms around the area are welcoming visitors for all kinds of autumn-inspired fun. The annual Taste of Georgetown brings yummy bites and more festivities to its neighborhood. Ren Fest gets medieval every weekend through October. Details on all of these events and more are in the KFDC guide to Fall Festivals.

Homecoming at Abe’s
Where: Lincoln’s Cottage | Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free Family Day, $35/race registration
For the 2nd year in a row, Lincoln’s Cottage is combining their two popular events, the Freedom 5K and Family Day, into one full day of racing and family fun: Homecoming! During the Civil War the Lincoln family called the Cottage home. This year they welcome everyone back “home” to join in a full day of activities where you can run, walk, and play like Lincoln. Go for just the race, just Family Day activities, or stick around for both.

Museum Day Live

Where: Museums
 around the DMV
When: Saturday

Admission: FREE

There are actually some museums in the DC area that actually charge admission. But on Saturday, Smithsonian Magazine is hosting its annual Museum Day Live!, when those that require us to open our wallets to visit are free. Take advantage at the Newseum, National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Phillips Collection, Koshland Science Museum, National Building Museum, Kreeger Museum, Dumbarton House, and many more fantastic museums in the area. You do have to register and bring a ticket (that is good for admission for two people), but it’s all complimentary!

Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
National parks are going fee-free to celebrate National Public Land Day, so there’s no cost to visit those that usually charge admission. Take advantage and hit the trail at Shenandoah, Prince William Forest, Great Falls, Harpers Ferry, or head up to Baltimore to explore Fort McHenry. Find even more parks to visit here.

Volunteer for Public Lands
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate and serve with Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on National Public Lands Day. Volunteer for the morning to help with thinning water lilies, taking out invasive plants, picking up trash, and performing other park projects. As a special celebration, lunch and a performance by the East of the River Steel Band will be provided. Sign up online here. And read more about Kenilworth here.

Nats Last Weekend Homestand
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Thursday – Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices Vary
It’s your last chance to see the Nats play on a weekend this season. They are hosting the Mets, with a few promos that require special tickets to get some extra amenities and swag. Friday is both Teacher Appreciation and Runners Night as well as an Oktoberfest Stein giveaway. Saturday is Faith Night. Sunday is halfway to St. Patrick’s Day with green cap giveaway (and don’t forget kids can run the bases after the game). Before you go, be sure to check out these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.

DCPS Back to School Block Party
Where: Anacostia High School| Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
To celebrate the beginning of School Year 2018-2019, you’re invited to join the DCPS Back to School Block Party on Saturday, September 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Anacostia High School!  There will be food, special guests, opportunities to learn more about the resources from district partners, and lots of activities for students. All DCPS staff, students, families, friends, and community members are invited! 

King Street Art Festival
Where: 220 King Street | Old Town Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 7pm & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The King Street Art Festival returns for its 16th year with live music, special programming, and more than 200 artists’ work available for purchase. Shop and learn about the works, try some art activities for all ages, and enjoy live entertainment, too. And the annual Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser will be back! Purchase one of 1,400 hand-made bowls created by the talented artists of The Art League’s Ceramics Department and enjoy local artisan ice cream from Artfully Chocolate in Alexandria – all for only $15 per bowl. Proceeds go to benefit The Art League’s Ceramics department.

Weiner 500
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
Kick off Oktoberfest at the 7th Annual Wiener 500!  $500 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the speediest dogs!  Don’t have a Dachshund? Your pup can still participate in the all breed costume contest. There will also be local vendors and giveaways from DC’s best pet-friendly businesses. Don’t have a dog? Go and listen to live music, eat and drink, and watch the funniest, cutest race around on a 17-foot jumbotron!

Show Time
Where: Venues around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Adventure Theatre starts a new season with Blueberries for Sal this weekend!
* InterAct Story Theatre presents Voytto Tech: a scifi fable, combining science and technology with a story exploring the tough topics of bullying and social inequity.
* Cri Cri The Mexican Singing Cricket will entertain young audiences at The Atlas on Saturday
* Peter and the Wolf is the Main Stage production at The Puppet Co.
* And little ones will love Magic Toyshop, this week’s featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theatre.
* South Pacific is on stage at Olney Theatre
* Marsha and the Positrons are playing the Saturday morning show at Jammin Java.
* Make it a date night for Turn Me Loose at Arena Stage.

Book Signing and Reading
Where: East City Book Shop | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free
Bring the kiddos to East City Book Shop to hear author (and DC native!) Kelsi Bracmort read her book, Simone Visits the Museum, story that features a young African-American girl with one highlight a visit to the NMAAHC. Kelsi will also sign copies of her book after the reading.

ArtsFest
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: $7, free/11 & under
Artsfest is a spectacular celebration of the visual and performing arts – and is the only festival of its kind in the region!  You’ll find more than 160 artist booths, 30 performers on three stages, activities for kids in the DiscoveryTent, Studio School, and the Zany Zone – along with great food, wine & beer, and much more! 
Enjoy shopping the artist booths, both inside and outside, where you will find unique jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photography, wood working, and more.  Street performers, including balloon artists, bubble artists, and strolling artists, will be found throughout the festival! 

Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
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.

Little Sprouts
Where: Beefsteak | Tenleytown, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Bring children to eat their veggie ad have fun at Beefsteak, the fast-casual, veggie-centric eatery from Jose Andres. Little Sprouts is a seasonal program that takes place across Beefsteak locations, designed to prove to children that veggies are both delicious and fun. This complimentary event will feature kid-friendly entertainment with coloring books, raffles, and a plant potting activity with ThinkFoodGroup’s Chief of Produce Bennett Haynes. Beefsteak will offer small bites to sample from the menu, and children 10 & under will receive a free JV Bowl with purchase of any full-size bowl, salad, or burger — the same deal that applies every Wednesday at Beefsteak as part of their “Kids Eat Free” promotion!

ZooFiesta
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
¡Celebramos! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month at ZooFiesta! See animal demonstrations and learn about animals native to Latin America, such as Andean bears, two-toed sloths, giant anteaters, golden lion tamarins, and Panamanian golden frogs. Meet Zoo experts and learn how they are working to save these species and more. Festivities also include live music and a “pollinator party” from 11am – 12pm to celebrate the opening of Me and the Bee, a new pollinator-themed playground. Bring the whole familia for all of the fun! And note that National Zoo hours are 8am – 7pm, so plan to go early or stay after the fiesta to enjoy even more.

KIDFest
Where: Veteran’s Plaza | Silver Spring, MD
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Find interactive activities and hands-on family fun galore at KIDfest! At the KID Museum’s signature community event, children and adults alike can discover what sparks their creativity through hands-on activities and inspiring demos in robotics, engineering, biotechnology, sustainability, interactive art, and much more. All of it providing a glimpse of a future that’s being invented right now! Admission to the festival and activities are free to the public.

DC “State” Fair
Where: Waterfront Station | Southwest, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 8pm
Admission: Free
Apparently, being an actual state isn’t a requirement to have a state fair. This showcase of the region’s agricultural and artistic talents is a celebratory day, full of competitions and other fun and educational activities for all ages. Festivities include contests of all kinds – photography, knitting, kids art and poetry, pickling, pies, ice cream, jams, and more. Get a taste of it all, do some shopping among the vendors, and enjoy live entertainment, too.

Taste of Georgetown
Where: K Street, Wisconsin to Thomas Jefferson | Georgetown, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but pay per taste
In its 25th year, the Taste of Georgetown will showcase the spectacular cuisine of over 30 of the neighborhood’s premier restaurants, highlighting Georgetown’s culinary personalities and featuring delectable dishes to sample as well as wine pairings. In addition to the array of food, the all-day festival will feature a kid’s corner featuring face painting, Pizzeria Paradiso craft beer garden, live music by ‘90s cover band White Ford Bronco, eating competitions, giant lawn games, and more fun.

Fall Food Truck Frenzy & Family Fun Fest
Where: Watkins Regional Park | Upper Marlboro, Md
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Food trucks and family fun will be the focus during this event-packed day! Listen to music provided by DJ Gully, enjoy a magic show, or visit the Wonderful World of Watkins for special prices on the train, antique carousel and miniature golf. With over 10 food trucks on site, there will be lots of delicious foods to choose from. So much food and so much fun! Read more about Watkins Regional Park in this KFDC post.

Used Children’s Book Sale – POSTPONED to next Sunday, 9/30!
Where: Providence (X) Park | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free to shop books; $20/family for Fall Fest
Get some new reads for the kids at Brent Elementary’s annual used children’s books sale. There will be a great selection of books, including board books, picture books, early readers, beginning chapter books, young adult books, plus a variety of juvenile nonfiction books. Everything from Sandra Boynton to Magic Treehouse to Percy Jackson to the pictorial history of Rome! It’s a great place to start your child’s library or get books for those moving on to the next stage. Prices are always super low, and all sales go to support the school’s PTA. Providence Park is located between D and E and 2nd and 3rd Streets SE.

Pajama Jam: Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Where: AMP Strathmore | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 5:30pm
Admission: $10-12
Don your pajamas and jam with Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights, a favorite with PJ Library families! On her latest release, Brooklyn Baby!, she celebrates equality, healthy eating, education, and love with a fun, silly twist. All families who register with the PJ Library and JPlay promo code (SUKKOT) will get a special gift and a chance to meet Joanie and the band at a “Sukkot Sound Check Party” before the show!

*PLAN AHEAD!*
Make Great Strides for a Great Cause
Where: 10215 Fernwood Rd. | Bethesda, MD
When: September 30, 7am
Admission: $30
Looking for a fall Fun Run/Walk for a Great Cause? Orthobethesda is once again hosting the Great Strides Family Fun 5k Run & Walk next Saturday in Bethesda. Great for serious runners and families, the event will help raise funds for Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartomas to benefit a rare epilepsy and brain tumor called hypothalamic hamartoma. For more information or to run/walk, go here.
 
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* New Fall 2018 Activity Boards created in partnership with Thrively and Activity Rocket feature both picks for Fall Fun and Fall Classes.
* You can score all kinds of Nats paraphernalia at Teddy’s Garage Sale being held at the ballpark this Monday thru Wednesday, September 24-26. Tickets required.
* Owen is currently reading Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and gives it a big thumbs up (for kids about 12 and older).
* The new Amazon Prime show Forever is so, so good, I binged it in one rainy day.
* Next Thursday, September 25, is National Voter Registration Day, but you can, of course, register anytime in case you still need to. Midterm elections are just over 6 weeks away!

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