The apple doesn’t fall far from DC!
Happy Weekend!
Fallin’
Where: Around the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by locale
Enjoy autumn fun and then some at a number of farms around the area. Pick pumpkins, whiz down slides, visit animals, jump on giant inflatables, take pony rides, indulge in caramel apples, and much more. This guide to fall festivals has details on all of them.
Artsy Autumn Evening
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, 5:30-8:30pm
Admission: Free
The Hirshhorn is kicking off weekends this month with extended Friday hours, sips and bites in the courtyard, and art-inspired activities for all ages. This week’s event is themed around the Manifesto: ArtxAgency exhibit, and there will be opportunities to sketch, time to tour the works, a story time for little ones, and cocktails at a cash bar for adults.
Open Streets DC
Where: Georgia Avenue, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Join Mayor Muriel Bowser for the District’s inaugural Open Streets DC along Georgia Avenue NW. Nearly three miles of the avenue will be closed to motor-vehicle traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, skate, and scoot along and in the roadway and enjoy a wide range of activities for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Fitness classes, a family fun area, and food will available. Stop by the DPR Fun Wagon to borrow skates, scooters, bikes, jump ropes, basketballs, and more!
College Park Day
Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD
When: October 5, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Join friends, neighbors, and the entire City of College Park community at the 10th Annual College Park Day Festival. This free event is fun for the whole family with live music and bands, awesome kids zones, delicious food and drink, live performances and performers, helicopter fly-ins, exhibitors, and so much more. Plus museum entry is FREE during the event!
Fall For Fairfax KidsFest
Where: Fairfax County Government Center, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free, but rides are extra (find discounts)
This annual event by Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. includes exciting, interactive, and educational programs, lots of live entertainment, and loads of activities. Especially designed for families with elementary and pre-K aged children, activities include scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, public safety and recycling-themed exhibits, pony rides, a petting zoo, hay rides, model trains, and the KidWay MidWay with more than a dozen rides, bounces, and attractions. And that’s just for the kids. Adults can enjoy more than 75 exhibits, live entertainment, activities, and great festival food. While admission is free, some rides and concessions will require a fee.
Wicked Fun
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Get the Halloween party started early with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit throughout October. This post has details on where all the tricks and treats are happening.
Neighborhood Day and Yard Sale
Where: Maury Elementary School | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: Free (but plan to shop!)
Maury Elementary School is pleased to be open for public tours of its new, beautiful space and its legendary yard sale! Docents will guide visitors through the renovated building, which combines both new and historic elements, and seven large-scale art installations among the office, classroom, and common areas. While you explore this exciting new neighborhood space, you can also shop at the annual yard sale, which funds the school’s PTA. There will be deals on strollers, bikes, scooters, clothing, books, toys and games! Hungry? You can grab a sweet treat at our bake sale, too! Maury is located at 1250 Constitution Ave NE.
Shake Up Your Saturday
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10-11am & 11am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Shake up your Saturday with a workshop at the Folger! These programs occurring on the first Saturday of every month, encourage families to experience Shakespeare’s language together. During this Supernatural Shakespeare” session, Get spooky with Shakespeare’s ghosts and witches. Register here. And read a KFDC write-up about the Folger here.
Creativity Workshop
Where: Phillips Collection | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Admission: $18/adult & child ($15 for members)
Get messy at The Phillips Collection monthly art workshop, a great outlet for kids to explore their creative side. Geared toward families with children ages 2 to 8, kids can let their creativity fly in art-making stations — it’s an art materials “petting zoo” for all ages. Comes with Artful Wellness Kit for parents and caregivers. Heads up: Word has it they always sell out so make sure to book in advance! Find more about the Phillips in this KFDC post.
Taste of Bethesda
Where: Woodmont Triangle | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but pay for samples
According to some stats, Bethesda has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. Accurate or not, DC’s suburban neighbor definitely has a food scene worth celebrating. The 29th year of Bethesda’s famous food and music festival will bring 60 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to the downtown’s Woodmont Triangle. Along with delicious food samples and live entertainment, there will be a kid’s corner for face painting, arts & crafts, and more fun for young ones. Admission is free, and taste tickets are sold on-site.
Art on the Avenue
Where: Del Ray Neighborhood | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the diversity of Alexandria’s Del Ray community at this multicultural arts festival. Over 300 artists – jewelers, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, painters, sculptors, fabric artists, and musicians – will have their work on display and for sale. And kids activities have always been a vital part of the festival – scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin painting, lotus flower design, screen art weaving are just some of the crafts to enjoy. Food vendors will also be there offering hot dogs, BBQ, Indian fare, crab cakes, chocolate bananas dipped on a stick, and home made cider donuts.
Get Merry at Ren Fest
Where: Revel Grove | Crownesville, Md
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: $27/age 16+, $12/age 7-15, free/6 & under
There are only a few weekends left to enjoy the bounty of merriment at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. The annual faire recalls medieval times with a village full of fun and entertainment for the whole family. This is one of my very favorite events in the DC area, and it could very well become one of yours, too. View scenes from our visit to Ren Fest a few weeks ago here. Huzzah!
Show Time
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play!” brings a couple of kids’ favorite characters to life at Adventure Theatre
* The Very Hungry Caterpillar is eating its way across Imagination Stage
* Reserve free tickets to see Jack’s Adventure in Space, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* Hylton Performing Arts Center presents Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey on Sunday
* Or hop over to the GMU Center for the Arts for Peter Rabbit Tales
* The Royale is running at Olney Theatre
* Broadway hit Cats is at the Kennedy Center (find discounts)
* See The 3 Billy Goats Gruff at The Puppet Co.
* And Old McDonald’s Farm is the featured Tiny Tots show there this weekend
* Make it a date night for Jitney at Arena Stage, The Tempest at Synetic Theatre, or Escaped Alone at Signature Theatre
Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures
Where: EagleBank Arena | Fairfax, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Tickets: $25+ (find discounts)
Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and his pals for a high-octane ride in Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations. Be prepared for a getaway jam-packed with unexpected hijinks and surprise, up-close character interaction!
PorchFest
Where: Adams Morgan, DC
When: October 5, 2-6pm
Admission: Free
Get the best seats in the house (or on the sidewalk) as the front porches of homes and maybe a few local businesses are transformed into intimate performance spaces to be enjoyed by anyone who happens to stroll by. Enjoy a variety of music styles from over 30 bands playing on porches, patios, and stoops in the neighborhood. Music maps are will be available at the corner of 18th Street and Columbia Road NW on Porchfest Day.
Weekend Walk-in
Where: American Visionary Arts Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5
Join the museum for their hands-on, drop-in, once-a-month art-making workshop in the AVAM classroom! Education staff will help you explore new creative territory & make a project inspired by one of their beloved visionary artists. During this session, in theme with the current exhibition “The Secret Life of Earth,” make a beaded mosaic tree. No reservations are necessary, just pop in any time 1-4pm. Read more about the AVAM in this KFDC post.
Pop-Up Pumpkin Patch
Where: Ballston Quarter | Ballston, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate fall with a Pop-Up Pumpkin Patch at Ballston Quarter, featuring live music, specialty drinks, crafts and of course, pumpkins! All pumpkins will be sold for $5 (cash only), with all proceeds going to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Kids of all ages can participate in pumpkin decorating and strike a pose in front of a fall-inspired photo-op. Live performances from Andrew Smith from 10am – 1pm and MM Rock from 1-5pm, and a festive cider bar for guests over 21 will truly welcome fall to Ballston Quarter!
Community Ping Pong Lessons
Where: SPIN | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Admission: Donation (see below)
Professional ping-pong players will be leading community lessons at DC’s ping-pong social club, SPIN on the first Saturday of every month starting this weekend. Ping-pong experts and beginners of all ages are invited to attend and learn how to hold the paddle, perfect your ping pong stance, and how to hit the basic forehand, backhand and serve. Attendees are asked to make a donation to the American Youth Table Tennis Organization, which runs after-school programs that give students the opportunity to learn more about the sport of table tennis in addition to imparting lessons on personal fitness, leadership, and teamwork.
Kinderfest
Where: Watkins Regional Park | Upper Marlboro, MD
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Head to Watkins Regional Park for the 36th Annual Kinderfest, a day focused on children that takes place every year on the first Sunday in October. The scores of events and activities to entertain the whole family include clowns and costumed characters, singers and dancers, pony and hay rides, carnival games, scarecrow workshops, sweet and savory refreshments, and spins on the famous Watkins carousel and miniature train. Admission to the event is free, but some activities require a fee. Read more about all the fun offerings at Watkins Regional Park here.
Levinthal Teen Program
Where: American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 1pm
Admission: Free
Calling all teens! Bring your friends and make some new ones at SAAM! Explore the galleries of the special exhibition American Myth & Memory: David Levinthal Photographs and uncover the secret meanings behind Levinthal’s Barbie, wild west, and baseball photographs on a tour with Joanna Marsh, SAAM’s deputy education chair and head of interpretation and audience research. Finish the afternoon by crafting a collage booklet inspired by discoveries made in the exhibition and share your creation with your friends.
Family Game Day
Where: Kensington Town Hall | Kensington, MD
When: Saturday, 3-5pm
Admission: $5/person, $20/family
It’s “game on” at Kensington Town Hall for Family Game Day. The event, hosted by the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation, will be packed with fun for all ages. The afternoon will feature Kids Bingo using cards with symbols. Families can also enjoy Toss Tic-Tac-Toe and Connect Four, fun crafts, a Story Corner with game-themed story time, and music to shake the sillies out. RSVP requested. Proceeds from Family Game Day will support the Make MORE Noyes Renovation Campaign, a major capital project that will enable the historic Noyes Children’s Library in Kensington, MD, to expand both its space and its early literacy mission. For more information, go to noyeslibraryfoundation.org.
Harbor Harvest Fall Children’s Festival
Where: Waterfront | Baltimore, MD
When: Sunday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free (fee for some activities)
Waterfront Partnership’s 12th annual Harbor Harvest Fall Children’s Festival will once again transform Rash Field into a fall wonderland with its family-friendly Inner Harbor tradition! The event is free to attend and will feature an urban pumpkin patch, petting zoo, kids play/hay maze, professional pumpkin carving competition, bubble fairies, face painting, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, train rides, and live music from interactive children’s bands Rocknocerus and The Uncle Devin Show. Guests can also enjoy a variety of food trucks while taking in the scenic backdrop of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
World Architecture Day
Where: National Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Explore architecture in the Museum’s collections and through talks and activities for all ages with a special emphasis on the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, the German art school founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius. Take virtual tour of the Bauhaus, contribute your design vision to a community-created architecture manifesto, bring the youngest family members to practice design and construction using simple shapes and primary colors inspired by Bauhaus design principles, join a story time session, and more.
First Sunday Arts Festival
Where: Downtown Annapolis, MD
When: Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This weekend is the arrival of both cooler temperatures and the First Sunday Arts Festival in Downtown Annapolis, making it a perfect weekend to visit. The festival celebrates the fall season with a new pavilion and stage in Whitmore Park for its live music. The main attraction is the over 130 local and regional artists and crafters selling handcrafted items along West and Calvert Streets. There will be three additional areas with live music — the day is packed with free entertainment all day on Calvert and West Streets.
Takoma Park Street Festival
Where: Carroll Ave. to Carroll St. | Takoma Park, MD
When: Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The streets of Takoma Park will be filled with music, artisans, community groups, children’s activities, food vendors and a variety of green companies at the city’s 38th annual festival. Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping — vendors will be selling all kinds of artistic wares. Festivities for kids include crafts, face painting, inflatables, and more fun. And music lovers will enjoy three stages hosting 18 bands playing all day.
Free Community Day
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown, DC
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
The first Sunday of every month is a great opportunity to explore the National Museum of Women in the Arts when admission is FREE! Works span the centuries, from the 16th to the present in a variety of mediums, highlighting women artists all over the world. Plan for a Fierce Women tour, offered 1-2pm or explore the museum on your own.
DC United vs. FC Cincinatti
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 4pm
Admission: Tickets start at $40
It’s the last home game of the season for the United as they host FC Cincinatti. I recommend taking public transportation since parking can be difficult. Or park in the Navy Yard neighborhood,walk over, then plan to grab dinner at one of the many eateries (El Bebe, The Salt Line, and All Purpose are my top recs) after the match.
Nats vs. Dodgers
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Sunday, 7:45pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
This will be the third game in the play off series against the LA Dodgers, and it should be an exciting one! Tickets are pretty much gone, but you can probably score them from an online outlet for much more than their face value. But worth it to see them #stayinthefight – right?
How ‘Bout Them Apples?
Where: Area farms
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale, and a bunch of farms and orchards in the area welcome guests to gather them. This list of places offering pick-your-own opportunities has details on where to reap the fruits. I always recommend calling ahead to be sure they’re are available the day you plan to go.
Walks in the Woods
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Enjoy the season and some active fun. See the very beginning of fall foliage, tramp in places with scenic views, hike and explore history at interesting locales, and savor the time outdoors. This post has a a bunch of recommendations for places to walk in the woods with the kids.
Autumn off the Farm
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Farm festivals may be the go-to autumn outing, but there are lots of other fantastic ways to enjoy the season around the area. This KFDC post lists 10 great places to for fall adventures — view it here.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* With apple picking highlighted here, this is a must-watch.😂
* Enjoy free European entertainment without leaving DC as the Kids Euro Festival returns October 26 – November 10!
* Gymboree DC is offering FREE Pre and Post Natal yoga classes with an instructor who is also a doula on the first and fourth Mondays of the month starting October 7. Register here, and walk-ins are also welcome!
* So excited about this coming to DC!
* Game night, anyone? This one gets great reviews and sounds really fun.
* The New York Times podcast The Daily recently had a special episode for kids.
* You don’t have to be a cat person for this to make you 🤣🤣.
