The Weekend Round-Up: November 5-7

 

 

 

Happy Weekend!

Link up to ongoing fun in these KFDC posts:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Indoor Outings
* Bike Rides
* Peaceful Places
* Baltimore with Kids
* Autumn off the Farm

Ice It
Where: Ice rinks around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by rink
The outdoor ice skating season began last weekend as a few area rinks — Pentagon Row, Rockville Town Square, and Silver Spring Veteran’s Plaza — started welcoming guests to skate the day (and night) away.  One more option begins as Reston Town Center opens.   This guide has details on all of them (indoor venues, too), including extra activities to enjoy while you’re there.

Pumpkin Chunkin’
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $16/adult, $14/child
What to do with your jack-o-lantern now that Halloween is over? Take it to Great Country’s smashin’ session and let it fly! You have  options to do this:  The Silo Drop and the Zip Wire Sploosh let you do the smashin’ yourself, or bring your pumpkin to the Pumpkin Drop Zone and add it to the upside down “fireworks display” as the pumpkins are dropped from a 40-foot lift.  (We’ve had a blast doing this!) Smashings are given to the pigs and cows to eat and also composted. And along with the chunkin’, there’s a whole play area of farm fun, plus apple picking ops.

Millennium Stage Celebrates Diwali
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Friday & Saturday, 6pm
Admission: Free
The Kennedy Center’s wonderful Millennium Stage is back indoors and celebrating Diwali this weekend. Learn how people celebrate Light, share stories, and inspire each other through these programs. Musician Rohith Jayaraman will perform on Friday, and on Saturday hear author Sushmita Mazumdar share stories about Diwali and make a Rangoli book and lantern.

Family Film: The Raft
Where: Edlavitch DCJCC | Downtown DC
When: Friday 1pm | Saturday 6pm, 8pm | Sunday, 1:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm
Admission: $14 (but get 50% off with code JxJ21Half )
Catch a family-friendly movie presented by JxJ at the DC JCC… Four teen soccer fans are determined to support the Israeli soccer team in a critical match — even though the game is taking place in Cyprus! Inspired by the mythological journey of Kon-Tiki, the industrious (if naive) group build a vessel and set sail across the Mediterranean. The perils of seafaring on a DIY raft, coupled with, at times tense and close quarters, prove quite the test for the youthful crew. In Hebrew with English subtitles, this beautifully shot coming of age film is an epic adventure for the whole family! View the trailer and learn more about the film here.

Watch the Wizards
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Friday, 7pm & Sunday, 6pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Wizards will be hosting at home this weekend with games Friday and Sunday evenings. See them work their magic on the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. Plan on a pre-game lunch in Penn Quarter –there are plenty of family-friendly places to go in the neighborhood. Some recs: Jaleo, Camine’s, Shake Shack, and Oyamel.

Market Days on the Hill
Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Start your holiday shopping and enjoy a nice day out at Eastern Market’s outdoor weekend Flea Market. It’s a personal neighborhood fave any time of year, but especially pleasant to browse and stroll during the fall. Vendors sell a variety of wares — art, apparel, jewelry, home goods, and food.  Inside the actual Eastern Market, food stalls offer all kinds of fresh fare, from meats and cheese to produce and baked goods to fish and flowers.  Visit the market, grab a bite at one of many eateries (either right there or nearby), and take kiddos to the nearby Eastern Market Metro Park playground (Pennsylvania & 8th SE).

Underground Railroad Guided Hike
Where: Woodlawn Manor | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 12:30pm & 1-3:30pm
Admission: Free
Join Montgomery Parks to celebrate Maryland’s Emancipation Day with a hike on what was part of the Underground Railroad. Register in advance here and read about the great hike in this KFDC post. See what other events are taking place throughout the month to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Maryland.

Foliage Filled Hikes
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Take in the brilliant color spectrum of autumn and get a little exercise, to boot, on a family hike. From right here in the city to country locales, you’ve got your pick of places where you can enjoy the fall foliage and some time outdoors. This post about good area hikes with kids started in the early KFDC days, and with many new recommendations added since as we’ve done even more, there are lots of great suggestions for trails that will make for happy trampers. Some specific recs right now: Great Falls,  Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Woodend Nature Sanctuary (Family Hike on Saturday at 9am), Mason Neck, and Quiet Waters.

Go on a Garden Walk
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall is a great time to roam one of the many gardens in the area as seasonal hues brighten the landscapes. Stroll among the many multi-tiered plats at Dumbarton Oaks. Explore, play, and see a variety of plant collections at the National Arboretum. Enjoy the sprawling grounds of Brookside Gardens.  Wander around Green Spring Gardens on a scavenger hunt. Venture out to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Garden. Or relish in the peace at the Brookland Monastery. You can bring along a picnic to most of these places (not at Dumbarton) and make it a longer day’s outing.

Fall Farm Fun
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Just because you’re not picking out a potential Jack o’ lantern, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun on the farm. Many area farms have way more to enjoy than just pumpkin patches. Whiz down slides, bounce on giant jumping pillows, visit farm animals, and loads more. The list of fall fests has info on where to find it.

The Inside Scoop
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
If you’re specifically seeking indoor fun or just want ideas for extra activities, there are plenty of options for things to do inside. This post has info on what’s open when, along with links for more about the places and Covid policies. Some specific recs for this weekend: Explore the STEAM inspired exhibits at the National Children’s Museum, scale the colorful walls at ClimbZone, get an art fix at the Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum, look for secret doors at the Mansion on O Street.

The Red Eye Night Market
Where: Pennsylvania Ave. 3rd-7th Streets |Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 4pm – 12am
Admission: Free
This family friendly, open-air night market pays homage to the foods and cultures of the Asian diaspora. Featuring DC’s hottest chefs, artists, and more, The Red Eye’s unifying goal is to support small businesses, create a cultural tentpole event for our city, and give people a night of celebration, community and discovery.

All Caps
Where: Capital One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
For sports action on ice, catch the Capitals on Saturday evening as they host the Philadelphia Flyers. See the restaurant recs in the Wizards listing for a fam-friendly bite before the match.

Nature Calling
Where: Nature centers around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
If you’re not feeling outdoorsy, you can still get a dose of the outside world in the comfort of the indoors at a nature center. There are several great ones around the area that offer cool exhibits, including live creatures. Buddie Ford Nature Center in Alexandria, Watkins in Upper Marlboro, Potomac Overlook in Arlington, Long Branch in Falls Church, and Brookside in Silver Spring all make for a great outing.

Soccer Spirit!
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 5:30pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Cheer on our local women’s pro soccer team, Washington Spirit, as they play their quarterfinal play off match against North Carolina Courage at Audi Field this weekend. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting women in sports! Purchase tickets here.

Charm City Fun, Hon!
Where: Around Baltimore, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Not only is it nice to get a change of metro area scenery sometimes, Baltimore, our sister city just a 45-minute drive away, is full of fantastic, family-friendly things to do. This post has info about all of them, including big attractions, suggestions for places to eat, and neighborhoods to explore.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Where: Olney Theater | Olney, MD
When: Through January 2
Tickets: $42-79
The classic animated story comes to life on the Olney Theatre Mainstage starting this weekend. It’s a tale as old as time, but the production of it gets a new look.  Olney’s biggest show of the year brings the whole family together for a magical and memorable musical about the redemptive power of love. Join Belle, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and the rest of the gang in the Beast’s cursed castle for an escape to a world where beauty is more than skin deep and happily ever after is just a rose petal away. Rated G. Tickets are still available this weekend the Friday show (Saturday & Sunday), but you can snag seats for a later date!

Fun at Fairfax Parks
Where: Parks in Fairfax, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The Fairfax County Park Authority hosts all kinds of events on weekends for guests of all ages. Explore Nature at Night at Riverbend Park. Join a Campfire Saturday at Burke Lake Park. See how the mill operates during Grind Day at Colvin Mill run on Sunday. Get more details on these activities and see what else is going on here.

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* How & Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids 5-11 in the DC Area.
* There have been some updates and listings added to the KFDC Holiday Guide, so continue to check it out — and bookmark! — to plan for the season.
* It’s holiday card time — Minted is offering 15% off cards with code MERRY21 through November 18.
* I keep hearing great things about these. Any insight on whether they’re worth the splurge?
* Great new listen.
* Don’t forget to fall back this weekend!
* 10 Happy Things for November, the always uplifting and enriching monthly list from Darcy.