The always lovely Enid A. Haupt Garden
Happy Weekend!
Quick clicks for all kinds of awesome, ongoing activities:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Indoor Outings
* Pick-Your-Own Ops
* Bike Rides
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* On the Water
* Peaceful Places
* Baltimore with Kids
Out & About
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
There’s a link to this right above, but after all the rain we had and a stellar forecast for the weekend, the round-up of the Best Places in the DC Are to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids deserves to be highlighted again. It’s chock full of ideas with something for all ages and interests. Some of the places and activities are listed below, but I recommended browsing (and bookmarking!) the whole post.
Fall Festing
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Pick some pumpkins, whiz down giant slides, get lost in corn mazes, go on and hayrides, bounce around on jumping pillows, say “huzzah!” to Ren Fest, and so much more. There are activities galore to help you embrace the autumn spirit, and the KFDC guide to fall festivals has details on all of them.
Saturday Morning Live! At The National
Where: The National Theatre | Downtown, DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am & 11am
Admission: Free
Fun takes center stage at the National Theatre for Saturday Morning Live! Join us Saturday mornings for wow-inspiring children’s entertainment of all sorts. The Light House is an interactive shadow show about finding your light. (And also, there are some pretty great sea creatures.) On a little island in a faraway sea, there is a girl who tends a lighthouse and who never ever smiles. Until one day, when she must set out for the horizon, and beyond. This show is best suited for children ages 3-8, but children of all ages are welcome to join the fun!
White House Fall Garden Tours
Where: The White House | Downtown, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy autumn at the White House! The annual Fall Garden Tours are being held this weekend. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Kitchen Garden, and South Lawn will be on view to guests. The public is invited, but every visitor, small children included, needs a ticket to tour. Starting at 8:30am on both days, free, timed-entry tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Tour times are indicated on each ticket, so keep your day open if you hope to go.
USBG Fall Festival
Where: US Botanic Garden | U.S. Capitol Grounds, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Explore your connection to plants through food, music, and science at the US Botanic Garden’s Fall Festival! All ages can enjoy cooking demos, hands-on activities, and opportunities to talk with the Garden’s experts, and more. Most of it takes place outside on the terrace, but be sure to head inside to explore the plant collections and exhibits, including one of the most stunning spaces in DC. Read more about the USBG in this KFDC post.
Do Some More Garden-ing
Where: Throughout the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall is a wonderful time to roam the many gardens in the area as the changing leaves start to brighten up the summer green. Enjoy the fall flowers and manicured grounds of the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle (then visit the museums on the Mall). Stroll among the many multi-tiered plats at Dumbarton Oaks. Explore, play, and see a variety of plant collections at the National Arboretum. Do some early leaf peeping at the Brookside Gardens. Wander around Green Spring Gardens on a scavenger hunt. Venture out to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Garden. Relish in the peace at the Brookland Monastery. Or enjoy a tour indoors and out at the U.S. Botanic Garden. You can bring along a picnic to many of these places and make it a whole day’s outing.
Hit the Trail
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
The recommendation to go hiking is a staple in these round-ups, but this weekend will be particularly great for it! Bask in the sunshine, enjoy the lovely early fall scenery, maybe explore local history, or spy some wildlife. You can even work in some geocaching! This post has a bunch of recommendations for places to tramp with kids. Some specific recs for right now: The National Arboretum in Northeast DC has lots of little trails and beautiful plant collections; the hike from Riverbend Park to Great Falls is great for all ages; walk in the woods at Pohick Bay or Fountainhead Regional Parks; or tramp in the city at Rock Creek.
Hike & Hang
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the Weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Sometimes it’s better to plan a hike around the apres hike destination, places where you can relax and enjoy food and drinks, the kids can play, and the scenery adds to the enjoyment. A few awesome combos for that, where you can hike and hang: Patuxent River State Park and Waredaca Brewery, Sky Meadows State Park and Barrel Oak Winery; Sugarloaf Mountain and The Comus Inn or Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard; Great Falls (MD side) and The Old Angler’s Inn; Patapsco Valley State Park and the Guinness Brewery.
Family Bike Ride
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
The weather this weekend will be also perfect for a family two-wheel outing, and you’ve got your pick of bike routes around the area to get rolling. Enjoy the scenery, get some exercise, and have fun zipping along the trails. This post has a bunch of pedal-worthy recs, with something for riders of all levels, this route being particularly ideal with little kids.
Kids Euro Fest
Where: Kensington, MD & 16th St NW, DC
When: Friday, 4-5pm & Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Consider this your passport to two weeks of art and cultural events, as the 15th Annual Kids Euro Festival brings continental entertainment right to DC. The event presents all kinds of free adventures around the metro area. Musicians, storytellers, dancers, and puppeteers are just a few of the exciting acts that will perform at a variety of venues through October 15. This weekend enjoy a bilingual storytime at Bon Jour Books in Kensington on Friday and learn about pollinators at the Former Residence of the Spanish Ambassador on Saturday (10am, 11:15am, & 12:45am). Be sure to register in advance!
“Eye Spy” Halloween Trains
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Parks | Bethesda & Wheaton, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: $8/Wheaton, $6/Cabin John
Hop on board the Halloween Trains! All ages can take a ride through “Trainslyvania” on Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train. Purchase tickets in advance online to guarantee a ride, as only a limited amount are available onsite. Plan on more play at the parks — see more about Cabin John here and Wheaton here.
More 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.
Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Tickets: $15
Witch Wartsmith (the sister of Witch Wartsmith from our Legacy and touring show Rapunzel), hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular and you get to vote on the winner! Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some of our contestants will change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike! Run time approximately 45 minutes. Recommended for ages 4+.
More Live Entertainment
Where: Theatres around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Master Chef Junior Live! at WarnerTheatre (all ages)
* Tiny Tots at The Puppet Co. (littlest ones)
* The Hero of EVERYTHING at Highland Elementary (all ages… FREE!)
* Hamilton at the Kennedy Center (age 10+)
* The Trip to Bountiful at Ford’s Theatre (age 13+)
* Dance Nation at Olney Theatre (Rated R)
* Once on this Island at Source Theatre
* TINA – The Tina Turner Musicalat National Theatre (age 14+)
* The Ballad of Emmet Tillat the Atlas Performing Arts Center (teens & older)
* Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Creative Cauldron
* Guys and Dolls at the Kennedy Center (age 9+)
Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto
Where: EagleBank Arena | Fairfax, VA
When: Through October 10
Tickets: $20-110
Two shows in one for this show on ice. Join the race to find Elsa and stop the eternal winter, dream about summer with Olaf, and sing-along with Kristoff and Sven. Then, celebrate the love of family in the new show everyone will be talking about! Experience Disney’s Encanto brought to life like never before. Sing and dance with Mirabel, her sisters, Isabela and Luisa, and more!
Maker Morning: Build It Your Way
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Spend some hands-on artsy time at one of the best art museums around. Maker stations will be set up throughout the Hirshhorn for kids to explore innovations in sculpture. Draw inspiration from the Put It This Way exhibit, then use it in the toddler building zone or for soft sculpting, sound sculpture design, and suspension experiments. Of course, plan on checking out the rest of the exhibits, too, including One with Eternity if you can score passes.
An Art Tour for the T(w)een Scene
Where: Glenstone Museum | Potomac, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
I just mentioned Glenstone and our recent visit there, so here’s a rec to take advantage of the beautiful weather along with their Guaranteed Entry program for students ages 12+ and enjoy a visit to the incredible indoor-outdoor art museum. Be sure to not that they allow children under 12 at all, but it’s a great activity enjoy with tweens and teens.
Rebel Girls Fest
Where: Solid State Books | H Street NE, DC
When: Sunday, 3-4pm
Admission: Free
Rebel Girls Fest: Be the Change is a nationwide event that includes story time, activities, and a take-home goodie bag to empower girls to believe they can create change, no matter their age. Locally, you can join in at Solid State Books where there will be a short reading from 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers, a scavenger hunt, and gift bag. And if the event is full, check out other ways to celebrate at home.
Happy 60th!
Where: Brookside Nature Center | Wheaton, MD
When: Sunday, 1-7pm
Admission: Free
Montgomery County’s oldest nature center is turning 60, and all are invited to help them celebrate! Stop by Brookside Nature Center for fun activities and to share memories. Join a nature program, see some new exhibits, toast s’mores, and have a slice of birthday cake. While you’re out that way, plan for time to explore Brookside Gardens, too!
Vamos United!
Where: Audie Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 2:30
Admission: Tickets start at $29
Cheer on DC United in their last match of the regular season! There are still some tickets left for the game against Cincinnati FC on Sunday afternoon. As always, I recommend taking public transportation or parking in the Navy Yard neighborhood and walking to Audi Field from there. Plan for a pre-match lunch — El Bebe, All Purpose Pizza, The Salt Line, and Dacha are conveniently located and my top recs for family-friendly meals in the area.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* How to help women in Iran.
* In case you missed it earlier this week, there’s a new post about fall events and more fun at Mount Vernon.
* The National Air & Space Museum reopens next weekend after many months’ renovation. Free passes for the first week are gone, but there are plenty available for later dates.
* Wegman’s Wonderplace, the American History Museum’s sweet play space for littles, has reopened for the first time since Covid, Wednesday – Friday.
* 7 places to see gorgeous fall foliage outside of DC this weekend.
* The Washington Post Fall 2022 Dining Guide
* Next trip to Traders Joe’s, buy this. You’re welcome. 🙂
* The stripes and prints on these sweaters are so pretty.
* A simple & sweet HONY.
