Tag Archives: Barracks Row Fall Festival

September 23, 2011 · 8:10 am

Let the Weekend Festivities Begin

Saddling up at a festival last fall

Festivals dominate this weekend round-up. They celebrate everything from books to play time to autumn to neighborhood communities to medieval times. And to fill the time between all the festival-hopping, there are theatre performances, museum events, even a parade for playgrounds. Of course, all of it is chock full of fun for the whole family. Happy Weekend!

Worldwide Day of Play – It’s playtime, big time, at The Ellipse on Saturday as Nickelodeon celebrates the largest-ever Worldwide Day of Play, its annual event to encourage kids to turn off the TV and get outside. The star-studded event will include appearances by some of the network’s biggest names – Dora the Explorer, Big TIme Rush, the Fresh Beat Band, and SpongeBob SquarePants just to name a few. Plus, more than 50 organizations have partnered with Nickelodeon to set up activities that get kids moving like batting contests and clinics with MLB and Boys & Girls Club of America, soccer drills with MLS, and tennis workshops by USTA. This all takes pace from 10am – 4pm and is free to the public.

National Book Festival – One of the biggest annual events to take place in Washington, DC, is this weekend: The 2011 National Book Festival. Organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, the Festival regularly attracts over 100,000 visitors to the National Mall for a celebration of books and reading. More than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators from every literary genre will be presenting and doings readings and signings. And for the first time in its 11 years, the Festival will take place over two days, on Saturday from 10am – 5:30pm and Sunday from 1 – 5:30pm. The free event is open to the public. See this post for more details.

Celebrate Fall – Ring in the new season at a festival this weekend. From pumpkin patches and apple picking to corn mazes and hayrides to giant slides and jumping pillows, there are activities galore to help folks embrace the autumn spirit. This post has details on a bunch of fall festivals in the area.

Museums for Free – Yes, there are some area museums that actually do charge admission. But on Saturday, Smithsonian Magazine is hosting it’s annual Museum Day, when those that require us to open our wallets, are free. A few that will be especially appealing to kids: President Lincoln’s Cottage, the B&O Railroad Museum, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, and the College Park Aviation Museum. For more about the program, including how to get tickets, see this post from a few days ago.

The Play’s the Thing – Two new productions are opening at local theatres this weekend — Lilly’s Plastic Purse debuts at Adventure Theatre and Alladin’s Luck will take the Imagination Stage. Catch Lilly this evening at 7pm, or Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 2pm; tickets are $17. Performances of Alladin are at 10:30am today, 1pm on Saturday, and 1pm & 4pm on Sunday; tickets range from $10-22. And for more live entertainment in the area, check out this post about shows to catch this season.

Funville – Washington Parent Magazine is hosting this parenting fair at White Flint Mall from 10am – 4pm on Saturday. Guests can enjoy live performances, hands-on activities, giveaways, contests, plus demonstrations and interactive stations focusing on education, health, the arts, parties, and more.

Barracks Row Festival – Showcasing the marine barracks and commerce on 8th Street SE in Capitol Hill, this annual festival includes fun for all ages. There will be tours of the historic barracks and Home of Commandments, live entertainment, Trapeze School aerialists on silks posing on “silks” overhead, a petting zoo, food and art vendors, and tons of fun for kids (clowns, magicians, face painting, and more). And chef from all branches of the military will be back again for a cook-off to see who will be the Top Military Chef. The day will end with the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performing their unforgettable rifle and marching routines. This will all take place from 11am – 5pm. No admission fee.

Harvest Happenings – Join the McClean Community Center on Saturday from 11am – 2pm for a fun and exciting day for the whole family. The indoor/outdoor festival will include kids’ activities, live entertainment, fun snacks, games, and more. All activities, geared toward 3-8-year-olds, are included in the $5 entrance fee (free for children 2 and under). Food concessions will also be available.

Parade for Playgrounds – On Saturday join parents, children and community members in a walk down 7th Street NW to the National Mall to advocate for a safe play space in downtown D.C. Organized by Downtown DC Kids, the group meets at 10:30am at Calvary Baptist Church (755 8th Street NW), and the parade begins at 11am, heading over to 7th Street then making its way to the Children’s Pavilion and Storytelling Stage at the National Book Festival on the Mall. They will be giving out T-shirts and asking folks to sign a petition in support of their efforts to bring a playground to downtown. Visit their website for more information about the parade and the cause.

National Geographic Little Explorers – National Geographic and Pottery Barn Kids are joining forces to bring science to little ones through the Little Explorers series. This Saturday at 10am, PB Kids stores across the country invite children ages 3 and up to learn about lions, tigers, and other big cats through hands-on activities, songs, and more. Locally, this will take place at the Tyson’s Corner store, but you can search for others hosting the event on the website. This is a free event.

Chalk4Peace Family Festival – Join the American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and your friends outside on the F Street sidewalk for a day of chalk art and interactive fun. Make your mark and take your picture with a site-specific work in chalk by artist Michael Kirby and his team from Murals of Baltimore. This free event is happening from 11:30am – 3pm on Saturday.

SW ArtsFest – From Friday through Sunday, DC’s smallest quadrant will hold its first annual SW ArtsFest. SW ArtsFest 2011 will bring together ten different organizations to present a cross-section of Southwest’s cultural community through a three-day festival with the theme “Discover Southwest.” The collaboration will include the (e)merge art fair and the Marcātus Creative Art Market, performances and children’s activities at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, the 10th Annual DC Jazz Preservation Festival, the Human Rights Film Festival, an outdoor art studio for children, and much more.

Merriment in Maryland – Take a day trip back to medieval times at the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival. The faire runs every weekend through October 24 and offers plenty for everyone in the family to enjoy. Read more about it here.

Awesome Airmail – Airmail is turning 100, and the public is invited to celebrate at the National Postal Museum on Saturday from 11am – 3pm. Join the staff beneath a 1911 plane that carried airmail and discover its fascinating story, and enjoy hands-on activities, tours, and more.

Bramble10 – Brambleton, the planned community in Ashburn, VA, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a weekend of family-friendly events. On Friday evening and all day Saturday, Brambleton Town Center will be the sight of live music, kids’ entertainment, comedy performances, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, food vendors, balloon artists, fireworks and more. Admission is $5/person or $20/family. On Saturday a $10 entry and ride wristband is also available.

And this is always a good post to keep handy:

The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids

But according to a recent forecast, this one will likely be more useful this weekend:

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)

Get into the Spirit of the Season at a Fall Festival

A favorite fall tradition

What a lucky coincidence that I finally completed this compilation of area fall festivals as we officially (ie, calendar-wise) welcome the new season. So without further ado, here are all the details on autumn celebrations around the DC-metro. And, as always, if you have any feedback to offer or any festivals to add, feel free to do so in the comments section. Happy Fall!

Ticonderoga Farm Fall Pumpkin Festival
Where: Chantilly, VA
When: Now – November 6, 9am – 6pm daily
Admission: $8.95/weekdays, $14.95/holiday and weekends
This festival has all the trappings for a fun on the farm: hayrides, swings, Noah’s Ark playground, hillside slides, s’mores roasting, cornshucking demos, a petting farm, a maze, antique tractors and firetruck, a pumpkin patch, and much, much more (seriously, see the entire list here). The Cow Pow Train, Jump and Bounce Pillow, face painting, and some children’s games are available weekends only, but there’s obviously plenty to keep kids entertained any day of the week.

Butler’s Orchards 31st Annual Pumpkin Festival
Where: Germantown, MD
When: Saturdays & Sundays in October, 10am – 5pm
Admission: $10, free for children 2 and under
Kids will love jumping in the hayloft, hayrides, the tube slide, a rubber ducky derby, animal petting area, pony rides, pumpkin picking, corn maze, face painting, and much more. See a pumpkin cannon project orange orbs across the patch the weekends of October 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30. Some activities and food costs extra. Purchase there or bring along a picnic, but be sure to treat the kids – and yourself – to a yummy caramel apple!

Cox Farms Fall Festival
Where: Centreville, VA
When: September 24 – November 6, 9am – 6pm daily
Admission: $9/ weekdays, $15/weekends for ages 2 and up
This festival is huge. So big that they actually have a Festival Tips page on the website to help guests prepare and navigate their way around the sprawling venue, that contains five slides, swings, games, mazes, pumpkins, picnics, live entertainment, farm animals, and more. It’s a blast, especially the giant slide that takes you swooping down several humps over a hillside. (That’s right, I know firsthand because parents can enjoy many of the festival activities just as much as kids.) There is also a Kiddie Zone, especially for little ones aged 5 and under. Go “like” their Facebook page for a coupon for $5 off tickets September 24 – 30.

Barracks Row Fall Festival
Where: 8th Street SE, Capitol Hill
When: September 24, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Showcasing the marine barracks and commerce on 8th Street SE in Capitol Hill, this annual festival is fun for all ages. There will be tours of the historic barracks and Home of Commandments, live entertainment, Trapeze School aerialists on silks posing on “silks” overhead, a petting zoo, food and art vendors, and tons of fun for kids (clowns, magicians, face painting, and more). And chefs from all branches of the military will be back again for a cook-off to see who will be the Top Military Chef. The day will end with the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performing their unforgettable rifle and marching routines.

Great Country Farms Fall Harvest Festival
Where: Bluemont, VA
When: September 24 – October 30, 9am – 6pm daily
Admission: $10/adults $8/kids weekdays, $12/adult $10/kids weekends, ages 2 and under are free
Great Country is known for it’s awesome festivals, and the Fall Harvest is sure to be no exception. Thrills for little people (okay, us grown-ups, too) include P-Rex, the pumpkin eating dinosaur; Rubber Ridge, the tractor tire mountain; the Pumpkin Princess in the pumpkin patch, a ginat Pumpkin’ Jumpin’ Pillow; five mazes; 60-foot slides, rope swings, tractor rides, and even more fun in the country. Find a future jack o’ lantern in the pumpkin patch, the largest u-pick patch in the area. See a schedule of activities here.

Marker-Miller Orchards – Multiple Festivals
Where: Winchester, VA
When: Several weekends in September and October
Admission: Free
There’s a variety of fun to be had throughout the season with three different festivals taking place. It starts with the Fall Farm Fun Festival September 24-25, which will include apple-picking, wagon rides, a cow train, and music. Next is the Apple Harvest Festival October 8-9 offering a weekend of, well, everything apples: 20 varieties of apples, apple cobbler, apple caramel sundaes, plus the wagon rides and cow train for kids. Finally, October 22 is the Pumpkin Festival, when you can find yor own Great Pumpkin and enjoy all the usual festivities at the orchard.

19th Annual Fall For Fairfax KidFest
Where: Fairfax Conty Government Center
When: October 1, 9am – 6pm
Admission: Free
This annual event by Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. includes exciting, interactive, and educational programs, entertainment and 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 Wells Fargo KidZone with more than a dozen rides, bounces, and attractions. And that’s just for the kids. Adults can enjoy more than 75 exhibits, activities, and great festival food. While admission is free, some rides and concessions will require a fee.

Columbia Heights Fall Festival
Where: Girard Street Park & Columbia Heights Community Center
When: October 1, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The Columbia Heights Youth Club, The District Church, DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, and Columbia Heights Day are hosting this event that celebrates the season and the neighborhood. There will be free food, face painting, moon bouncing, candied apples, snow cones, popcorn, live music, games, and more.

Frederick’s Oktoberfest
Where: Frederick Fairgrounds
When: October 1-2, Saturday 11am – 10pm, Sunday 11am – 6pm
Admission: $5, children 2 and under are free
This event rich in tradition and history offers fun for the entire family with dancing live music, children’s events, bratwurst, Oktoberfest bier, German wines, and much more. Especially for kids: face painting, pumpkin decorating, scarecrow making, musical entertainment, and they claim they have a few more tricks up their sleeves just to keep everyone surprised. (See a schedule of kids activities here.) This all benefits Frederick County charities. Certifikid currently has a deal on a family four-pack of tickets for admission.

2011 Annual Burgundy Fall Fair
Where: Burgundy Farm Country Day School
When: October 15, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
This family-friendly event will include live performances, local artisans, delicious food, a used book sale, and games and prizes for kids. Families can enjoy face painting and hair braiding and celebrate the season with pumpkin painting and scarecrow stuffing. For the courageous, a haunted house awaits. Guests can also explore the colors of autumn and the wonders of nature throughout the 25-acre campus, and particularly at a barnyard tour. All proceeds from the day support financial aid to Burgundy Farm Country Day School students. More information and parking recommendations are available on the website.

Fall Weekends at Clark’s Elioak Farm
Where: Ellicott City, MD
When: Ongoing, pumpkin patch is open Septmeber 24 – November 6, 10am – 5pm daily
Admission: $5, babies 1 and under are free
This fairytale of a farm doesn’t have a special fall festival per se, but with so many activities, including seasonal delights like pumpkins, cider, and Halloween fun, it’s like a celebration all the time. And it all takes place on the sprawling grounds scattered with installations practically straight out of a storybook (they were actually salvaged from The Enchanted Forest, an old Ellicott City amusement park). Kids can sit on a wall with Humpty, Peek in the Three Bears’ windows, climb aboard Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, explore the Old Woman’s shoe. If that’s not enough, there are hayrides, cow train rides, slides, farm animals to pet, a pumpkin patch, the pine tree maze, and more. On fall weekends, kids can also enjoy special activities like pumpkin coloring and crafts, a teddy bear visit, a reptile show, and gem mining. Face painting and pit beef are also available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hartland Orchard Fall Festival Weekends
Where: Markham, VA
When: Through October
Admission: $9, children 3 and under are free
The website claims “farmtastic fun for everyone” and from the looks of it, they aren’t lying. The long list of amusement includes hayrides, pumpkin patches, a 60-foot slide, a corn maze, duck and pig races, and pony rides. The apple picking also comes highly recommended.

Larriland Farm Fall Festival
Where: Woodbine, MD
When: All through October, Weekdays 9am – 6pm, Weekends 9am – 5pm,
Admission: Free, but there may be fees for some activities
Enjoy the changing colors of the season as you select a pumpkin, pick apples from the orhcard, take a hayride (weekends only), and find your way through a straw maze. Kids ages 4-9 can play in the Boo Barn filled with animated (but not too scary) ghosts and goblins.

Homestead Farm Fall Festival
Where: Poolesville, MD
When: October – exact date TBD
Admission: Free, but there are fees for some activities
While Homestead doesn’t have an official festival, the farm embraces the spirit of autumn every year. Tractor rides out to the pumpkin patches, apple picking, hot cider, farm animals, and scarecrows make it a great place to spend a few hours enjoying the season with the family. And the good thing about the lack of a festival, admission is free! Of course, you still pay for pumpkins and cider. And caramel apples.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Eats, Fall, Farm, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Outdoor, Seasonal, Virginia, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as 2011 Annual Burgundy Fall Fair, Barracks Row Fall Festival, Butler's Orchard, Clark’s Elioak Farm, Columbia Heights Fall Festival, Cox Farms Fall Festival, Fall For Fairfax KidFest, Frederick’s Oktoberfest, Great Country Farms, Hartland Orchard, Homestead Farm, Larriland Farms, Marker-Miller Orchards, Ticonderoga Fall Pumpkin Festival

September 24, 2010 · 7:50 am

Weekend in Washington

Every now and then a mom needs a weekend away with her girlfriends to hang out, catch up, shop, relax, dine, sip cocktails, and all the good grown-up stuff that’s difficult to do with the little ones in tow. I am about to embark on one of those weekends. And if I weren’t so @&*$#!% excited about my trip, I would be a kind of sad about missing some of the fantastic events that are happening around town this weekend.

For those who will be here and are looking for fun things to do with the kiddos, here’s what’s going on over the next few days.

National Book Festival
Okay, I am actually pretty bummed to miss this. Not only is it going to be a wonderful event for kids with many well-known children’s book authors doing readings and meeting young fans, some of my favorite writers will also be on hand giving talks and signing their works. The National Book Festival is free and will take place this Saturday, September 25, on the National Mall from 10am – 5:30pm. Check out this post from a few weeks back for more details.

Fall Festivals
Despite the warm weather, autumn has officially begun, and there are plenty of festivals happening to welcome the new season. The Barracks Row Fall Festival on Capitol Hill is on Saturday, and several area farms are hosting their annual celebrations with pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides, slides, swings, petting zoos, and more. Festivities are already underway at Cox and Ticonderoga Farms, and since it’s early in the season, the crowds are probably tolerable. For the full scoop on fall festivals, see this post from last week.

Happy Birthday, Rock Creek Park!
Washington’s urban oasis is turning 120 years old on Saturday, September 25, and the park is celebrating with a day full of fun activities for the family. Enjoy puppet shows, nature tours, animal encounters, crafts, planetarium shows, and more — all for free! Activities for all ages will be held at the Nature Center and Horse Center at 5200 Glover Road NW and in other locations throughout the park. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.

100 Years of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is also celebrating a birthday this weekend, and it’s a big one. NMNH was founded one hundred years ago and will be marking the occasion with a Centennial Celebration on Saturday, September 25. From 11am – 4pm, guests can talk to science experts, touch real fossils, create a souvenir using recycled materials, share ideas for the next 100 years, and more fun family activities. The event is free and takes place throughout the museum. Combine this with a visit to the National Book Festival, and you’ve got a well-rounded day of science and literature.

Clarendon Day
Head to the area around the Clarendon Metro station for an event that brings the local community together. Over 50 vendors, food from neighborhood restaurants, music on two stages, fitness classes, and kids activities will be part of the action. Clarendon Day is being held in conjunction with Virginia Hospital Center’s Family Fun Day, where you can enjoy performances, kids’ activities, free health screenings, seated massage, visits from local sports mascots, and more.

Geckos Galore
The National Geographic Museum will debut its new exhibit “Geckos: Tails to Toepads” on Friday, Septmber 24. Over 15 gecko species and cool interactives will thrill young reptilian fans. The exhibit runs through January 5. More info and admission details are available here.

Under the Big Top
The National Children’s Museum Launch Zone invites kids to see what it takes to be a circus performer at Under the Big Top on Saturday, September 25. Tightrope walking, plate spinning, face painting, and juggling will be part of the fun.

Maryland Renaissance Festival
Just a reminder that medieval merriment is still underway every weekend through October 24 in Crownesville, MD. Admission to the festival is $18/adult, $8/children 7 and older, free for children 6 and under. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 7pm. Read about the festival here.