Tag Archives: DC Weekend

September 11, 2015 · 7:33 am

The Weekend Round-Up: September 11-13

The Kogod Courtyard, one of the prettiest indoor spots in the city

You can eke out the last bit of summer or start focusing on fall (or both!) with this round-up of special events and activities. Taking place indoors and out, in the heart of the city to farms miles beyond, there’s fun to suit all interests — and seasons. Happy Weekend!

Last Concert on the Riverfront
Where: Yards Park
When: Friday, 6:30pm
Admission: Free
It’s the final Rockin’ on the Riverfront concert of the season, and they’re closing it out with a country performance by Sara Gray. Concert-goers are encouraged to arrive early with their picnic dinners, blankets, and take out meals from Capitol Riverfront restaurants to enjoy a free evening of music!

Free For All Festival
Where: Sidney Harman Hall
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Get an insider’s look at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s home and access to artists who work behind the scenes to create their stage productions. The free, family-friendly event will include backstage tours, special performances, open theatre classes, demonstrations of stage effects and more. 

Fall Family Day
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Head to the lovely Kogod Courtyard to celebrate the season with a day of fun activities, like scavenger hunts, craft making, live performances, a cake walk and face painting. Kick up your heels to lively Americana folk music as you enjoy the dazzling footwork of the RockCandy Cloggers!

Celebrate from City Streets Country Farms
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by event
Fall may not have officially started but seasonal festivals are ON at several area farms, in Columbia Heights, on 17th Street NE, even at a 16th century village in Maryland (huzzah, Ren Fest!), and they’re welcoming visitors for all kinds of fun. Get details on all of them in this post about autumn celebrations.

DC State Fair
Where: Old City Farm & Guild
When: Saturday, 12-8pm
Admission: Free
Apparently, being an actual state isn’t a requirement to have a state fair! This agricultural, culinary, and artistic showcase of the District will be 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, plus do some browsing among the vendors, at the Old City Farm & Guild located at 925 Rhode Island Ave NW.

Maryland Seafood Festival
Where: Sandy Point State Park
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $15, free for ages 12 and under
How about a day filled with delicious seafood, live entertainment, kids activities, food demos and competitions, loads of shopping options, vendors, exhibits, contests? You can enjoy all that and more at this 48th annual seafood fest. Even better, it all takes place on the beautiful shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Virginia Indian Festival
Where: Riverbend Park
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $5
Members of several Native American tribes will gather on the banks of the Potomac River to share and celebrate their culture. See dance performances and dug-out canoe demos. Try throwing a spear, shooting a bow, and building a canoe. Shop for pottery, jewelry, and dreamcatchers. Enjoy food from a Rappahannock Tribe member, plus other lunch and snack items. All at the beautiful setting along the Potomac!

Show Time
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Be among the first audiences to see Caps for Sale, the world premiere musical at Adventure Theatre
* Let little ones discover their inner superhero at the InterAct Story Theatre’s The Hero of EVERYTHING
* See the Spirit of America come alive at a free show at the DC Armory
* Head to the U.S. Botanic Garden for The Cerulean Time Capsule, an interactive theatrical adventure
* AndyRoo and the AndyRooniverse are playing the 10:30am show at Jammin’ Java on Saturday
* Catch an outdoor show at Oatlands as Stage Coach Theatre presents Puss in Boots

Family Day at Abe’s
Where: President Lincoln’s Cottage
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Family Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage is back! You’re invited to the festivities on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home as the Lincoln family did at this fourth annual event. All ages can enjoy live entertainment and creative activities inspired by the Lincoln family and their life at the Soldiers’ Home! Register online here.

Women in Aviation & Space
Where: National Air & Space Museum
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the Air & Space Museum for family day that celebrates the accomplishments of women in aviation and space exploration. From the days of the earliest pilots to today’s space program, women have been making significant contributions. During this event, visitors will have the opportunity to meet female role models and learn about the women who inspired them.

Family Community Festival
Where: Anacostia Community Museum
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
With a theme of Celebrating Cultural Diversity, the museum welcomes the public to their annual festival for live music, food vendors, and art activities. Make Japanese kites, Mexican paper flowers, Venetian ball masks, Indian Henna painting, and more. Enjoy African storytelling and civil war re-enactments. It’s a fun day for the entire family with activities taking place both outside on the grassy picnic area and inside the museum.

Fall Class Sampler
Where: Imagination Stage
When: Saturday, 9:45am – 12:45pm
Admission: Free
Sample Imagination Stage’s line-up of fall classes – on them! Sample classes are about 20 minutes in length, and give students and families a taste of the Imagination Stage classroom setting. They have exciting offerings for ages 12 months to grade 5. So, try a class and get into YOUR Imagination Stage. This is not a drop-off event; children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Register in advance here.

Rosslyn Jazz Festival
Where: Gateway Park
When: Saturday, 1-7pm
Admission: Free
Head across the Key Bridge from the city for this free annual music festival. Enjoy six hours of music, fun, and drinks, plus special activities for kids and fashion trucks. See the website for the line-up of bands and details on parking.

Children’s Art Talk & Tour
Where: Strathmore
When: Saturday, 10:15am
Admission: $5
Young art lovers can get behind the brushstrokes and into the head, heart, and history of the artists with these kid-friendly Saturday tours. Children take part in an educational guided tour of the current exhibit followed by a hands-on art activity. Accompanying adults have no charge.

Fall into Fun Fair
Where: Rockville Sportsplex
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
This interactive fair features custom designed booths filled with the hottest fall activities, where families of kids ages 0-18 can try everything — theatre, art, music, language, science, & much more. Plus, you can groove to the HOT sounds of DJ “A Squad”; get FREE silly photos from Click & Flick Photo Booth; and be entered into giveaways for incredible prizes including swim/splash parties, science parties, private cheer, music, dance lessons, and much more! Admission is free, but registration is required.

Kreeger Museum Open House
Where: Kreeger Museum
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate art, music, and nature with the Kreeger Museum! Live music, art activities, stories for children, a drum circle, and more creative pursuits will be part of the days events. Enjoy concession from food trucks and beer from local breweries. Rain or sine.

Apple Gala & Cider Festival
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: $12/adult, $10/child
September may mean back to school for many, but at Great Country it means back to the farm for freshly pressed cider and freshly picked apples. Celebrate the start of the apple picking and cider pressing season with tastings of Rinkers freshly pressed cider — the best in the Valley! Of course, the farm’s five-acre play area will be open for fun and amusement, too!

All Aboard Kensington
Where: Kensington Armory/Town Hall
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: $5/adult, $2/child or $10/family
All Aboard Kensington is on track to enthuse and entertain at this family friendly event. Model trains will chug along model railroads. Special guest performances include Dixie Land Express Band on Saturday from 11am-1pm and Matthew Dodd (railroad songs and stories) on Sunday from 1-4pm. This all benefits the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation and the Kensington Historical Society.

Pawpaw Festival
Where: Meadowside Nature Center
When: Sunday, 12-3pm
Admission: $5
It’s time to get your paws on some pawpaws! Meadowside Nature Center will celebrate the delightful native fruit with music, storytelling, crafts, games, face painters, raptor talks, expert advice on pawpaw cultivation, and, most importantly, a pawpaw tasting station with fruits and trees for purchase for those who want to bring some home.

Back (in Time) to School
Where: Mountain Gap Schoolhouse
When: Sunday, 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:15pm, and 4:15pm
Admission: $20/family or car
See how different school was in an earlier era as Oatlands Historic House and Gardens opens the Mountain Gap Schoolhouse during their School’s in Session Open House Days! The curriculum includes a guide dressed in period “schoolmarm” clothing, a lesson in the the history of the school and a one-room schoolhouse education, a sample of typical 19th-century school day with lessons in the 3 R’s: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

The Weekend Round-Up: September 4-7

A view of the Kennedy Center, where skateboarding is currently in focus, and a lone paddle boarder enjoying time on the Potomac

Labor Day weekend may be the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also a time of some fantastic special events. Enjoy loads of reading-related activities at the National Book Festival, hear the blues in Rock Creek Park, check out a rad new exhibition at the Kennedy Center, experience the merriment of Ren Fest, attend the annual concert at the Capitol, and so much more. These recs have all you need to make the most the next few days in DC. Happy Weekend!

National Book Festival
Where: Washington Convention Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 10pm
Admission: Free
Bookworms, take note! One of DC’s biggest annual events is on Saturday. The Library of Congress National Book Festival will feature more than 170 authors, poets, and illustrators from every literary genre. Even better, they will all be there presenting; there will be book readings, talks, Q&A’s, book signings, and more. These will take place along with lots of other reading-related activities for all ages. For an idea of what to expect, see this post about one of our experiences there.

Season Finales
Where: Various locales
When: Through Monday
Admission: Varies by activity
This weekend is the last for many pursuits that we’ve been enjoying all summer long, outdoor swimming, concerts and movies under the stars, special museum programs among them. If you’re hoping to get in one final jazz show in the Sculpture Garden, a swim at The BEACH in the Building Museum, a free visit to the Newseum for the kids, or a day at an outdoor public pool, then check out the Summer in DC guide, which has details on all of those diversions and many more.

Skateboarding, Music, & Media
Where: Kennedy Center
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Get out your skateboards and head on over to the… Kennedy Center! That’s right, the performing arts center best known for it’s theatrical productions and showcases on stage is hosting an exhibition featuring skateboards and music September 4-13. Check out Art on Deck, a display of custom, hand-painted, and graphically designed skate decks, in the Hall of Nations. But the action will be in the Kennedy Center Plaza outside, where open skate sessions will be held in temporary skate park. Time to brush up on those ollies and flips!

Root for the Home Team
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats are hosting the Braves this weekend, then Mets starting on Monday. Tickets are still available for all of them. Before you buy, check out this post about how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.

Ren Fest!
Where: Revel Grove, Crownsville, Md.
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: $17/adults, $10/ages 7-18
The merriment continues at Revel Grove in Crownesville, MD. On weekends through October 25, you can time trip at the charming medieval village that hosts the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival. For more details on what you will find there, check out this post about the event.

Hear the Blues
Where: Carter Barron Amphitheater
When: Saturday, 12-7:30pm
Admission: $10/member, $15/non-members
Head to the outdoor stage in Rock Creek Park for the 27th Annual DC Blues Festival. Along with the line-up of performers, there will be musical workshops throughout the day, where both children and adults can learn about Blues music. Kids will especially enjoy instrument and vocal workshops, including an instrument petting zoo.

Page-to-Stage Festival
Where: Kennedy Center
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: Free
More than 40 theater companies will present readings and rehearsals of plays and musicals during the Kennedy Center’s 14th annual Page-to-Stage Festival — all free and open to the public! Performances will take place at several venues around DC, and there are a few that are family-friendly, including Adventure Theatre’s Lemony Snicket’s The Lump of Coal, Guillotine Theatre’s Hootenanny, Actors Repertpry Theatre’s The Story Thief and the Prince of Dreams, and Alliance for New Music- Thetare’s R.U.R.: A Retro-Futuristic Musical. See the schedule for details and the full list of shows. And note that while tickets are not required, seating is limited.

Virginia Scottish Games
Where: The Plains, Virginia
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Admission: $20adults, $5/ages 5-12, free for under 5
Celebrate Scottish heritage at this annual fair featuring everything from music and dance to sports and games to food and cars, even Scottish dogs. Much of it will be showcased through competition, but there is plenty that all visitors can partake in, too. Two-day adult passes are available for $30. Festival gates will close at 6pm both days, but Saturday’s concert will continue until 9pm. And children under 12 are free on Sunday!

Arts for Families
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free ($8 suggested donation for non-members)
The theme of this Saturday’s weekly drop-in program, “Compass Rose: Find Your Way,” provides inspiration for the session’s project. Guests can create their own compass rose like those featured on the historic maps of Washington, DC, currently on view at the museum.

Labor Day Concert at the Capitol
Where: West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building
When: Sunday, 8pm
Admission: Free
The National Symphony Orchestra continues its annual Labor Day Weekend tradition with a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, this year’s program featues vocalist Kate Davis and the Soldiers’ Chorus of The United States Army Field Band. Gates open to the public at 3pm, and if the 8pm show is too late, you can catch the open dress rehearsal at 3:30pm. In the case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. You can call the NSO Summer Concert Hotline at 202.416.8114 after 2:30pm for updates.

Labor Day with The Great Zucchini
Where: Jammin’ Java
When: Monday, 10:30am
Admission: $5
Catch a colorful show as The Great Zucchini brings his unique fusion of comedy and magic to the Vienna venue on Labor Day. Doors open at 10am, and the show begins soon after. Bring the whole fam to this all ages event!

Row Your Boat
Where: Potomac & Anacostia Rivers
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by boathouse
Take to the water this holiday weekend, where you can paddle and explore. A bunch of places around the area rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, rowboats, and pontoons. Fletcher’s Boathouse is a popular place to go, or you can explore the Anacostia from Ballpark Boathouse in the Navy Yard. Bladensburg Waterfront Park also has vessels for rent along with free pontoon boat tours on weekends from 5-5:45.

An Apple a Day…
Where: Area farms
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
The apple picking season has begun! Several farms in the area open their orchards for guests to PYO. This list of area farms and orchards offering pick-your-own opportunities has details. And I always recommend calling ahead to be sure the pickings are good the day you plan to go.

The Ins & Outs of DC
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you’re just looking for things to do outdoors or inside, depending on the weather or simply your preference, these posts are chock full of evergreen pursuits:
The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids
The Great Indoors

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Filed under All ages, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Farm, Festival, Free, Holidays, Library of Congress, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Summer, Virginia, Weekend

Tagged as 2015 Labor Day Weekend, DC Family Activities, DC Festivals, DC Summer, DC Summer Events, DC Weekend, Fun Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Fun Things to do with Kids in Northern Virginia, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC

May 12, 2015 · 3:06 pm

PYOP: Pick Your Own Produce at These Local Farms

Let me take you down, cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields

The PYOP (pick your own produce) season has begun! It starts with strawberries in the spring, then continues with more delicious fruits and veggies in the summer and fall. Heading out to the farm to do some picking is among my favorite seasonal activities with the kids. It’s a nice break from the urban bustle and a great chance to show them that food doesn’t magically appear on a shelf at Trader Joe’s or on a restaurant plate. Even better, the enjoyment continues with a basketful of fresh produce at home. The time is ripe for planning your own PYOP outing. Here are some of the area’s most popular places to reap some of the best treats of spring, summer, and fall. Happy Picking!

Schlagel Farms
Less than 20 miles from DC in Waldorf, Md, Schlagel Farms is one of the more popular pick-your-own strawberry places in the area with their season often beginning before other area farms — and because that’s the only PYO they offer. As of today, May 12, they are open and should be yielding berries until early June. While there, you can also purchase bedded plants grown in their greenhouse, romp on the playground, and treat the kids – and yourself! – to ice cream. Schlagel’s is open for picking from 8am – 7pm seven days a week. Follow them on Facebook to stay updated on their pickings.

Westmoreland Berry Farm (NOW CLOSED)
The farm in Virginia’s historic Northern Neck also opened their strawberry fields today and welcome visitors to PYO everyday through Sunday, May 17. Come June, the rest of the berries (black, blue, rasp, and cherries) will become ready for picking, and peaches, nectarines, and plums won’t be far behind (see their approximate schedule here). Along with PYO, a goat walk, cow train, hay ride, and play area are fun for kids. Picking hours are 10am – 4pm, and the farm is open 10am – 6pm.

Great Country Farms
At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley, Great Country offers much more than just pick-your-own opportunities. The farm is well known for its big seasonal festivals and fun farm-themed attractions. A hayride takes you out to the picking fields, and kids might spy an emu or goat on the way. Visitors also have access to the barnyard, mazes, a cow train, and jumping pillow. Their u-pick strawberry fields are expected to open the third week of May, and you can get updates on them via Facebook and Twitter. Asparagus is available at the same time, and more berries, plums, tomatoes, okra, green beans, and hot peppers will follow in late spring and summer. The weekends of May 23-24 and May 30-31 are the annual Strawberry Jubilee with live music, pie eating contests, tart tosses, tasty food, and more. Babies 9-12 months can compete in the diaper derby, a crawl to the finish line, to compete for great prizes. Admission is $8/child $10/adult on weekdays, and $10/child $12/adult on festival weekends. Open daily 9am- 6pm.

Wegmeyer Farms
With three locations in Northern Virginia, Wegmeyer offers varying strawberry picking experiences as the settings differ at each. PYO at a historic homestead in Hamilton, then set up lunch at a picnic table (BYO) and let the kids play on a John Deere tractor slide and playground. At Oatlands, the patch and era-themed attire at the historic mansion will whisk you back to the 1800’s, and while visiting the patch is free, you can purchase tour passes for the garden and/or mansion. And at Gilbert’s Corner, enjoy strawberry picking in its most natural state; the no-fuss location is perfect for a simple outing. PYO should start in late May, and go well into June. Check the website for updates, hours, and direction. Bonus: Thursdays are Family Days at all three spots, and you can get a 25% discount simply by mentioning KFDC!

Mackintosh Fruit Farm
The family-owned farm in the Shenandoah Valley will open their farm to the public in late May (check the website or call for an update) with access to their strawberry fields, then blueberries, peaches, brambles, apples, and paw paw. Plan on lunch while you’re there — along with fruits and veggies, the farm also offers a variety of menu items prepared fresh every day from their own produce. Walk it all off afterward along a trail that winds through the fields and woods of the farm and let the kids play it off on the playground. This year they will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 8am – 6pm, plus Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

Homestead Farm
Strawberry season in the popular pick-your-own fields opens in very late May this year (exact date still TBD). More berries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins come later. Along with PYO, there are animals to visit — goats, pigs, and chickens are some of the farm’s residents. And Homestead also scores high on scenery — the lovely pastoral setting in Montgomery County makes you feel like you’re way more than 20 miles from the city. When open, the farm operates seven days a week, and PYO hours are 9am – 5pm. You can sign up to receive weekly updates by email to stay up to date on their crops.

Larriland Farm
About an hour’s drive from DC in Howard County, Larriland Farms always gets great reviews for both it’s produce and beauty. The pick-your-own season opens in late May – early June with strawberries, and they’ll have the full spectrum of berries following soon after, just about every variety of peaches, and loads of veggies available from June – October, too. (See the list and view schedules on the website.) Larriland employs Integrated Pest Management, meaning pesticides are a last resort, to keep pests below an acceptable level with minimum harmful impact on the environment. Summer hours are Tuesdays 9am – 8pm, Wednesday to Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 5pm.

Butler’s Orchard
The farm might be best known for it’s Halloween and Easter extravaganzas, but they have a bounty of great crops, too. Strawberry fields will be open to visitors everyday, expecting to start in early June. Following soon after are more berries and sugar snap and English peas. Potatoes, apples, and pumpkins come later. Picnic there and let the kids play on the slides and playground. In past strawberry seasons their hours have been 8:30am – 6pm during the week, and 8:30am – 5pm on weekends. Stay updated on their status by following on Facebook and Twitter.

Hollin Farms
Across the river in Fauquier County, VA, Hollin Farms will kick off its strawberry picking season in late May, and it should last several weeks after that. Hours are 9am – 4pm Wednesday through Sunday, and they recommend calling ahead to confirm that picking fields are open. But, wait, the PYO doesn’t stop with strawberries! Other spring crops that you’re welcome to gather include lettuce, peas, arugula, bok choy, radishes, Swiss chard. Come summer, peaches, plums, blackberries, red raspberries, sour cherries, and summer veggies are available. Fall brings apples, home-grown Pumpkin Patch, fall vegetables, potatoes, and dig-your-own peanuts. And a special P.S. to meat lovers: they pride themselves on their grass-fed beef.

Do you have a favorite PYOP farm that you don’t see here? Feel free to share in the comments, if so!