
Get your Halloween fun started early, support a local school at one of several fundraisers, enjoy some live entertainment (even on front porches!), celebrate the season, join a museum program, cheer on runners, have one last huzzah… these are just some of the ways you and the kids can conquer the weekend. And something to keep in mind as you do: The Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday means there will be some major road closures, but it shouldn’t hamper your good time. Happy Weekend!
Kids Euro Festival
Where: Around the DC-Metro
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Consider this your passport to two weeks of artistic adventures, as the Kids Euro Festival brings continental entertainment right to DC. This is the first weekend of the event that will present more than 125 free performances all 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 November 8. See what’s on the schedule over the next few days.
Air and Scare
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum
When: Saturday, 2-7pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Discover the spooky side of air and space at the Udvar-Hazy Center’s 10th Annual Air & Scare! Arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating. Participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. Bring the tiniest visitors by the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. Be sure to pose for a photo with your favorite Star Wars and Ghostbuster characters!
Fall Harvest Family Days
Where: Mount Vernon
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $18/adults, $8/ages 6-11, free for 5 and under
Mount Vernon welcomes the autumn season with Fall Harvest Family Days that include wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, apple-roasting, blacksmithing and corn husk doll demos, and early-American games and music. Guests can also get a view of the estate from the water – Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price during this weekend event.
Food History Festival
Where: National Museum of American History
When: Saturday, 10am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
When it comes to food innovations, is everything old really new again? This Smithsonian festival presents a full day of free activities for visitors of all ages that will spark conversations about the past, present, and future of food innovations in America.
PorchFest
Where: Adams Morgan
When: Saturday, 3-7pm
Admission: Free
Get the best seats in the house (or on the sidewalk) as the front porches of homes and a few local businesses are transformed into intimate performance spaces to be enjoyed by anyone who happens to stroll by. Part of Cultural Tourism DC’s Art4All festival, the Adams Morgan PorchFest will create a family-friendly, neighborhood-based alternative to the nightclub music scene. Enjoy music styles from Brazilian, Irish and jazz, to indie rock, children’s tunes, and even Egyptian Nubian folkloric.
Truck Touch
Where: Suburban Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5 (under 2 are free)
Get up close and personal with fire trucks, police cars, delivery trucks, construction rigs, buses, dump trucks, and many more! And there’s more than just trucks — bounce Houses, a toy car race track, games, photo booth, pumpkin decorating, food trucks, bake sale, will also be part of the festivities.
River Park Yard & Bake Sale
Where: Eastern Market
When: Saturday, 8am-1pm
Admission: Free
Head to the Rumsey Aquatic Center Plaza (635 North Carolina Ave SE) at Eastern Market to find great bargains, from baby gear to housewares and furniture, and yummy goodies at River Park Nursery School’s annual yard sale and bake sale. All proceeds support River Park, an independent non-profit with a 50-year tradition on Capitol Hill.
Pumpkins in the Park
Where: Canal Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate fall with some fresh air, creativity, and free entertainment! The Capitol Riverfront BID welcomes families to come out for pumpkin decorating, face painting, a giant pumpkin moonbounce, music from Rainbow Rock, and more! This event is open to all — kids and kids-at-heart. Pumpkins will be available on a rolling basis throughout the event, so go early to get yours!
A Last Huzzah!
Where: Revel Grove in Crownsville, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 7pm
Admission: $22/ages 16 and up, $10/ages 7-15, free for 6 and under
It’s the final weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the annual faire that recalls medieval times with an English Tudor village full of fun and entertainment for the whole family. I highly, highly recommend going if you haven’t been yet. Huzzah!
Show Time
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Rainbow Puppets’ Really Big Dinosaur Show is this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* Head to the U.S. Botanic Garden for The Cerulean Time Capsule, an interactive theatrical adventure (and tour the plant collections while you’re there)
* See (and smell?) Flowers Stink, a collaboration between the U.S. Botanic Garden and the Kennedy Center
* When She Had Wings is soaring at Imagination Stage
* Catch a classic story on strings as The Puppet Co. present Aladdin (and his wonderful lamp)
* And Panda-Monium is the featured Tiny Tots show at the Glen Echo venue
* Take the kids to rock out at Signature Theatre’s Girlstar (best for ages 10 and up…look for discount tickets)
* The Reston Community Players present Shrek the Musical at CenterStage
* Spend Saturday morning with The Great Zucchini at Jammin’ Java
* Do Halloween at the Kennedy Center where the NSO Family Concert Sleepy Hollow-een will entertain the whole fam (look for discount tickets)
Marathon Fun for Spectators
Where: Miles 22 & 23 in Crystal City
When: Sunday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Cheer on the Marine Corps Marathon runners at toward the end of their race while the kids enjoy some family activities at the Crystal City Family Festival. Along miles 22 and 23, there will be a variety of activities for young spectators, including face painting, moon bounces, balloon animals, circus activities, and more!
Movies at the Art Museum
Where: National Gallery
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10:30am
Admission: Free
Young film buffs can enjoy screenings of two Dutch films at the National Gallery this weekend. Presented as part of the Kids Euro Festival, there will be a screening of The Amazing Wipala on Saturday and Finn on Sunday. Both are recommended for ages 10 and up, and descriptions are available on the website.
Family Workshop: Sculpting to the Beat
Where: Freer | Sackler Gallery
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Join the Asian art museum for the opening weekend of Sōtatsu: Making Waves! Visitors of all ages are invited to discover the exhibition on a family-friendly tour (held at 12pm and 2pm) or by making their own Sōtatsu-inspired fans in the galleries. Return to the ImaginAsia classroom to experiment with a variety of art materials, solve creative challenges, and collaborate with friends and family.
Pumpkin Palooza
Where: The Wharf
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Let children express their imaginations as they craft their very own “Pumpkin” with the assistance of a talented team of on-site Wharf artists. When they’re done, relax by the water and enjoy some terrific music from the Wil Gravatt Band. Great food, beverages and refreshments are just steps away at Cantina Marina, the District’s original dock bar. Grillmaster Bufus will also be on site at the King Ribs shack offering tasty-to-the-bone grilled foods. It’s a day the whole fam can enjoy together!
Kinderdance for Free
Where: Columbia Heights Recreation Center
When: Saturday, 1-2pm
Admission: Free
Dance into fall with Kinderdance of Washington, DC! The program offers lessons in ballet, tap, acrobatics, and more. And children ages 3-5 can sample a class this Saturday – on them. To reserve a spot, contact Kinderdance at 240.270.2490 or info@kdwashingtondc.org.
Cathedral Commons Fall Festival
Where: Northwest DC
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
The new mixed-use development on Wisconsin Avenue is hosting its first annual Cathedral Heights Fall Festival & Craft Beer Showcase on Saturday. The event will highlight the abundance of onsite retailers in the area, and will feature live entertainment including a class with specialty fitness center PureBarre, dance demos with The Washington Ballet, musical performances from local community. Free activities for kids include a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, inflatable slide, and fall crafts.
Fall Festival
Where: Potomac Crescent Waldorf School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $15/child ($45 max/family)
Join Potomac Crescent Waldorf School in celebration of their annual Fall Festival. The rain or shine event has fun for the whole family. Enjoy traditional games, crafts & activities, local artisan sales, great food, marionette plays, puppet plays, a bake sale and live music. Marionette and puppet play tickets are extra. The school is located at 3846 King Street in Alexandria.
Fall Fun on the Farm
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate the season at one of many area festivals on the farm. From pumpkin patches and apple picking to corn mazes and hayrides to giant slides and jumping pillows, there are activities galore to help folks relish in the fun autumn brings. This post has details on many fall festivals happening around the region.
Haunted Harvest
Where: Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan
When: October 24, 6-9 p.m.
Admission: $20 per family ($1-$5 for food)
The annual Haunted Harvest festival has something for every age. Activities include haunted house, ghoulish games, zombie dance party, mad science experiments for older kids and crafts and scary storytelling for younger kids. There are also chili and hot dog dinners for sale, plus a chili cook-off contest. Admission fees benefit the school. The first 150 kids to arrive will get to paint a real pumpkin and take it home with them. Costumes are encouraged for all ages!
Haunted Garage and Fall Festival
Where: Oyster Adams School
When: Saturday & Sunday, 4-8pm
Admission: Free
Get ready for a family evening of friendly fright and ghoulish crafts! Oyster-Adams Bilingual School is hosting its 1st Annual Haunted Garage and Fall Festival. Hold on to friends and loved ones as you walk through our Haunted Garage. Enjoy pumpkin decorating, candy skull decorating, food and costume contests, games, and more. Oyster is located at 2801 Calvert Street NW.
More Wicked Fun
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Halloween in the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and at National Harbor, Boo at the Zoo, an Anna Banana art party, special train and carousel rides, and more ways to celebrate Halloween a little bit early are going on around the area this weekend. Find the huge list of ‘em here.
Friends Community School Fall Fair
Where: Sunday, 12-4pm
When: Friends Community School
Admission: Free
Friends Community School welcomes the public to enjoy a day of fun activities at their annual Fall Fair. The event will include student-run old-fashioned games, a moon bounce, a toy and book sale, entertainment, and plenty of good food prepared by local restaurants and school families. The fair will take place rain or shine. The school is located at 5901 Westchester Park Drive in College Park, MD.
Fancy This
Where: Brookside Gardens
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $8/ages 13 and up, $5/3-12, free ages 0-2
It’s your last chance to walk amid the garden of butterflies at Brookside Garden’s amazing Wings of Fancy exhibit. The display featuring live butterflies and caterpillars from all over the world is sure to delight! Read about a KFDC experience at the exhibit. Plan to tour the rest of Brookside’s lovely grounds while you’re there and see if there are any other special kids’ programs to enjoy.
Hiking & History
Where: Harper’s Ferry
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free ($10 if you park in lot)
Get some fresh air and exercise as you take in autumn hues and historic sites. Harpers Ferry is an easy day trip or weekend destination from DC, and fall is a great time to go. For more about a visit there, see this very recent post.