Tag Archives: National Zoo

October 18, 2011 · 7:02 pm

Get the Halloween Party Started

Owen and his friend, Amelia, ham it up at last year's Hilloween

Why wait until the actual day to celebrate one of the best — no, the best in my book — holidays of the year? Besides the bonuses of getting more mileage out of costumes and having extra excuses to indulge in sweets, Halloween festivities are a treat any day. If you agree, there are loads of ways to get into the spooky spirit during the days leading up to the grand event. From skeletons at the museum to creepy train rides through the woods to costume concerts and dance parties to jack-o-lanterns on the farm, these local events will have Halloween-goers screaming for more.

Boo at the Zoo
Where: National Zoo
When: October 21-23, 5:30-8:30pm
Admission: $20/members, $30/non-members (note: Saturday is sold out)
This annual event is the wildest trick-or-treat in town. Kids ages 2 – 12 can get costumed up for after-hours Halloween fun at the Zoo. Get ready for tasty candy, delicious snack foods, and other goodies from more than 40 treat stations. Plus, animal encounters, keeper talks, and festive decorations are yours to enjoy. And this year Boo guests get to take home a complimentary reusable treat bag. Boo at the Zoo takes place rain or shine.

Halloween at the Medical Museum: Serious Fun with Skulls
Where: National Museum of Health and Medicine
When: October 22, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Admission: FREE
The National Museum of Health and Medicine invites little ghouls and their families to get into the Halloween spirit by learning about skulls. The theme of the program is Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a holiday that celebrates the human cycle of life and death. Learn about the traditions associated with Día de los Muertos by decorating your own sugar skull (for 1st graders and up); participate in story time with books about Day of the Dead and skeletons; make your own skull mask; and more. Halloween costumes are welcome! The National Museum of Health and Medicine is now located at 2500 Linden Lane in Silver Spring, just outside of the Fort Detrick-Forest Glen Annex. A designated visitor parking lot is located off Linden Lane in front of the Museum (do not enter the Annex gates). Adult visitors will need to present photo ID upon entry to the Museum.

“Eye Spy” Halloween Train
Where: Cabin John Regional Park
When: October 20-23, October 27-30 (see schedule for times)
Admission: $6/person, $5 with canned food donation, free for kids 2 and under
Hop on board the Halloween! Cabin John’s “Eye Spy” features just enough “boo” power for kids age 8 and under. Along the ride through the woods on the train, kids can try to find Halloween friends hiding along the way and mark them off their “Eye Spy” game cards that they receive with admission. Guests can also enjoy Halloween movies every night, face painting on Saturdays and Sundays, and light refreshments for sale.

Haunted Train & Creepy Carousel
Where: Wheaton Regional Park
When: October 20-23, October 27-30 (see schedule for times)
Admission: $6/person, $5 with canned food donation
Wheaton Regional Park’s Haunted Train and Creepy Carousel are back and scarier than ever! This annual Halloween attraction is designed for people 8 years old and above, because they do their best to make it VERY SCARY (and this is the website description, so take their word for it). Admission includes one ride each on the train and carousel, plus entrance to the Hall of Jack o’ Lanterns movie theater presenting scary films every night.

BooStravaganza and Hardly Haunted Hayrides
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park
When: October 28, 5:30-8:30pm & October 29, 12-6:30pm
Admission: $8/child on 10/28, $5/child on 10/29
Make reservations for BooStravaganza on Friday, where children ages 2-8 can dress in their favorite costumes and enjoy fun, games, and a wagon ride. They’ll finish the evening with treats and a small pumpkin. On Saturday, kids of all ages can take Hardly Haunted Hayrides along with other farm fun. Reservation are recommended.

BB2 BOO – Boogie Babes Halloween Happy Hour
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center
When: October 26, 5:15-6:30pm doors open at 5pm
Admission: $10/family
The Boogie Babes are growing up with BB2, musical get-togethers that are cool for older kids, too. They’re kicking off the fun with a Halloween dance party. Kid and parents are invited to come in costume for entertainment, light snacks, and photos taken by Maya’s Eye Photography. Adult beverages will also be available for purchase. An RSVP is appreciated, though not required: email dcboogiebabes@gmail.com.

Halloween Harvest Family Special
Where: Discovery Theater
When: October 27-28 10:15am & 11:30am, October 29, 11am & 1pm
Admission: $12/adults, $10/ages 2 and up, $3/children under 2, $10/resident members
Dress up in a costume and join Oran (“Chef FONZ” and “Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly”) Sandel at the Discovery Theater pumpkin patch for songs, games, and more. He’ll spin an American Indian harvest story; guests will look inside Mr. Jack O’ Lantern (what really makes him tick?) and create a pumpkin face for Discovery Theater. Bring in YOUR design, and they’ll post it on their Facebook page. On Saturday, 10/29, be sure to stop by the Ripley concourse for Discovery Theater’s First Annual Harvest Halloween Festival from 11am-2pm, where families will find lots of fabulous fall fun together.

Halloween Monster Jump
Where: Pump It Up in Lanham, Md
When: October 28-31, various times (See below)
Admission: $13/child, $5/adult
Halloween is simply spook-tacular when you’re at a bouncing, laughing, sliding, howling, so don a costume and jump on over to Pump It Up for freaky fun and frightening food. There will be a prize for best costume and a chance to win a free birthday party. For guest safety, costumes may not include: masks, jewelry, capes or other hanging items, or heavy make-up , and 100% polyester is strictly prohibited. Must include socks. Halloween Monster Jumps will take place at the following times: 10/28 6-8pm & 8-10pm, 10/29 8:30pm-10:30pm,,10/30 is TBD, 10/31 6-8pm & 7:45pm-9:45pm. The admission fee includes 2 slices of pizza and a drink, plus goodies for everyone.

Glow Night – A Magical Evening on the Farm
Where: Great Country Farms
When: October 28-29, 6-9pm
Admission: $10/child, $12/adult, free for ages 2 and under
See a spectacular display of over 2000 lighted jack-o-lanterns carved by local school children. The magical moment when they cut the lights (7pm) will take your breath away. Bring your carved Jack-o-lantern to enter in a carving competitions — Jack-o-lanterns are judged for Best in Glow, Scariest and Funniest. Along with the light show, warm yourself by the bonfire, roast some marshmallows, and enjoy apple cider.

Haunted Halloween Pop-Ups
Where: National Building Museum
When: October 29, 10am-12pm
Admission: $10/members, $15/non-members, adults are free
Celebrate the spirit of Halloween as you design your very own pop-up haunted house. Learn the pop-up architecture technique from guest artist Carol Barton. Decorate a spooky haunted house scene to take place on your window sill. Fun for the whole family, the festivities include crafts, treats, and ghosts stories (more silly than spooky!) about the Museum. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Prepaid registration required. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Trick or Treat with the Boutiques
Where: Old Town Boutique District in Alexandria
When: October 29 during store hours
Admission: FREE
Bring your ghosts and goblins for a day of trick or treat in the Old Town Boutique District. The OTBD’s annual Trick or Treat with the Boutiques event is a great way for families to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween day in Old Town Alexandria. All of the participating OTBD stores will offer treats. Some may also offer family friendly tricks. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Tricks and treats will be available during the day and during store hours.

Halloween Fun with the Jimmies
Where: National Geographic
When: October 29, 1pm
Admission: $16/adults, $12/kids 12 and under, $40/family four-pack
“Gimme Jimmies” is the rallying cry of this NYC-based kindie rock band, a Parents’ Choice award winner whose clever, creative music gets kids rocking. The heavy guitar groove hooks in parents as well. Dress in your Halloween costume—maybe a lion, leopard, or tiger, to support NG’s Big Cats Initiative—and get ready to rock-and-roll.

Halloween Festivities in Penn Quarter
Where: MLK, Jr Memorial Library, 8^th Street NW, & Calvary Baptist Church
When: October 29, 2-6pm
Admission: FREE
Save the date for an afternoon of fun Halloween festivities for families of boooys and ghouls living in Penn Quarter and the surrounding DC area. From 2-4pm, costumed children can enjoy Halloween story time, light refreshments, and trick-or-treating throughout the Library. After that, join a costume Parade for a Playground as kids make their way to Calvary Baptist Church for a Creepy Crawly Fun Filled Halloween Party from 4-6pm, where there will be crafts, treats, a costume contest with prizes, a creepy guessing game, a dance party, and a moon bounce.

Flight Fest
Where: College Park Aviation Museum
When: October 29, 12-4pm
Admission: $4/adults, $3/seniors, $2/ages 2-18, free for under 2
Wear your costume and enjoy the fun, fall-themed activities. There will be a costume contest and pumpkin bowling. Arts, crafts, hayrides, and spooky fun are waiting for kids and families.

Air and Scare
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum
When: October 29, 2-8pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15 until 7pm
Discover the spooky side of air and space at the Udvar-Hazy Center’s 7th 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. Don’t forget to stop by the face painting station or pose for a photo with your favorite Star Wars character!

Crime Museum Halloween Kids & Candy
Where: National Museum of Crime & Punishment
When: October 30, 1-6pm
Admission: $10/costumes child, $10/adults accompanying children
Batman, Wonder Woman, police officers, and all other costumed characters can enjoy a day of Halloween fun at this Penn Quarter museum. Festivities include a regular museum tour, Police Academy Jr. Activity Sheet, McGruff the Crime Dog appearances, finger print identification cards, candy, and more.

Kidsfest
Where: George Washington University
When: October 30, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
GWU is hosting this event for families to celebrate Halloween in a safe environment. The festival will include activity booths, where kids can play games and complete arts and crafts projects; a trick-or-treating route through a Residence Hall; and a Witch’s Kitchen. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Kidsfest will take place in the Hippodrome on the 5th floor of the Marvin Center located at 800 21st NW.

Historic Halloween Spooktacular: Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Where: Tudor Place
When: October 31, 3-6pm
Admission: Members are free, $7/children, $3/non-member adults
Children don their Halloween costumes to trick or treat through Tudor Places enchanting gardens. The fun continues as children of all ages create tasty Halloween treats to take home. Register online.

Hilloween
Where: 7th Street SE in front of Eastern Market
When: October 31, 5:30-7:30pm
Admission: FREE
Capitol Hill’s annual event is legendary for little ones. The block of 7th Street SE next to Eastern Market will be closed to traffic for one of the best community Halloween celebrations in the city. Hayrides, moon bounces, goody giveaways, and even a mini carousel will add to the excitement. The best part is seeing the masses of jubilant kids in all kinds of costumes indulging in the neighborhood extravaganza.

Operation Disguise
Where: International Spy Museum
When: October 1-31
Admission: Take $5 off these fees with a disguise – $18/ages 12 and up, $15/ages 5-11
Celebrate Halloween at the Spy Museum all month long. When you wear the right disguise, you get $5 off the regular admission price. Go covert October 17-23 with a pair of glasses, and don a moustache from October 23-31. And if you’re looking for help with a Halloween costume, there will also be a disguise/makeup event in the Spy Museum Store on Saturday, October 29^th, from 12-7pm.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Fall, Farm, Festival, Free, Halloween, Holidays, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Parade, Park, Seasonal, Theatre, Trains, Virginia, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as Air and Scare, Atlas Performing Arts Center, BB2 BOO, Boo at the Zoo, Boogie Babes, BooStravaganza, Cabin John “Eye Spy” Halloween Train, Cabin John Regional Park, Capitol Hill, College Park Aviation Museum, Discovery Theater, Flight Fest, Frying Pan Farm Park, Glow Night, Great Country Farms, Halloween at the Medical Museum, Halloween Festivities in Penn Quarter, Halloween Fun with the Jimmies, Halloween Harvest Family Special, Halloween in DC, Halloween Monster Jump, Hardly Haunted Hayrides, Haunted Halloween Pop-Ups, Haunted Train & Creepy Carousel, Hilloween, Historic Halloween Spooktacular: Trick or Treat at Tudor Place, International Spy Museum, MLK Jr. Library, National Air & Space Museum, National Building Museum, National Geographic Live!, National Museum of Health and Medicine, National Zoo, Old Town Boutique District, Operation Disguise, Pump It Up, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Things to do with Kids in DC, Trick or Treat with the Boutiques, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Halloween Events for Kids, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekend October 22-23, Weekend October 29-30, What to do with kids in DC, Wheaton Regional Park

October 16, 2011 · 7:58 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 17-21

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens... lots of lily pads, but where are the frogs?

Monday – Children up to age 5 can become Young Portrait Explorers and discover the National Portrait Gallery through history and art. During this session they will learn about writer Gertrude Stein by viewing her portrait and listening to a story about her, then participating in a related hands-on activity.

Tuesday – Go on a nature walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. See ponds filled with giant lily pads and other interesting marsh plants and look for geese, great blue herons, turtles, frogs, and tiny fish on the way. Open 7am – 4:30pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Let Mr. Gabe entertain little ones at Lebanese Taverna in Arlington. The show is part of their weekly Kid’s Day series that presents a different performer from 10-11am. Stay after for a yummy Middle Eastern lunch.

Thursday – Join in a jump session at Pump It Up in Lanham, Md. From 10-11:30am, kids ages 2-6 can pop in for pre-K play time. Admission is $8. Parents play for free and must accompany children. Don’t forget socks!

Friday – Head into the weekend with some fun at the National Zoo. Go during the day to visit the animals or do some early Halloween celebrating as Boo at the Zoo kicks off in the evening (tickets still available for Friday night as this post goes live).

Where to Play on the Weekdays: September 26-30

Visiting goats at the National Zoo's Kids Farm

Monday – Check out the brand spanking new imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American Indian. Learn about Native people, history, and culture through interactive exhibits, stories, hands-on activities and more. Open during museum hours, 10am – 5:30pm.

Tuesday – Explore the grossest and weirdest of the animal world at the National Geographic Museum. Two of their newest exhibits are right up kids’ alleys: Animal Grossology spotlights some of the “slimiest, stinkiest and downright yuckiest creatures on Earth,” while its companion exhibit Weird But True features the “wackiest, weirdest, and totally true facts about the animal world.” Both exhibits are included in museum admission – $8/adults, $6/ages 12-18, $4/ages 5-12, children under 5 are free.

Wednesday – Take advantage of smaller weekday crowds at one of several fall festivals that are already underway. See this post to find out where you can celebrate the season.

Thursday – Discover the world of Amelia Earhart through an interactive puppet show presented by Discovery Theater at the National Air & Space Museum. Showtimes are 10:15am, 11:15am, and 12:15pm. Tickets range from $3-8. (Note: The show will also be performed on Friday at the same times.)

Friday – Spend the day at the National Zoo and be sure to check the Daily Programs schedule to help plan your visit. Admission to the Zoo is free, but parking is $15 for the first three hours, $20 for more than three. You can save that by taking Metro to Woodley Park and walking a couple of blocks, or if you drive, you might get lucky and find parking along Connecticut Avenue or a side street.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Educational, Fall, Farm, Festival, Live Entertainment, Museums, Outdoor, Seasonal, Theatre, Weekdays

Tagged as Animal Grossology, Discovery Theatre, Fall Festivals, imagiNATIONS, National Air & Space Museum, National Geographic Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, National Zoo, September 26-30, Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weird But True

August 14, 2011 · 8:55 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: August 15-19

Scoping the wetlands for wildlife at Huntely Meadows Park

For some of us, this is the last week of summer break before school starts up again. Where did the time go? It’s been a great summer for us, pieced together by camps, our own fun outings, vacation, and a few neat ventures, which I plan to share soon. In the meantime, enjoy these final days of summer with the kids.

Here are ideas for where to do that this week, August 15-19:

Monday – Kiddie rides, carnival games, pig races, farm animals, fried dough… If you didn’t make it to one of the county fairs this weekend, you can still get in on the fun at the Montgomery County Fair, which runs through Saturday. More info is available here, and you can also read a KFDC review of last year’s fair.

Tuesday – It’s Art à la Cart at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Kids ages 7 – 12 are encouraged to exercise their creativity with brushes and palettes, bison horns, bottle caps, quilt squares, and more tools available in interactive carts among the galleries from 1-4pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Visit the animals at the National Zoo and be sure to check the daily calendar to see when you can catch feedings, elephant training demos, kids’ farm talks, and more. Later on, take the little ones to a special Baby Loves Disco happy hour at the Rock & Roll Hotel. The dancing fun starts at 5pm; admission is $20/person or $60/four people.

Thursday – Go for a summer wagon ride at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. Naturalists lead passengers on 90-minute excursions at 9:30am and 5pm–register to ride online ($6/county residents, $8/non-resident). If those times don’t work, explore the woods and wetlands on your own (for free). Turtle, bird, frog, and butterfly sightings are practically guaranteed.

Friday – It’s a Family Fair in Georgetown at Tudor Place and Dumbarton House, where guests can enjoy the end of summer with crafts, games, and sweet treats. Register in advance online; admission is $8/member children, $10/non-member children, $5/accompanying adult.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, Art, DC, Educational, Free, Maryland, Museums, Music, Summer, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as Art a la Cart, Baby Loves Disco, Dumbarton House, Family Fair, Huntley Meadows Park, Montgomery County Fair, National Zoo, Rock & Roll Hotel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Tudor Place

July 22, 2011 · 6:53 am

Keep Your Cool this Weekend

Pretend play at it best

Yowza, it’s hot out! And it’s going to continue into the weekend, with chances of storms to boot. Here’s where you can stay cool and dry, along with a few suggestions for outdoor recreation if you dare brave the heat (sunblock, hats, and shade recommended). Happy Weekend!

The Inside Scoop – It seems only appropriate that these ideas for indoor fun top this round-up of weekend activities. Enjoy the AC!

Living Earth Festival – The National Museum of the American Indian is celebrating indigenous contributions to environmental sustainability, knowledge, and activism. The three-day event has tons for families. Hands-on activities include pottery and cornhusk dragonfly art projects, Hawaiian games, and hula lessons. Enjoy craft demonstrators, music, dancers, and festival activities throughout the museum. At a Farmer’s Market, children may receive something to plant in their own garden, and you can shop for local produce, meat, and traditional dishes. There will also be a cook-off featuring Native and local Chefs, and on Saturday guests can hear a free concert at 5pm on the Welcome Plaza.

Mars Day – Taking place today, Friday, the National Air and Space Museum celebrates the Red Planet with a variety of educational and fun family activities. Visitors can see a real meteorite that came from Mars, view the surface of Mars in 3-D with red/blue glasses. Learn about the latest missions and discoveries, talk to scientists active in Mars research, and more. The free event takes place from 10am – 3pm.

Destination Asia – Explore the heritage of Asia at George Mason University this weekend at the 8^th Annual Asian Festival. Enjoy everything from traditional performances and cultural exhibitions to authentic cuisine and over 200 retails shops selling Asian products. The event runs on Saturday 10am – 10pm and Sunday 11am – 6pm. Admission is free.

Kids Farm Celebration – In case you haven’t yet heard, the Kids’ Farm at the National Zoo will remain open thanks to a generous donation by State Farm. The public is invited to celebrate the good news on Sunday from 11am – 2pm. Guests can enjoy arts & crafts, animal demos, and visits with their furry friends, of course. Just like entrance to the Zoo, this event is free of charge.

Make a Splash – If you’re going to be outside this weekend, access to water will be a good thing, and I don’t just mean the kind you drink. Get wet and stay cool at a spray park or outdoor pool—find links to public pools and spraygrounds in this post about summer fun. Or, go play in the fountains at The Yards Park.

The Wizard of Oz x 2 – You can catch two different productions of the classic show starting this weekend. The Puppet Co. presents their version on July 22 – September 4 with several show times this weekend. You can also see the play performed by people, The Act III Theatre Company, at Encore Stage and Studio in Arlington. Tickets are still available for all of the weekend performances.

Theatre in the Woods – This week’s performers at Wolf Trap’s summer theatre series are Bob Brown Puppets and the band Recess Monkey. While outdoors, the venue is shaded by a lovely canopy of trees, and the 10am showtime will get it all started before the day really heats up. Read of review of our Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods experience.

Family Films – Catch one of the movie series especially for families that run on the weekends. The Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts its Family Series on Saturdays at 5pm. This week’s showing will be “Babe.” While tickets are free, there is a $2 per ticket booking fee. For a screening under the stars, head to National Harbor on Sunday for its free Movies on the Potomac series. This week, see “Shrek Forever After,” starting just after sunset.

Stories in Art – On Sunday, the National Gallery of Art’s summer drop-in program welcomes kids ages 4-7 to explore Dutch art through storytelling, gallery tours, and hands-on projects. Sessions are hourly starting at 11:30am. Sign-up begins at 11am in the West Building Rotunda, and space is limited. Read a review of our experience at a session last summer. And for more details on this summer’s program and tips on signing up, see this post.

Portrait Story Days – Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday from 1-4pm and Sunday from 2-5pm, to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This weekend, learn about Sequoyah, who created the Cherokee writing system.