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August 10, 2012 · 7:51 am

The Weekend Round-Up: August 10-12

On the shores of Maine

Greetings from Vacationland! We may not be in DC right now, but I’ve still got you covered on family fun there for the next few days. Happy Weekend! (And p.s. – KidFriendly DC is realllly close to hitting 2,000 “likes” on Facebook, so if you don’t already follow, help me reach it! You’ll also get extra updates about local happenings, deals, and more there.)

Fair Game
Where: Arlington, Montgomery, Prince William, and Howard Counties
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by fair
Carnival rides and games, farm animals, live entertainment, pony rides, the junk food gamut, pig races. Yes, it’s county fair season, and you have your pick of four going on right now. This post from a couple of days ago has the scoop on all of the county fun.

Shenandoah Riverfest
Where: Shenandoah River Andy Guest State Park
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Shenandoah at Riverfest, a family event designed to connect the community with the river. The festival will feature canoe rides along the South Fork off the Shenandoah River; live bluegrass music; fly fishing demos; environmental and wild animals displays; and more. View the day’s schedule here – the public is invited to enjoy it all for free!

Super Science Saturday: Helicopters
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
The Dulles arm of the Air & Space Museum hosts its own special program on the second Saturday of every month, and this weekend it’ll be all about helicopters. Visitors can enjoy hands-on demos and activities related to the subject. And the permanent exhibits – a hangar full of amazing air and space craft – are worth a trip out there themselves.

Show Time
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
See a Tiny Tots shows for little ones or “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves” at The Puppet Co. and look for a discount on tickets here. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is on the Imagination Stage. Adventure Theatre presents “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.” And Justin Roberts is performing at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods on Saturday.

Irish Festival
Where: Waterfront Park in Alexandria
When: Saturday, 11am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Head to Old Town for a day of fun and music, featuring Pat Garvey, Brook Yoder, Pat Carroll, the City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums, the Washington Scottish Pipes & Drums, and the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. There will also be performances by the Boyle School of Irish Dance, the Culkin School of Irish Dance, the O’Neill-James School of Irish Dance, and the Celtic Rhythm School of Irish Dance. Great vendors will have a variety of Irish items, arts & crafts, and traditional festival foods.

East Coast Dance Concert
Where: Carter Barron Amphitheater
When: Saturday, 7:30pm (doors open 6:30pm)
Admission: Free
The biggest free hip-hop and urban dance concert on the east coast is happening this weekend Rock Creek Park’s entertainment venue. The event will be hosted by Culture Shock Inc., a professional dance company that serves as a nonprofit youth outreach organization, and will feature their own professional and youth teams as well as dance groups from all over the world.

National Bowling Day
Where: Alleys around the area
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
It seems there is a “national day” for just about everything these days, and this Saturday it’s for bowling. Hit a local lane and go for the strike… or just have fun knocking down some pins. Everyone in America can bowl free at participating centers – go here to find one near you.

Inspired by India: A Family Celebration
Where: Freer-Sackler Gallery
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the art and culture of the Indian subcontinent with a free all-day family event. Watch classical kathak dancing, listen to traditional Indian flute music, and make a rakhi bracelet. Watch artists create Indian rangoli (rice powder) paintings, and join exhibition tours of Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran.

All Kids Can CREATE
Where: MLK Jr. Memorial Library
When: All weekend
Admission: Free
A new art exhibit is now on display at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library. And this is no ordinary exhibit – it’s an incredible show of artwork by youth aged 5-15, with and without disabilities, from across the nation, who were motivated by the theme “What Inspires Me.” Over 100 artworks were selected from children of all abilities – including some with autism, cerebral palsy, bipolar disorder, and other challenges – to represent each U.S. state. The exhibit will be on display at the library through August 26. The MLK Jr. Memorial Library is located at

Facing History: Be the Artist
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: Free
Children ages 5 and up are invited to explore portraiture in depth as they take a brief guided tour of an exhibition, this week focusing on the work of Georgia O’Keefe; listen to a children’s story or short gallery talk; and create a piece of art using some of the same materials or concepts. The event is free, but space is limited, so registration is required.

Airmail Day
Where: College Park Aviation Museum
When: Sunday, 1-3pm
Admission: $4/adult, $3/seniors, $2/child, free for 2 and under
Celebrate the anniversary of the first Airmail flight out of the College Park Airport by creating your own stamp and airmail bag at the nearby museum. While you’re there, view the old airplanes and other relics of flight on display, and enjoy the many interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for kids.

Portrait Story Days
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery 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 sculptor Patience L. Wright.

Supra Cool Art
Where: Hirshhorn Museum
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
This weekend is your last chance to experience, Suprasensorial, the Hirshhorn’s unique, interactive exhibit that experiments with light and space. The walk through doesn’t take very long, so plan on another activity while you’re on the Mall.

For even more ideas for fun with the kids, check out these popular KFDC posts:

Summer in the City

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

The Great Indoors

The Weekend Round-Up: August 3-5

A LEGO Kingdom at last year's BrickFair (Courtesy: BrickFair)

This round-up is coming to you a little earlier than usual as we’re getting ready to go on vacation. And as long as the Internets is working where we’re staying, I’ll still be keeping you informed of DC happenings, though more frequently via Facebook, so be sure to check in there. As for activities this weekend, there is LOTS going on — a big event in support of breastfeeding, a LEGO fan fest, a 4-H fair, live entertainment, baseball, art programs, and plenty more. Happy Weekend!

The Great Nurse-In
Where: West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol
When: Saturday, 9am – 4pm
Admission: Free
After months of anticipation, the first-ever Great Nurse-In is happening Saturday on the West Lawn on the U.S. Capitol! With a mission to normalize nursing for today’s society and future generations, the event welcomes everyone — nursing moms, formerly nursing moms, non-nursing moms, partners, children, friends, community members — who wants to support the cause. There will be guest speakers, a Big Latch-On assembly, children’s performers presented by the Boogie Babes, open mic sessions, and more. The program schedule is available here.

LEGOS Galore!
Where: Dulles Expo Center
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $10/ages 4 and up, free for 3 and under
BrickFair, the nation’s largest LEGO Fan Festival, will be enthralling guests of all ages this weekend. The event brings together LEGO enthusiasts from across the country to showcase their amazing brick constructions, from tiny intricate works to elaborate, towering creations. Over a thousand exhibitors will be there to display their designs, along with vendors selling all things LEGOS — T-shirts, hats, mini figures, models, and more.

Craft Futures Family Day
Where: Renwick Gallery
When: Saturday 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the 40 under 40: Craft Futures exhibition with the whole family! The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery will have hands-on craft activities inspired by the artworks on display and a scavenger hunt through the exhibition galleries. A docent highlights tour at 1pm will be a family-friendly tour through the 40 under 40 exhibition.

Go for the Gold
Where: National Children’s Museum Launch Zone
When: Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Why just watch the Olympics on television, when you can come to the Launch Zone and experience the fun for yourself? Olympic athlete and local resident Tiombé Hurd will join the National Children’s Museum from 1-3pm in celebrating the 2012 Summer Olympic Games with an Olympic-style competition and program that encourages children to put their athletic and academic abilities to the test with hurdles, long jumps, obstacle courses, geography challenges and more.

Fairfax County 4-H Fair
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park
When: Saturday 9am – 9pm & Sunday 9am – 5pm
Admission: $7 parking fee (ride & activities cost extra)
Join the old-fashioned, country fun at the 64th Annual Fairfax County 4-H. Carnival games, rides, fair exhibits, and more will keep guests of all ages entertained. See the 4-H exhibitors get their farm animals ready for the show, visit a variety of booths, try farm chores, enjoy fair food, and watch dog and horse shows. An antique tractor pull begins at 5pm on Saturday. Carnival rides are open from 11am-10pm on Saturday and 11am – 5pm Sunday.

Show Time
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
See “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves” at The Puppet Co. and look for a discount on tickets here. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is on the Imagination Stage. Adventure Theatre presents “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.” Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is playing a couple of shows at Jammin’ Java. And Pushcart Players are performing at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods.

Ice Cream at George’s Place
Where: Mount Vernon Estate
When: Saturday
Admission: $15/adults, $7/ages 6-11, free for 5 and under
Get a glimpse of culinary life in the 18th century through chocolate-ice cream making demonstrations every Saturday in August at Mount Vernon. Visitors can watch as costumed staff make one of George Washington’s favorite desserts using reproduction period equipment to emulate ice cream-making process of the olden times. Guests will receive an adapted 18th-century recipe for ice cream that they can make at home using plastic bags. For those who don’t want to wait to indulge, ice cream is available for sale at Mount Vernon’s food court.

Gonna Eat a Lot of Peaches
Where: Local Farms
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
It’s peach picking time at many local farms; the summer fruits are at their ripest in early August. If you want to get them at their peak, check out this list of area farms that offer pick-your-owns. (Note: the post is about blueberry picking last year, but many of the same places are harvesting peaches now. And it’s always a good idea to check the website or call for updates.)

Summer in the City
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Enjoy the season with a host of activities that only occur this time of year. Outdoor concerts and movies; water fun; mini trains, mini golf, and carousels; and much, much more. Find details on all of these summer pursuits here.

Nats vs. Marlins
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 4:05pm, Saturday 7:05pm, Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Miami Marlins this weekend, with a late afternoon game Friday, an evening match-up on Saturday, an early afternoon game on Sunday. Take advantage of the Harris Teeter Family Pack promo and enjoy other extras on Sunday — the first 15,000 fans will receive a Michael Morse bobblehead, and you can stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.

Owney Family Fest
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Saturday, 12-3:30pm
Admission: Free
Hop on board for a rail-riding good time with Owney the dog, the subject of one of the Postal Museum’s most popular exhibits. This celebration includes such fun activities as designing an Owney tag, sorting mail in the Railway Post Office, making a stamp collection, and more.

Pillow Art
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: Free
Learn about Shibori, the Japanese art of shaped resist dyeing, then put your newfound knowledge to use. Guests can wrap, twist, fold, and stitch their way to a good night’s sleep as they create their own indigo-dyed pillowcase. Various shibori techniques will be demonstrated including typical tie-dye, Arashi, Kumo, and Itajime shibori – the creative possibilities are endless! Painting clothes recommended. No reservations are required.

Portrait Story Days
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 1-4pm & Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in 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 pop artist Andy Warhol.

Stories in Art
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Sunday, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm
Admission: Free
Vincent Van Gogh is the subject of this week’s Summer Drop-In program for children ages 4-7. They will enjoy a reading of the book, “Katie and the Sunflowers” by James Mayhew, then join Katie’s imaginative adventure through museum masterpieces, exploring Vincent van Gogh’s still-life paintings. After, guests will make their own flower-filled works of art to take home. Sign-in takes place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 11am, and will continue until all spaces for all five time slots are filled. Read a review of one of our Stories in Art experiences here. A KFDC tip: Plan for another activity between sign up and the actual session (which shouldn’t be hard, given all the nearby museums). The early sessions often fill up fast, so there could be a couple of hours before yours begins.

ImaginAsia: Cranes & Clouds
Where: Sackler Galleries
When: Saturday & Sunday, 2pm
Admission: Free
Stop by to see the collection of intricate inlays of cranes, clouds, fruit, and flowers on Korean celadon ceramics. In the classroom, inlay your own small plaque with your favorite designs to take home.

In & Out
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
For even more activities going on around the DC-metro, check out the KFDC post with ideas for outdoor recreation and the one with indoor suggestions.