Tag Archives: The Torpedo Factory Arts Center

Savor the Weekend

Enjoying autumn at a Clark's Elioak Farm

Sample fare at the Taste of DC, delight in seasonal fun on a farm or at a festival, connect with your inner artist, take in a performance or special museum program, listen to live music, get out and enjoy the delicious weather… these are just some of the ways you and the kids can relish in the next few days. Read on for details and even more ideas. Happy Weekend!

Taste of DCThe annual festival celebrating food, wine, and culture in the city will take place through the holiday weekend – Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  Along with the obvious, samples from more than 60 DC restaurants, there will be cooking demos, and live entertainment, including performances especially for kids (read: Rocknoceros).  See the schedule to find out who’s playing when.

Fall FunCelebrate the season at one of many area festivals or farms. 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 many fall festivals happening around the region.

Peep the WeekendStart the weekend with Peeps! At 4pm today, the Peeps store at the National Harbor is ushering in the fall season with delicious free treats, mascot appearances, coupons from neighboring retailers and chances for savings on some great new store items.  This all kicks off their DC Monumental Weekend – on Saturday and Sunday, PEEPS & COMPANY® Brand Ambassadors will take the Peepster Chick Car on a tour of D.C. and the monuments, spreading sweetness around town.

Alexandria Arts SafariOn Saturday from 12-4pm, the Torpedo Factory will host a free day of hands-on arts and crafts activities for kids and their families. Kids can get creative with fun new art activities and old favorites, including painting, clay sculpting, paper-mache, origami art, block printing, fabric collage, and much more. The Art League will present the popular Gallery Scavenger Hunt and fiber activities. And the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, located on the third floor of the Torpedo Factory, will present The Potter’s Art, where children can draw or paint patterns on paper inspired by designs on salt-glazed stoneware pottery shards excavated from local archaeological sites.

Dino-Mite Dinosaurs – Have a dino-mite time with prehistoric friends at the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone.  Celebrate International Dinosaur Month with fossil digs, skeleton puzzles, claw printing, and more.  They guarantee a rex-citing time! Admission is free.  Drop in anytime from 11am – 4pm.

Super Science SaturdayHead to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Dulles arm of the National Air & Space Museum, for its monthly program for families on Saturday from 10am – 3pm. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration, this month’s theme being balloons and blimps. Admission is free, though parking is $15.

Saturday Morning at the NationalThis week’s performance will feature beloved children’s author Pamela Duncan Edwards, author of Dinosaur Starts School, Clara Caterpillar, and Roar! A Noisy Counting Book. Edwards will make a special guest appearance and enchant children of all ages with an imaginative “spooky” story. Kids will be encouraged to help tell this morning’s tale, and afterwards Ms. Edwards will answer questions on how she creates her delightful stories. Performances take place at 9:30am and 11am, and tickets are required for admission. Free tickets are distributed half an hour prior to the start of shows on a first-come first-served basis. Only one ticket per person, and all attendees must be standing in line to receive a ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult who remains present for the entire performance. Seating is limited, so get there early!

That’s EntertainmentEven more live performances are gracing area stages all weekend.  From plays to puppet shows to live music to a circus, this post has the details on this season’s shows.

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 Eleanor Roosevelt.

Ren Fest – The merriment continues in Crownesville, MD. On weekends through October 23, you can time trip at the charming medieval village that hosts the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival. For details on admission and what you will find there, check out this post about the event.

And for recreation beyond the special events, these posts list tons of recreational mainstays in the DC area:

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

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)

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Weekend in Washington

Peachy keen on the farm

The title of this post might seem obvious, but the distinction makes sense from my vacationing perspective. I must note that we’re missing out on some fun stuff while we’re out of town.  Hope those of you at home enjoy it.  Happy Weekend!

Swim in Nature’s MidstAdd some adventure to your next swimming experience by seeking out a natural spot to submerge. The Natural Capital blog has a fantastic list of places where you can take a dip and enjoy the great outdoors in one fell swoop.

The Wizard of Oz x 2You can catch two different productions of the classic show this weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the last chances to see the play performed by the talented young cast of the Act III Theatre Company. And The Puppet Co. presents their own fun version through September 4 with several show times over the weekend. Tickets are still available for all of performances. Read the KFDC review of both productions.

Shark Weekend On Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm, celebrate Shark Weekend at DC’s National Aquarium by getting up-close and personal with several shark species. Learn from leading experts on the history, lives, and habits of one of the world’s most fascinating ocean dwellers. Visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt, touch an actual shark tooth and other artifacts, make arts and crafts, and more.  Admission to the Aquarium is $9.95/ages 11 and up, $4.95/ages 3-11, free for children 2 and under. There is no fee beyond that for the event.

Gonna Eat a Lot of Peaches – It’s peach picking time at many local farms; the summer fruits are at their ripest from late July to early August. If you want to get them at their peak, check out this list of local farms that offer pick-your-owns.  (Note: the post is about blueberry picking, but many of the same places are harvesting peaches now. But it’s always a good idea to check the website for updates.)

Classic TennisSee some exciting sports action served up at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. The annual tournament begins on Saturday at 10am , and continues through August 7.  Tickets for the first round of matches this weekend are still available ranging from $10-45. 

Art for Families: Design a Button BraceletBe your own jewelry designer at the Textile Museum on Saturday while recycling grandma’s buttons into something fashionably hip.  Participants will create a bracelet with buttons of all sizes, colors and textures and walk away wearing their new work of art.  The free activity takes place from 2-4pm.

Family Fest at the Postal Museum 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. Enjoy the free event on Friday and Saturday from 12-3pm.

Livin’ Large Kids ArtOn Saturday from 11am – 1pm, children are invited to render their own abstractions influenced by artist Tory Cowles’ work, which is currently on exhibit at the Torpedo Factory. With inspiration her imagery, kids have an opportunity to experience the same thrill from the act of painting that Cowles’ herself does and has portrayed in her own bold canvases.

Jump on the Park Wagon  – I’ve recommended Riverbend Park in Fairfax as a great place to spend a day outdoors with the kids, and now there’s one more reason why:  Visitors can board a tractor-pulled wagon for a naturalist-led tour of the park. Rides are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Cost is $4/person, children 2 and under ride free. Rides run approximately 30-45 minutes.

Get Up and Go! –  On Friday and Saturday at 11am, the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone invites families to discover fun summer activities to make them healthy and strong. Activities like spoon and “egg” relays, freeze dancing, Simon Says, and jumping jack contests will take place throughout the day. And, weather permitting, guests can also enjoy a Hippity Hop Course. This free event runs from 11am – 6pm.

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

Joys of Summer

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

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)

Stay Entertained Through Summer


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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Farm, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Sports, Summer, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

Alexandria Arts Safari

Is your child’s inner Picasso ready to emerge?  Or maybe your little ones just dig making cool things?  Whether your kids have an obvious creative streak, enjoy experimenting with interesting materials, or like trying new activities, this event at The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria sounds like a fun and inspiring way to spend an afternoon.

The 15th Annual Alexandria Arts Safari takes place this Saturday, October 9, from 12pm – 4pm. On the creativity line-up this year: Clay Experience, Arts Safari Painting, Fabric Collage, Treasure Box Making & Origami, Giant Papier Mache Animal, Block Printing, and Halloween Bats.

While kids will have plenty of opportunity to create art using various cool mediums, they can channel their artistic sides through other activities as well. The Art League Gallery will present their popular Gallery Scavenger Hunt. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum will present the Potter’s Art, where kids will learn to identify 19th century Alexandria potters from the designs applied to salt-glazed stoneware pottery and create their own drawing. The Historic Alexandria History Center and Museum Store invites children to dress up in 18th century clothes and explore hands-on historical objects.

Admission to Arts Safari is free; all kids need are their imaginations and clothes that can get a little dirty. The event is recommended for kindergarten age and up.

The Torpedo Factory is located at 105 N. Union Street in Old Town.

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Filed under Annual, Art, Educational, Free, Gradeschoolers, Preteens, Teens, Virginia, Weekend