Roam free at Dumbarton Oaks Gardens – there’s no entry fee this time of year!
It’s been a heavy week, and I think we all could probably use some good diversions right about now (some more thoughts on that here). Luckily, there are plenty of them happening around the area over the next few days. Observe Veterans Day, go for a glide, see a show, kick off the holiday season, get artsy, enjoy time outdoors, and so much more. And along with these recs, these outdoor suggestions and this indoor list will come in handy, too. Happy Weekend!
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tour
Where: The Wall
When: Friday & Saturday, various times
Admission: Free
Observe Veterans Day at one of the memorials dedicated to those who have served our country. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is offering special family-friendly tours of The Wall. Kids can get an age-appropriate explanation about the day and the memorial, learn how to look up a name, see photos of service members on The Wall, and learn how to do a name rubbing.
National Veterans Day Ceremony
Where: Arlington Cemetery
When: Friday, 11am
Admission: Free
The National Veterans Day Ceremony begins at 11am with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. Free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to get there by 10:30am. Read more about Arlington Cemetery in this post about a KFDC experience there.
Opening Day — on Ice!
Where: Local ice rinks
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by rink
Glide the day away as several area outdoor ice rinks start welcoming skaters for the season. Meander your way around Canal Park Ice Rink. Skate in Georgetown at the Washington Harbour. Do some shopping and snacking along with your skating at Pentagon Row in Arlington. Practice your axles and triple lutzes at Reston Town Center. Or get started on holidays gifts after a skating session at Tysons Corner Ice Rink. This post published last year has been updated to reflect this season’s skating details. (Update: Canal Park’s opening has been postponed.)
Roam Free
Where: Dumbarton Oaks Gardens
When: Saturday & Sunday, 2-5pm (closed Veterans Day)
Admission: Free
Enjoy free admission along with the lovely gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. From now through mid-March, there is no fee to roam the grounds of the Georgetown locale. Bundle up for a walk among the various plats — it’s a beautiful place to explore any time of year. After, head up to M Street and exprience Georgetwon GLOW. Read even more about about Dumbarton and get a glimpse in this early KFDC post.
Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Friday
Admission: FREE
It’s the last fee free day of the year for national parks, which means there’s no entrance fee where they usually charge to get in. Take advantage of complimentary admission and the day off from school; hit the trail at Shenandoah or Great Falls, take a ride on Skyline Drive to see the mountains covered in autumn colors, or visit Harpers Ferry.
27th Annual Museum Shop Around
Where: Strathmore
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $9
Strathmore elevates the act of gift giving to an art form over Veterans Day weekend, Thursday, November 10 through Sunday, 13, 2016, with Museum Shop Around, the popular annual holiday bazaar that this year convenes 18 area museums, art centers, and cultural destinations to open pop-up shops in the historic Mansion at Strathmore. This community favorite infuses the holidays with the unexpected, clever, heartfelt, handmade, and art-inspired—Strathmore alone will feature wares from more than 100 different artisans and small businesses.
O Say Can You See
Where: Fort McHenry
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $10/adult
Observe the holiday at the birthplace of our National Anthem. Fort McHenry makes for a very interesting, informative, and enjoyable outing for all ages. Engaging exhibits range from historical objects and structures to multimedia displays and interactives, and this weekend there will be a special WWI original uniforms and equipment display. And the grounds located right on the Chesapeake are lovely to stroll on a nice day. Read about our recent experience there.
hiSTORYtime
Where: National Museum of American History
When: Saturday, 11am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Drop by the American History to listen to delicious stories about food! Then, children can participate in food games and crafts, and touch cookware from the collection. This new program aims to boost early literacy, while introducing young visitors ages 0-6 to objects in the museum’s collection. It will also take place on November 19.
Family Math Expo
Where: Montgomery College, Germantown Campus
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Count our family in for this expo presented by the Montgomery College Math Department. Part of the Maryland STEM Fair, students from preK to college, parents, teachers, and math enthusiasts of all ages are invited to wide selection of board games, card games, app games, and math exploration activities for you to try your hand and mind at. Parents and teachers will also be able to explore resources they can use in their classroom and at home with their kids to build math and problem solving skills in fun ways. Thinking about starting a math club or math circle in your school or neighborhood? This is a great event to meet folks to join with to get started.
Mommy & Me Pop-Up
Where: West Elm DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Browse baby gear and more at this Mommy + Me Pop-Up Shop at the West Elm in Logan. The fun-filled day will feature BambiniWare baby + mommy gear, an organic baby puree bar, mommy mocktails, DIY demo stations, kid-friendly activities, giveaways, and more! RSVP here.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Catch Looking for Roberto Clemente at the Atlas Performing Arts Center
* And Little one will love Aquarium at the Bethesda theatre
* See Where Words Once Were is at the Kennedy Center (look for discount tickets)
* The Olney Theatre presents Mary Poppins
* Hansel & Gretel are the current stars on the Main Stage at The Puppet Co.
* And Baby Bear’s Birthday is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theater
* Northern Virginia Players’ ANNIE Jr. is in its final weekend
* You’ll want some more of Oliver Twist at Creative Cauldron
A Spin on the Carousel
Where: Arena Stage
When: Throughout the Weekend
Admission: Tickets start at $50
The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is Arena Stage’s newest production. Owen and I just saw a performance, and it was an excellent lift to the post-election spirits. Taking place in the Fichandler Stage, the theatre-in-the-round setting really lets the audience appreciate the wonderful talent and direction of the show. Make it a date night, or bring the kids — I’d recommend it for about ages 10 and up.
Animation Mania: Creative Design
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Join the Air & Space Museum for Making STEM Magic, a program that introduces young visitors to engineering in a fun and creative way. Ever wonder how pictures can come to life in your favorite animated movie? Learn about motion pictures in the November design challenge and create an optical illusion that will make you flip out.
Grand Opening
Where: Burger-Fi Alexandria
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Burger-Fi is celebrating the opening of its new Alexandria location with a weekend full of special events and food giveaways. On “Fry day Friday,” receive a free fry with the purchase of a burger or dog. The first 100 guests in line on Saturday will receive a free cheeseburger and be entered to win lift tickets to Ski Liberty, Roundtop, and Whitetail. Tommy McFly from 94.7 Fresh FM will broadcast live, and other activities will include a red carpet photo booth, face painting, and balloon twisting. Go on “Sundae Sunday” and receive a free custard cup! Burger-Fi is located at 111 N. Pitt Street in Old Town.
All Ages Dueling Pianos
Where: Bobby McKey’s at National Harbor
When: Saturday, 1-3:30pm
Admission: $18
The whole crew can enjoy an afternoon of music and fun at this dueling piano shows. The two hours of all-request live music paired with a lunch buffet is a great way to stay cool on a hot summer day. And this is a performance where kids are encouraged to wiggle in their seats, dance in the aisles, and sing along!
Intro to 3D Modeling
Where: Brentwood Arts Exchange
When: Saturday, 2-4 pm
Admission: Free
Is your teen interested in learning 3D design and learning how to use a 3D printer? Sign them up for this free class at Brentwood Arts Exchange’s new MakerBot, where kids ages 16 and up can learn the basics of 3D printing and leave the class with their very own three-dimensional object! Registration required, as seating is limited. Call 301-277-2863 or register in person at the Brentwood Arts Exchange.
The Emporiyum
Where: Union Market, Dock 5
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $15-25
Meet, eat, and shop as this two-day market and celebration of everything delicious, returns to Union Market. Get a taste of 95 artisans, producers, chefs, and restaurants, will bincluding Erik Bruner-Yang’s Paper Horse, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Ramen Burger, Co Co & Co, Megpies, Eggloo, Bon Bon Bon, and many more. Meet the people behind the brands, taste and learn about their products, and shop for unique edible gifts. Tickets and the full vendor roster can be found on The Emporiyum website.
Positivi-Tree Lighting and Street Fest
Where: Downtown Silver Spring
When: Saturday, 6-8pm
Admission: Free
The 5th Annual event is Downtown Silver Spring’s official Tree Lighting and Street Fest. And this year it will feature the lighting of Positivi-Tre, an impressive 35-foot-tall public art installation comprised of hundreds of illuminated and multi-colored umbrellas! Other fun festivities of the evening will include food tastings, live entertainment, ice sculpting, and more!
Sunday at the Studio
Where: Gary Rosenthal Collection
When: Sunday
Admission: $22.50/family
Get ready for Chanukah with glass artist Gary Rosenthal! Get a fascinating tour of Gary’s studio (he’ll show how the glass is made!); make your own dreidel, menorah, mezuzah, candlesticks or tzedakah box; learn a bit with PJ Library’s own Sarah Rabin Spira; and enjoy a tasty snack. Gary’s studio is located at 4218 Howard Avenue in Kensington.
Full STEAM Ahead
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden
When: Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free for little ones, $5/adult, $3/ages 6-17
The amazing Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, MD, injects creativity and fun into STEM by adding Art, and turning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into STEAM! The program designed for toddlers and preschoolers uses hands-on investigations and challenges as children explore, observe, ask questions, and make predictions about the world around them as they create and play. Drop in Sunday for a Busy Bankers session, then plan to explore the rest of the grounds and exhibits while you’re there – it’s seriously fantastic! Read more about Annmarie in this KFDC post.
Kick off the Holidays
Where: National Harbor
When: Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Join National Harbor for a full day of holiday fun, topped off by their annual tree lighting. They’ll have tons of holiday activities, including the opening of the holiday market, card-making for the Troops, a holiday movie on the Plaza, live entertainment, Santa at the carousel, fireworks, and more!
Baltimore, Hon!
Where: Charm City attractions
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Zip up I-95 for some fun in our sister city, where there are several great places to spend a day off. Play the day away at Port Discovery. Explore the exhibits and loads of hands-on activities at the Maryland Science Center. See some of the quirkiest, coolest art ever at the American Visionary Art Museum. Get an eyeful of the underwater world at the National Aquarium. Or learn about Baltimore’s early business days at the Museum of Industry.
Leaf Peep on the Trail
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Take in the brilliant color spectrum of autumn and get a little exercise to boot on a family hike. From right here in the city to country locales, you’ve got your pick of places where you can enjoy the fall foliage and some time outdoors. This post about good area hikes with kids started in the early KFDC days, and with many new recommendations added since — Prince William Forest Park, the most recent — there are lots of great recommendations for happy trampers.
Park it in MoCo
Where: Montgomery County Parks
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Montgomery Parks presents loads of special activities for visitors of all ages. Watch a raptor feeding at Meadowside Nature Center, enjoy some evening fun at Locust Grove Nature Center, discover amazing creatures at Brookside Nature Center, and more. See the online calendar for details and even more events happening this weekend.
Fun at Fairfax Parks
Where: Several Fairfax parks
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The Fairfax County Park Authority hosts all kinds of events on weekends for guests of all ages. Go on a family Bird Walk at Green Spring Gardens. Join the Reptile and Amphibian Club at at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (ages 6 to 15). Take a wagon ride and journey to the pond at Riverbend Park. Details and registration for these and more activities this weekend and beyond are available here.
