Tag Archives: Virginia Fall Events

October 19, 2012 · 6:12 am

The Weekend Round-Up: October 19-21

A corn maze of epic proportions at Montpelier Farms

It’s a peak weekend in DC, and I’m not just referring to the brilliant hues of fall foliage that make for picturesque scenes everywhere. The options for family fun seem to be boundless. Fall festivals are in full swing at locales all around the area. Local stages are buzzing with live entertainment, much of it free thanks to the fantastic month-long Kids Euro Fest. Museums are presenting art, culture, and fun with special youth programs. A couple of quirky fairs offer a little day trip back in time. Halloween activities are underway. Even the White House is part of it all, welcoming guests to tour its gardens. Plus, one I’m really looking forward to: The Fall Safety Festival, where it’s sure to be a good time, and for a great cause. And it doesn’t hurt that we’ll be able to enjoy all of this amid delicious autumn weather during one of the prettiest time of the year. Read on for details on all of the above and then some. Happy Weekend!

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The Weekend Round-Up: October 6-8

Jumping with sheer joy at Great Country Farms last year

Happy Weekend!

Taste of DC
Where: Pennsylvania Ave, between the White House & Capitol
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
Admission: $10, free for ages 12 and under
The annual festival celebrating food, wine, and culture in the city will take place through the holiday weekend. Along with the obvious — samples from more than 50 DC restaurants — there will be cooking demos, a chili eating championship, live entertainment, and a Family Zone with fun especially for kids.

Columbia Heights Day
Where: Harriet Tubman Elementary Field
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Whether or not you live in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC, you are invited to help celebrate the community on Saturday. Columbia Heights Day is bringing together residents and businesses for a day of fun festivities–live music, a KidsZone with games arts & crafts and more activities especially for little ones, moon bounce, food trucks, a cupcake eating contest and much more! The Harriet Tubman Elementary field is located at 11th & Kenyon Streets NW.

Cardboard Play Day
Where: Horace Mann Elementary School
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
As part of the Global Cardboard Challenge on October 6th, Washington, DC, area residents are welcome join this Global Day of Play event to play (and build) awesome things out of cardboard! This event is inspired by Caine’s Arcade — check out the video here. If you’ve already made an arcade game, you can bring it with you on Saturday the 6th for everyone to play! If not, supplies will be available for you to build one there.

Taste of Bethesda
Where: Woodmont Triangle
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but you pay for food samples
It’s been said that Bethesda has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. Accurate or not, the city definitely has a food scene worth celebrating, and you can do just that this Saturday. Bethesda’s famous food and music festival, in its 23rd year, will bring 60 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to the downtown’s Woodmont Triangle. Along with delicious food samples and live entertainment, there will be a kid’s corner for face painting, arts & crafts, and more fun for young ones. Admission is free, and taste tickets are sold on-site in bundles of four tickets for $5. Food servings cost one to four tickets. Ticket sales end at 3:30pm.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Big, the Musical is at Adventure Theatre. Carnival of Animals and a Tiny Tots show will be on The Puppet Co. stage. BlackRock Center for the Arts brings a Judy Blume fave to life with Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. The Big Apple Circus is wowing audiences for just a couple more days. And Mouse on the Move joins P. Nokio: A Hip Hop Musical among the productions at Imagination Stage. Follow the links above for more details and ticket info.

Happy Anniversary, Artisphere!
Where: Artisphere
When: Sunday, 12:30-4:30pm
Admission: Free
Artisphere is celebrating its 2nd anniversary this weekend, and it all culminates with a Free Family Day Open House – a day of fun and interactive art for the entire family! Festivities will include live entertainment, a mural painting, circus acts, theatrical workshops, and more. Artisphere is located at 1101 Wilson Boulevard.

Kinderfest
Where: Watkins Regional Park
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Md, is hosting the 32nd Annual Kinderfest, a day focused on children that takes place every year on the first Sunday in October. There will be loads of events and activities to entertain the whole family: clowns and costumed characters, singers and dancers, pony and hay rides, carnival games, scarecrow workshops, sweet and savory refreshments, and spins on the famous Watkins carousel and miniature train. Admission to the event is free, but some activities require a fee. Visit the website for more info and directions.

Fall Fun
Where: Around the DC-Metro
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate 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.

The Big Draw
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join people from all around the globe to declare that “Everyone Can Draw!” at the world’s biggest celebration of drawing. Guests can learn new styles of drawing and discover techniques and materials through artist demos and plenty of hands-on activities. Add your art sense to a community drawing mural, sketch flowers and leaves from Kogod Courtyard plants, and make a new sketchbook from recycled material to take home.

Autumn Conservation Festival
Where: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: $30/car
It’s the one time every year that the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is open to the public! Head to the fooothills on the Blue Ridge mountains in Front Royal to check it out and enjoy a day of unforgettable day of fun, tours, and activities.Talk to world-famous scientists one-on-one and learn about their fascinating research that spans the globe. Explore the tools and technology used to understand animals and their environments.Get behind-the-scenes looks at some of the SCBI Front Royal’s endangered animals. Lunch and beverages will be available for purchase.

Art on the Avenue
Where: Mount Vernon Ave in Del Ray
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the diversity of Alexandria’s Del Ray community at this multicultural arts festival. Over 300 artists – jewelers, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, painters, sculptors, fabric artists, and musicians – will have their work on display and for sale. And kids activities have always been a vital part of the festival – scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin painting, lotus flower design, screen art weaving are just some of the crafts to enjoy. Food vendors will also be there offering hot dogs, BBQ, Indian fare, crab cakes, chocolate bananas dipped on a stick, and home made cider donuts.

Diggin’ Dinos
Where: Dinosaur Park
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
The 41-acre park in Laurel, Md, features a rare deposit of fossils from the Cretaceous Period (144 to 65 million years ago). The public is invited to join paleontologists and and volunteers on-site to interpret fossil deposits on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

Little Helper Headquarters
Where: Home Depot
When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Head to your local Home Depot for one of their free kids’ workshops that takes place the first Saturday of every month. This week you can construct firetrucks with help from store staff. The program is recommended for ages 5-12, but younger kids are welcome, too.

JumpOFF!
Where: National Harbor
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Children’s Museum for the 5th annual outdoor jump-roping festival at National Harbor. JumpOFF! will take place just steps away from where the National Children’s Museum’s new indoor space will open in December. The block party-style JumpOFF!, which is serving as a satellite partner of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, will feature performances by world-renowned youth precision jump-roping teams, “make your own jump rope” activities, special appearances by the Washington Wizards & Washington Mystics street team, the Popped! Republic food truck, Chidogo’s and other community partners, and live music by Bach 2 Rock.

Redskins, Cupcakes, and a Cause
Where: Sprinkles Cupcakes
When: Saturday, 2-3pm
Admission: Free, but cupcake purchases are encouraged!
Eat a cupcake, meet Washington Redskins star linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, and give back this weekend. Alexander’s appearance at Sprinkles in Georgetown will kick off the sale of the charitable cupcake in his name benefiting the Lorenzo Alexander ACES Foundation, a non-profit organization created to provide enrichment programs for youth in the Greater Washington DC Area. From October 6 to October 12, 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of Sprinkles Vanilla cupcakes will be donated to the ACES Foundation.

Honey, Boo! Boo!
Where: Around the DC Metro
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Halloween may still be weeks away, but its spirit is starting to pervade. Mostly in the form of costume catalogs sliding through the mail slot, but also with cobweb covered front yards and, of course, hauntingly endless conversations with the kids about what/who to dress as this year. Even better, activities and events that celebrate the spirit are starting this weekend. This post has details on where the treats and tricks are happening.

An Out-of-this-World Dance Party
Where: Kensington Town Hall
When: Saturday, 3-5pm
Admission: $10/person or $25/family
The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation invites families to blast off at a space-themed dance party. DJ Chris Allotey and Dance Leader Aaron Anderson will get the crowd moving and moonwalking. In addition to dancing, there will be crafts, activities, snacks, and a miniature puppet show. Children are invited to come in space helmets made at home, or they can make a star headband at the dance. This dance party is the latest in a series of community events in support of the Noyes Children’s Library in Kensington. The Kensington Town Hall is located at 3710 Mitchell Street. Cash, check, or charge accepted.

Portrait Story Days: Alice Waters
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. Today, learn about Alice Waters, founder of the restaurant Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard and champion of the Slow Food Movement.

Art a la Cart
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
When: Saturday & Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Learn the stories behind the artwork with interactive carts in the galleries that engage kids, ages seven to twelve, with brushes and palettes, bison horns and hides, bottle caps, and quilt squares.

Stargazing at Air & Space
Where: National Air & Space Museum
When: Saturday, 6:30-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Get a close-up of the nighttime sky with staff from the museum that specialize in space. The Public Observatory is open for special nighttime stargazing, so guests can see an array of celestial objects through a powerful professional telescope. The Observatory is located outside on the Southeast Terrace.

Brambleton Fall Festival
Where: Brambleton Town Center
When: Saturday, 12:30-8pm
Admission: Free
Brambleton, an award-winning master-planned community located in Loudoun County, invites the community to support the 8th Annual Fall Fest at the Brambleton Town Center. Guests will enjoy rides and amusements, concerts, kids’ activities, face painters, glitter tattoos, geocaching (a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt), food vendors, beer, vendor marketplace and more.

The Weekend Round-Up: September 29-30

Frolicking into the sunset at Yards Park

Get the weekend started with the Yards Park’s final Friday evening concert of the season (if weather permits). Beyond that, you’ve got your pick of activities — museums for free, art festivals, fall festivals, children’s theatre, opera on Nats’ turf, a walk for animal welfare, family fun at Lincoln’s digs. And those are just the special events; mainstay options also abound, both outdoors and in. Happy Weekend!

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day
Where: Local museums
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
There are some area museums in the DC area that actually do charge admission. But on Saturday, Smithsonian Magazine is hosting it’s annual Museum Day, when those that require us to open our wallets, are free. You do have to register and bring a ticket (that is good for admission for two people), but it’s all complimentary. For more about the program, including recs for participating museums that kids will enjoy, see this post from a few days ago.

Bargains Galore!
Where: Maury Elementary School
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free, but be ready to spend on awesome finds!
Bargain hunters take note: This Yard Sale is going to rock! I know this for sure because I helped collect the items… clothes, toys, bikes, books, baby gear, housewares, furniture, and much more fantastic stuff will be on sale for super cheap. Even better, there will be a moon bounce (and playground if weather permits), so kids can play while you shop. Maury Elementary is located on Capitol Hill at 1250 Constitution Avenue NE.

Kaleidoscope for Kids
Where: The Durant Center, 10am – 4pm
When: Saturday & Sunday,
Admission: $30/adult and child all day or pay be program
How about an art experience designed just for kids this weekend? The first-ever Kaleidoscope for Kids art festival will present all kinds of workshops and performances for all ages – kaleidoscope making, flamenco, bookmaking, origami, drumming, an Arts on the Horizon show and much more. Buy an all-day adult/child ticket for $30 or pick and choose your activities (most are $10). The Durant Center is located at 1605 Cameron Street in Alexandria.

Eyes of History 2012
Where: Newseum
When: September 28 – March 29
Admission: Free on Saturday or $21.95/adult, $12.95/7-18, free for 6 and under
Check out the Newseum’s newest exhibit during its opening weekend. Eyes of History 2012 showcases more than 70 prize-winning images from the White House Press Photographers Association’s annual competition. I had an opportunity to preview the exhibit, and its a tremendous collection, featuring images that capture newsmaking moments and convey big stories in a single shot. It’s a fairly kid-friendly exhibit — there’s nothing too graphic, and the images could spark some interesting conversations. And, of course, there is much more to see at the Newseum, and if you go on Saturday, admission is free thanks to Museum Day.

Green Festival
Where: Washington DC Convention Center
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The nation’s premier sustainability event is where you will see the best in green. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; a green marketplace; and delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. And the Green Kids Zone will feature entertaining and enriching activities, including eco-crafts, yoga, story time, trivia and more!

Show Time
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
It’s opening weekend for “P. Nokio: A Hip Hop Musical” at Imagination Stage. The Puppet Co. presents both Tiny Tots and “Carnival of the Animals” (ticket discount here). Next door, you can catch “Big, the Musical” at Adventure Theatre. This week’s Saturday Morning at the National show is Michael Shwedick’s Reptile World. And the Big Apple Circus will be wowing crowds under the Big Top at Dulles Town Center. For details and ticket info for all of these shows, see this post about live entertainment this fall.

SW ArtsFest
Where: Several venues in Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 8pm
Admission: Free
This annual celebration will highlight art and culture in Washington’s smallest quadrant, Southwest. The lineup of festivities will include a central art market, music, dance, film screenings, walking tours, and more. Among the festivities: The Wharf will be opening its outdoor art studio for a free event where kids and parents can make their own sock puppets, enjoy refreshments and register for fun door prizes. There are many more event happening all day, so be sure to check the schedule for specifics.

Opera in the Outfield
Where: National Park
When: Saturday, 7pm (gates open at 5pm)
Admission: Free
How often do you get to hang out on the field at Nationals Park? Sure, there may not be a baseball game going on, but this is a pretty cool and unique event. Celebrate the the Washington National Opera’s new season as they present a live simulcast of Mozart;s masterpiece, Don Giovanni. Along with the music, there will be stage fighting demos, flamenco performances, a screening of the cartoon, “What’s Opera, Doc?”, and more. The event will take place rain or shine.

National Family Pack Walk
Where: National Mall
When: Saturday, 8am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join internationally renowned dog behavior expert and animal activist Cesar Millan, Scooby-Doo, and Warner Bros. on the National Mall for the 2nd Annual National Family Pack Walk, and event to help promote animal welfare. The 1.5-mile Pack Walk around the National Mall will be led by Cesar Millan and Scooby-Doo, followed by an afternoon of Scooby-themed activities from numerous Warner Bros. partners, licensees and charitable sponsors. Registration and check in begins at 8am, then there will be some warm up activities with Cesar and Scooby, and the walk will commence at 10am.

Rock Out at the Art Museum
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm & 12:30-3:30pm
Admission: Free
There are a couple of workshops for kids at the museum on Saturday. Kids ages 8-11 are invited to join an interactive workshop that will help them discover the rock stars they already are. Whether they’ve been playing for years or never touched an instrument, participants will get inspired by the trailblazing musicians in Women Who Rock, explore a variety of musical instruments, and craft their stage confidence and identities, complete with costume. Presented in partnership with Girls Rock! DC. No musical experience necessary. The later workshop is similar, but for ages 12-15. Reservations are required for both – email reservations@nmwa.org or all 202.783.7370 to sign up.

The Art of Video Games
Where: American Art Museum
When: Through Sunday
Admission: Free
This weekend is your last chance to see this exhibit that explores the forty-year revolution of video games as art. Along with a room full of games, both old school and modern, to demo, there is whole other room dedicated to game systems, displaying the consoles, videos, and images of a variety of games from past and present. This is one that both kids (about ages 6 and up) and parents will both truly enjoy. Read about our experience there in this post.

Family Day at Abe’s Place
Where: President Lincoln’s Cottage
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but tours are $5-15
Join President Lincoln’s Cottage and the Armed Forces Retirement Home as they celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln family’s first season at the Soldiers’ Home. Enjoy the Lincolns’ Cottage as they once did through an array of activities and demonstrations for family members of all ages – observe a civil war encampment, make a Lincoln top hat, play at the petting zoo, listen to traditional tunes, view the Emancipation Proclamation, tour the cottage, and more. Advance ticket purchase is recommended, so get yours here.

Celebrate Fall
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate the season at a festival this weekend. 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 a bunch of fall festivals the area.

Open House at the Kreeger
Where: The Kreeger Museum
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The Biennial Kreeger Museum Open House is a celebration of the arts, filled with music, workshops and visual art for visitors of all ages. Activities will include two special art workshops for children and adults, a drum circle, free ice cream & bottled water, storytime programs for ages 3-5, a raffle with prizes, and more.

Merriment in Maryland
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
Take a day trip back to medieval times at the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival. The faire runs every weekend through October 21 and offers plenty for everyone in the family to enjoy. Get a glimpse of our recent outing there.

Rock On at Natural History
Where: National Museum of Natural History
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Find out how rocks and minerals are part of our daily lives and what stories they tell us about the Earth and solar system at this Family Festival at the “Dino” Museum. Participate in demonstrations and hands-on activities, interacting directly with museum scientists, educators, and volunteers to learn about volcanoes, meteorites, rocks, and minerals, and our relationships with them. Create your own art inspired by rocks and crack open your own geodes!

Hispanics in Science & Aerospace
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Family Day at the Dulles Arm of the Air & Space Museum. Hear about Latin Americans’ contributions to aviation and space exploration. Take part in bilingual story times and hands-on activities presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center.

Portrait Story Days: Jim Hensen
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 Jim Henson, the puppeteer who created The Muppets.