Let’s go, Nats!!!
Happy World Series Weekend!
Nats World Series Watch
Where: Around the DMV
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday evenings
Admission: Varies by location
The Nats are coming home to play Games 3, 4 and 5 of the WORLD SERIES! If you can’t be at Nationals Park to experience them, but want to watch with sister and fellow fans — and with the kids — several places around the area are hosting watch parties or have specials going on to celebrate the occasion. See this post for a round-up of family-friendly places to root for our home team! GO, NATS!!!
Watch Party Weekend
Where: The Yards | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
I’m singling this one out because it’s practically within baseball throwing distance of Nationals Park, and you’ll be able to hear the roar of the crowd with every big play… On Friday evening at The Yards Park, Watch Party Weekend kicks off at 6pm with a celebratory pep rally featuring the Eastern High School March Band, live music, a fireboat show on the Anacostia, and curly W tattoos & lawn games. And at 8pm, watch Game 3 on a massive LED screen. On Saturday and Sunday starting at 2pm, Watch Party Weekend will continue at The Yards Lot (M Street SE & New Jersey Avenue SE) with live music, ballpark fare and drinks, games and activities. Airings of Games 4 and 5 will start at 8pm.
Halloweekend
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Break in the costumes and prep for Halloween coming on Thursday all weekend long! There’s a scary amount of events and activities that celebrate the spooky spirit. Some are detailed below, and this post has info on even more happenings where the tricks and treats are going on.
Take the Fall
Where: Around the DC Metro
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate the season — fall festivals are in full swing at locales all around the area! 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.
Hilloween
Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 5:30-7:30pm
Admission: Free
Capitol Hill’s annual neighborhood 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. And more will be in Eastern Market’s North Hall. Moon bounces, goody giveaways, face painting add to the excitement. The best part is seeing the masses of jubilant kids in all kinds of costumes indulging in the extravaganza.
BOOtanica
Where: Brookside Gardens | Wheaton, MD
When: Friday, 5:30-8:30pm
Admission: $18/child (free for parents)
Gather the family together for a fun evening! Children can dress in their favorite costume, participate in a garden costume parade, paint a pumpkin, try a pumpkin treat, and top the evening off listening to award-winning storyteller Gary Lloyd present “Pumpkin Tales for the Young” telling tales more funny than scary. Space is limited. Register children ages 3–12, parents are free.
Kids Euro Festival
Where: Venues around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Consider this your passport to two weeks of art and cultural events, as the 12th Annual Kids Euro Festival kicks off Saturday, bringing continental entertainment right to DC. This is the first weekend of the event that will present all kinds of free adventures all around the metro area. Musicians, storytellers, dancers, and puppeteers are just a few of the exciting acts that will perform at a variety of venues through November 7. This weekend alone join a Belgian Tin Tin comic strip workshop, attend a Netherlands animal celebration, enjoy interactive German theatre, and more. Explore the full schedule here.
Air and Scare
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 12-5:30pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15 until 6pm
Explore the spooky side of air and space at the Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center’s 13th Annual Air & Scare! Arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating. Participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. Arrive in costume to get into the Halloween spirit and enjoy safe indoor trick-or-treating.
The Big Draw Festival
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 5-8pm & Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Join the NGA for a two days of drawing festivities. The two-day celebration of drawing featuring activities for artists of all ages! On Saturday evening, enjoy extended evening hours at the museum creating 3-D illustrations, experimenting with materials in the Sketching lab, and enjoying special performances by Joy of Motion Dance. On Sunday, there will be even more festivities for families. You can create a “sidewalk” sketch in the Family Art Lab, draw wacky creatures while on a scavenger hunt, and read a book aloud, move, and play during Storytime.
Kids’ Day at the Washington International Horse Show
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free for kids, $15/adult
This fun, family-friendly event created to share the joy of horses with the DC community and teach kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. Children can participate in hands-on educational and fun activities, including pony rides, Horseless Horse Show, coloring station, face painting, pony brushing lessons, plus giveaways from Georgetown Cupcake. Klinger, the famous horse from the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon, often attends as a special guest to greet the children. There’s even a pony kissing booth with mini donkey Blossom! And note that the Horse Show will be happening all weekend!
Show Time
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play!” brings some of kids’ favorite characters to life at Adventure Theatre
* Find out why Dragons Love Tacos at Olney Theatre
* Paw Patrol LIVE! is at the Hippodrome in Baltimore
* Reserve free tickets to Mark Lohr: Classic Comedy, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show
* Kid Prince and Pablo at the Kennedy Center is a reimagined version of Mark Twain’s classic The Prince and the Pauper
* The Very Hungry Caterpillar is eating its way across Imagination Stage
* The Royale is running at Olney Theatre
* You gotta cut loose, Footloose at the Kennedy Center (find discounts)
* No lie, Pinocchio is at The Puppet Co.
* And Mother Goose Caboose is the featured Tiny Tots show there on Sunday
* Source Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors is recommended for tweens and up.
* Make it a date night for Jitney at Arena Stage or Escaped Alone at Signature Theatre
Halloween in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $2
Dress the whole family and enjoy a day of trick-or-treating, art activities, lunch and more! The 20th Annual Halloween in the Garden will feature more than 70 community organizations and businesses donning costumes and handing out candy and treats to all the children. Booths will be spread out around the Parking Circle and down the Wooded Path allowing guests to roam at their own pace – free range trick-or-treating! Also enjoy g Halloween-inspired music and dancing with a guest DJ. Admission fees will benefit local charities. Don’t forget to bring your camera — there are always unique photo opportunities with the boo-tiful decorations.
Adams Morgan Apple Festival
Where: Adams Morgan Farmers’ Market, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 1pm
Admission: Free
The annual Adams Morgan Apple Festival happens every October is a celebration of apples, plus the season and the AdMo community. Festivities include apple tasting, an apple pie eating contest, live entertainment, and more fun for the family. The Adams Morgan Farmers’ Market is located at 18th and Columbia Road NW, in the SunTrust Bank plaza.
Día de los Muertos Family Day
Where: American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with SAAM! Enjoy Mexican folk dance performances throughout the day, a live Mariachi band, and face painting! Leave your handmade ofrendas (offerings) including paper marigolds, calaveras (skull masks), and paper monarch butterflies on our beautiful Day of the Dead altar.
Fall Frolic
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free, but small cost for some activities
It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone! Daytime activities for families will include pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts, face painting, trick-or-treating, and a costume parade around the Park.
Spooktacular Kids Pizza Class and Party
Where: Matchbox locations around the DMV
When: Saturday
Admission: $32
Matchbox invites all mini chefs to a kids pizza party featuring a hands-on pizza-making class complete with chef hat and customized personal pizza, a tour of the kitchen and pizza ovens, jack-o-lantern cookie decorating, and other Halloween treats, plus a round of mimosas for parents! Tickets are available here for select Matchbox locations — Capitol Hill, 14th Street, Rockville, Merrifield, Pentagon City, Potomac Mills, One Loudon.
Spooktacular Family Day Piano Show
Where: Bobby McKey’s | National Harbor, MD
When: Saturday, 12:30-2:30pm
Admission: $20
Need an excuse to dress up? Bobby McKey’s is offering an afternoon Halloween party that’s not to be missed. Head down to the National Harbor for some serious FUN! They combine 2 hours of all request live piano music with a costume contest, a lunch buffet, fountain drinks, and of course encouragement of singing along and wiggling in your seats! Price includes seats, fountain drink, and buffet. Bar is open for non-driving parents.
Family Day: Connecting Our Community To The Outdoors
Where: Outside the NMAAHC | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Museum of African American Art and Culture for this Family Day in partnership with Outdoor Afro to celebrate the outdoors and get your family moving together! Bring-your-own picnic to the National Mall between 14th and 15th Streets and enjoy the fall weather with them from 12-1pm. Then from 1-3pm, regional leaders from Outdoor Afro will lead activity stations for families to explore together. Learn how to spot local birds, try out our obstacle course, and connect your family and community to the outdoors!
Día de los Muertos Family Day
Where: America Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with SAAM! Enjoy a day full of Mexican folk-dance performances, a live Mariachi band, and face painting! Leave your handmade ofrendas (offerings) including paper marigolds, calaveras (skull masks), and paper monarch butterflies on our beautiful Day of the Dead altar.
Pumpin Rock ‘n Roll
Where: GIGS Courtyard | Kensington, MD
When: Saturday, 2-6pm
Admission: Free
Join the 2019 Pumpkin Rock N’ Roll! The GIGS Courtyard in Kensington, MD, will be transformed into a full-blown Halloween extravaganza. Participate in a costume parade and enjoy family-friendly attractions including live musical performances, food trucks, in flatable rides and slides, and a hay maze. Don’t miss the main event: The Pumpkin Roll, a derby race of Halloween pumpkins-turned-boxcars.
Taste of DC
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Start at $10
Celebrate the food, wine, and culture of our city in a new, cool location! Along with the obvious — tastings from numerous area restaurants — there will be cooking demos, live entertainment, a beer garden, and an area with activities especially for kids.
Autumn off the Farm
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Farm festivals may be the go-to autumn outing, but there are lots of other fantastic ways to enjoy the season around the area. This KFDC post lists 10 great places to for fall adventures.
Inside Out(ings)
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
With rain in the forecast for at least part of the weekend, you’ll want to have some go-to places to hang inside. The Great Indoors post has over 100 ideas for just those kinds of adventures.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* The new Spy Museum is twice as big and intriguing as the old one.
* This is really cool.
* Don’t we all have Sliding Doors stories?
* There will be magic at Nationals Park this weekend, and it will Enchant this winter, too!
* One of the most bizarre movies I’ve seen in awhile.
* Love this.
