Things to do with the kids THIS FALL in DC/MD/VA
September 16th, 2008 | RSS Feeds | Posted In: autumn festivals, dc festivals, maryland festivals, virginia festivals
I scoured the web, area newsletters, circulars for events and activities going on in and close to my county and found a few that I hope to take the boys to…I got a few suggestions from others. Here is a list of my “finds”
AREA FESTIVALS
Taste of Georgetown
t a Taste of Georgetown, approximately 25 of Washington, DC’s most distinguished restaurants serve sample portions of their signature dishes paired with complementing wines. The fall food festival in Georgetown also includes live music and children’s activities such as caricature artists, balloon makers and jugglers. Blues Alley will provide jazz performances by the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra and the Blues Alley All Stars.
October 11, 2008, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boo At the Zoo (thanks NatashaC)
Boo at the Zoo is a Washington, DC favorite Halloween tradition. Children visit the National Zoo at dark and enjoy trick-or-treating, animal encounters, keeper talks, festive decorations, and haunted trails.
2008 Dates: October 23-26. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Tickets are required and usually sell out in advance. You may purchase them at the Zoo’s Visitor Center
FREEFALL BALTIMORE (thanks NatashaC)
This OCTOBER, check out Free Fall Baltimore is a program developed to increase access, interest and attendance in the city’s many cultural organizations, especially for families and young adults, who are the creative community’s future patrons. It provides free or reduced price admission into baltimore attractions such as its Museum and various museums.
KINDERFEST (thanks NatashaC)
October 5 (12-5 pm)
KINDERFEST
Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro.
301-218-6700. www.pgparks.com.
Now in its 28th year. Fall festival that celebrates children and families. Enjoy entertainment, workshops and exhibits, moon bounces, carnival games, pumpkin patch, farm and nature activities, and more. Admission FREE.
PUMPKIN PATCHES AND FALL FESTIVALS
Butler’s Orchard
22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, Maryland (301) 972-3299
Annual Pumpkin Festival is held weekends throughout October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick a pumpkin; take a hayride; explore a hay maze; and enjoy crafts, food, and family activities. See Photos of Butlers Orchard Pumpkin Festival
Corn Maze at Temple Hills Park
Get Lost in the MAiZE!
GET YOUR DISCOUNT COUPON HERE!
OKTOBERFESTS
Das Best Oktoberfest at National Harbor
September 27, 2008, noon to 8 p.m. The outdoor festival will include over 100 unique beers, German wines and schnapps, German foods and other festival goodies, Oompah bands, live music, contests and much more. Admission: $30, Children ages 12 and under are free.
Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
October 2-5, 2008. Located off of Rt. 1 in Fairfax County, Virginia, The annual festival, open to the general public, includes authentic German food and beer, carnival rides, live entertainment, kids activities and more.
Blocktoberfest at RFK Stadium
October 4, 2008, 1-10 p.m.
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
This huge Oktoberfest block party features live music, beer, food, amusements, rides, games and entertainment for all ages.
Germantown Oktoberfest
October 4, 2008, 11 a.m. to dark.
Ridge Road Park, Germantown, Maryland
The festival includes live music, kid’s games, German foods, Biergarten and family fun.
Oktoberfest at Capitol City Brewing Company
October 4, 2008, 12-7 p.m.
Shirlington Village, Arlington, Virginia
Sample more than 60 beers and a variety of foods, while enjoying lively German entertainment. Admission: $25. New this year, Shirlington library will host kid’s events.
Oktoberfest Reston
October 10-11, 2008, 3-11 p.m. Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston, Virginia. Sample the best in fall brews and traditional Oktoberfest fare provided by some of Reston’s finest eateries. Live entertainment.
Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
October 12, 2008, noon – 4 p.m.
Kentlands Village Green, Gaithersburg, Maryland
The City of Gaithersburg and the Kentlands Citizens Assembly sponsor this family friendly Oktoberfest featuring Bavarian music, dance, food, crafts, pony rides, moon bounces, pumpkin decorating, face painting and more.
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES
Becraft’s Farm
14722 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland
(301) 236-4545
Butler’s Orchard
22200 Davis Mill Road
Germantown, Maryland
(301) 972-3299
Homestead Farm
15600 Sugarland Road
Poolesville, Maryland
(301) 977-3761
Johnson’s Berry Farm
17000 Swanson Road
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
(301) 627-8316
Larrliand Farms
2415 Woodbine Road
Woodbine, Maryland
(301) 854-6110
Phillips Farm
13710 Schaeffer Road
Germantown, Maryland
(301) 540-2364
Rock Hill Orchard
28600 Ridge Road
Mount Airy, Maryland
(301) 831-7427
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm
4003 Jennings Chapel Road
Brookeville, Maryland
(410) 489-2572
NATURE CENTERS
Rock Creek Park Nature center Rock Creek Park is Washington, DC’s urban park that extends 12 miles from the Potomac River to the border of Maryland. Rock Creek Park offers a retreat from city life and an opportunity to explore the beauty of nature. Visitors can picnic, hike, bike, rollerblade, play tennis, fish, horseback ride, listen to a concert, or attend programs with a park ranger. Children can participate in a wide range of special programs at Rock Creek Park, including planetarium shows, animal talks, exploratory hikes, crafts, and junior ranger programs.
MARYLAND
Brookside Nature Center at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland. Nature museum adjacent to Brookside Gardens.
Nature Center at Rock Creek Regional Park, in Rockville, Maryland. Nature museum with naturalist guided programs for kids and adults.
Nature Center at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, Maryland. Guided programs are available for kids and adults.
Nature center at Black Hill Regional Park, in Boyds, Maryland. Naturalist guided programs available on the lake and hiking trails.
The Nature Center, run by the City of Rockville, offers nature programs for all ages
Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland.
Nature center in Annandale, Virginia within Annandale Community Park.
Nature Center in Alexandria, Virginia
Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia
Nature Center in Great Falls, Virginia
This nature center is located in Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, Virginia.
MUSEUMS
National Air and Space Museum
http://www.nasm.si.edu/
College Park Aviation Museum
The College Park Aviation Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is located on the grounds of the world’s oldest continuously operating airport in College Park, MD. The airport was founded in 1909 when Wilbur Wright came here to give flight instruction to the 1st military aviators. Visitors to the museum step into an open 1½ story exhibit space, which highlights the display of unique aircraft and artifacts and tells the story of the airport’s many 1st in flight to today. The museum gallery contains historic and reproduction aircraft associated with the history of the airfield, as well as hands-on activities and interpretive areas for children of all ages. Changing exhibits and new programs every month keep visitors coming back for more.
THEATER/ CULTURAL
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage has a series of evening performances FREE to the public many of them free. A friend of mine has a membership that gives her discounts and early ticket purchase options for the Center’s family-oriented performances. I’ve missed out on these because I have not been able to organize to attend, but plan to soon.
Programming is designed to appeal to all ages, and ticket prices are purposely moderate to encourage everyone’s attendance. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 am-5 pm, and two hours before each performance. Call 301-277-1710, The Playhouse has a series of weekend performances too.
Color Me Mine Pottery Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland has workshops for kids over 6 and a Family Paint night where you pay for up to 4 persons per table.
The National Gallery of Art has a series of arts programs for children.
INDOOR SPORTS
BOWLING
Strike Bethesda is a fun spot and has kid friendly no-gutter ball lanes. A bit on the pricey side though.
White Oak Duckpin Bowling is another kid friendly favorite place cause of the size of the pins. I highly recommend this place and plan to visit it often this winter.
GYMNASTICS
Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex offers a fun gymnastics workshop once a week, usually on Fridays, when for $5.00 you can drop in and frolick on the various apparatuses and trampolines under the watchful eye of the complex staff. Moms and dads are welcome on thE floor.
ICE SKATING
The ice skating rink in the Sculpture Garden on the National Mall is a crowd favorite which doesn’t open unti the winter months when there is consistent cold temparatures.
Herbert G. Wells Ice Skating Rink in College Park is a fun spot to take the kids.
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