Weekend Picks

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs weekends through October 25. The festival is free to children 6 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment for you and the kids, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate!

With the cool weather approaching be sure and check off a few orchards or fall festivals to get you in the Fall season. 

Saturday & Sunday (times differ) The White House will be opening its gardens and grounds to visitors. During this event, visitors can see the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden and South Lawn of the White House.  Additionally, the White House Kitchen Garden – the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden – will be accessible to guests. This event is free and open to the public; however, a ticket is required for all attendees (including small children).  The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located near 15th and E Streets Northwest on each tour day beginning at 9:00 AM.  Tickets will be distributed — one ticket per person — on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday-

6:00pm-9:00pm- Spooky SPY Family Night at International Spy Museum
Ditch your Halloween costume and change your whole identity! Has your brother been spying on you?  Is grandma really a secret agent? Does dad really have lethal ninja skills?  Now’s your chance to find out as your family of spies gains exclusive afterhours access to the Museum.  Test your family’s spy skills as you run top secret missions, go deep undercover and transform your appearance with the help of professional make-up artists, challenge yourself in Code Cracker competitions, explore all forms of spy tradecraft, and enjoy SPY snacks.  Come in disguise as your favorite spy! Ages: 5 and up (one adult required for every five KidSpy agents) Ticket price includes exclusive after-hours admission, SPY snacks, scavenger hunt, prize competitions, and more! Complementary custard generously donated by Shake Shack.

Saturday- 

11:00am-2:00pm: 9th Annual Kids’ Corner Day at Mitchell Park
(23rd and S Streets NW DC)
A fun-filled day of food, children’s activities – pumpkin decorating, a moon bounce, crafts, wagon-led hayrides, face painting – as well as live performances by Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, FUNdamentals of Music and Movement, Gerry Herbert – Musician/Guitarist, Georgetown University Children’s Theatre and the Flamenco Dancers. Entrance to the Fall Fair and all of the live performances are free. The food and children’s activities are available based upon a donation.

11:30am-3:00pm: Halloween Family Day at American Art Museum
(8th and F St NW)
Ghosts and goblins and witches, oh my! Get in the Halloween spirit with spooky craft activities, scavenger hunts, and live music and performances. Whether in new costume or an old favorite, all are welcome to arrive wearing their Halloween best! Free event.

1:00pm-5:00pm: Best of Brookland Festival
(701 Monroe Street NE, Washington DC.)
The celebration will feature two live bands, a beer garden by Brookland Pint, and a variety of kids’ activities including face painting, flash tattoos and balloon twisting. Eats and drinks will be available from neighborhood hot spots Busboys and Poets, Halsa, Brookland’s Finest, Dew Drop Inn, Community Foodworks, Smith Public Trust, Menomale and &pizza. We would love to have you join us, and would appreciate if you would consider sharing this event with your group.

Sunday-

10:00am-5:00pm: 34th Annual Takoma Park Street Festival
(Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, MD to Carroll Street, NW in Takoma, DC)
The festival continues to include a talented mix of local artists offering a great opportunity for visitors to get a head start on holiday shopping for paintings, photographs, pottery, silk-screening, soaps, stained glass, jewelry, woodworking, textiles, ceramics, kids’ items and much more. Mr. Gabe will perform at 11:00am and a huge list of vendors will be there.

11:00am-4:00pm: Kensington Fall Festival
(10301 Kensington Parkway)
Enjoy a day of live music, food trucks, antiques, books and craft vendors. When is the last time you were in Kensington, MD? Old Town Kensington invites you to share the charm and warmth of quaint streets and train whistles in Antique Row to celebrate Fall!

12:00pm-5:00pm: 7th Annual World of Montgomery Street Festival
(51 Mannakee St, Rockville, MD 20850)
Celebrate and explore the rich cultural heritages of the DC Area with international music, food, dance, exhibits and hands-on arts, crafts activities, and more.