Weekend Picks and Labor Day 2017 in and around Washington, DC

We survived the first two weeks of being back in school and are sad to say good-bye to pool days. In addition to the Weekend Picks, we included a short list of quick day or overnight trips for your holiday weekend as well as some Labor Day activities in our area. 

Shenandoah National Park

North Shore Beach

Harpers Ferry

Luray Caverns

Baltimore

Explore the art of recycling at the museum’s 38th-annual Celebration of Textiles Festival at the Textile Museum Saturday and Sunday. Try your hand at weaving with recycled materials and designing a paper dress; watch local fiber artists at work; enjoy live music and dance; and explore the ingenious designs in the exhibition Scraps: Fashion, Textiles, and Creative Reuse. Free; no reservations required. In addition to performances, visitors will be able to make upcycled jewelry with Scrap Baltimore, weave with recycled materials, design a paper dress and join a knitting circle with Project Knitwell.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs this weekend!  The festival is free to children 7 and under. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, jousting, mazes, puppetry, pony rides, a huge pirate playground and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch! The Festival ends October 22 and is open weekends only.

Saturday-

8:30am-7:30pm: 17th Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Washington Convention Center
(801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Starting at 9:30 a.m., more than 100 authors, illustrators and poets will make presentations on stages dedicated to kids, fiction, history, poetry, contemporary life and more. Many fascinating thematic programs and panel discussions will be offered throughout the festival. A Main Stage of 2,000 seats will feature seven of the most popular festival authors. The exposition floor on the lower level of the Convention Center will also offer a wide array of fun and exciting activities and programs for festival attendees of all ages. From the literacy corner reading space to special story times and a fun hunt for Waldo, festival sponsors will offer family-friendly activities throughout the day.

11:00am-6:00pm: DC Veg Fest at Yards Park, DC
(Intersection of N St. SE and First St. SE)
DC VegFest is a fun, free, and flavorful way to discover the many benefits of choosing plant-based foods for our health, the planet, and animals. The free event offers: Complimentary samples of vegan cuisine, Live Music, Busboys & Poets Beer Garden, Humane Rescue Alliance Barking Lot, Kids’ Zone (including yoga, kids’ hands-on cooking demonstrations, a moon bounce and more) and Inspirational Speakers & Cooking Demonstrations. Rain or shine– lots of areas are tented. 

Sunday-

3:00pm-11:00pm: Capitol Concert
(US Capitol West Lawn)
The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free Labor Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol each year, the Sunday before Labor Day. The annual concert is produced by the Kennedy Center. Open rehearsal is at 3:30pm and the concert is at 8pm. The concert will be moved indoors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall if inclement weather.

Monday-

9:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.