Weekend Picks: December 9-11

Nationals Winterfest is at the Washington Convention Center Saturday & Sunday from 11:30am-4:00pm. Join for Nats Winterfest, returning December 10 and 11 to the Washington Convention Center. Winterfest will again feature two days of fun! Activities include: Clinics with Nationals players and coaches, watch a Homerun Derby featuring the Nationals mascots, make a snow fort, participate in the steal home challenge and take batting practice, hear a winter or baseball themed story, read by a Nationals player, participate in the Kids Press Conferences, sign up for 2017 season Jr. Nats Kids Club memberships at the Jr. Nationals Kids Club Kiosk, ride down The Slider, a giant slide reminiscent of a sledding hill and a “Video Pitch”, where fans can give virtual batters their best pitch.

You are sure to find lots to do with our guide for getting outdoors this holiday season.

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is happening at Dulles Expo Center December 9-11. A great festival to find gifts, treats, hear live music, see demos and children’s entertainment.

Great Train and Toy Show at Dulles Expo Center is Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm. Operating model railroads, tables of trains for sale, workshops, door prizes and more. Kids are free.

Friday & Saturday NSO Pops: A Holiday Pops! featuring Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana will play at The Kennedy Center. Warm your spirit with fresh takes on comforting classics and singalong carols in this NSO Pops tradition–this year featuring The Washington Chorus alongside Broadway stars Laura Osnes (Grease) and Santino Fontana (Disney’s Frozen). Most enjoyed by age 9 and up. Approximately 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission.

Saturday-

10:00am: Polar Express Pajama Party at Angelika Mosaic
(2911 District Ave. Fairfax, VA)
No need to dress the kids today. Show up in jammies for a showing of the Polar Express. Concession stand will serve hot cocoa and cookies.

11:00am-3:00pm: EdFest 2016
(DC Armory:2001 East Capitol St SE)
My School DC is excited to bring you EdFEST, DC’s only citywide public school fair! Come to EdFEST and explore the city’s many public school options (PK3-12) for your child. Representatives from DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools will showcase their programs. With the launch of the My School DC common lottery application on December 12, EdFEST is a timely event to help you make informed school selections for the 2017-18 school year common lottery. EdFEST will also feature many free services and fun activities for the whole family:Flu shots for adults, health services for kids and teens, and lots more family fun, games and entertainment brought to you by the DC Department of Health. Sports activities for all brought to you by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, including information about DPR Fun Days, Winter and Spring Break Camps, Cooperative Play, and story time with DC Public Library.

11:30am-3:00pm: Italian Holiday Festival at American Art Museum Renwick Gallery
(8th & F St)
There’s no place like SAAM for the holidays. To celebrate the vibrant culture of Italy, Simona Rodano returns as The Italian Fairy to engage kids with the beauty of her native language. Along with winter-themed crafts and holiday photo ops, she’ll be joined by The Washington School of Ballet and Faction of Fools Theatre Company, for a festival with all the Italian flair you’ll need to get in the spirit of this joyful season.

11:00am-4:00pm: Holiday Card Workshop at National Postal Museum
(2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. Washington, DC 20002)
Kick off the holiday season by creating heartfelt handmade cards at the National Postal Museum’s annual Holiday Card Workshop! We’ll have pretty papers, vintage stamps from around the world and lots of other supplies to inspire your creativity as you create one-of-a-kind holiday greetings. After making your cards, visit the museum’s stamp store to send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. This fun program offers something for all ages who love arts & crafts activities.

11:00am (doors open at 10:30am): Rockin In A Rainbow Wonderland Holiday Show and Toy Drive! at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave Vienna, VA, 22180)
Are you ready to rock around the rainbow tree? Join the Rainbow Rock Band and ring in the holiday season by singing along to many of your holiday favorites!! Winners of a Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for their debut CD, “Meet the Rainbow,” an absolute mix of musical genres from folk, to rock, to rockabilly, all the while being EDUCATIONAL and FUN!!! Your child will learn about shapes, colors, movement, and more! The Rainbow Rock Band encourages all of the rainbow rockers to participate in the show either on the microphone or at their seat, either way your little one is sure to have fun!

12:00pm (Also a concert Sunday at 4:00pm): Cathedral Choral Society: Family Joy at National Cathedral
(3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20016)
Bring the whole family and get swept up in the sounds of the season! This one-hour program has something for all ages, including a kids-only sing-along. Purchase tickets here.

4:00pm-7:00pm: Winter’s Eve at Glen Echo
(7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD 20812)
Celebrate the holiday season at the Park’s annual Winter’s Eve event. Enjoy FREE activities including holiday crafts, sing-alongs, story-telling, open studios, and a hot chocolate bar. Browse and buy fine artworks at the Holiday Art Show and artist studios.

6:00pm: Target Family Night: Michael Hearst presents Songs for Unusual Creatures
(2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566)
Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer Michael Hearst presents a special music program featuring some of Earth’s strangest animals and interesting, uncommon instruments.

Sunday-

9:30am-3:30pm: Eastern Market Holiday Celebrations
(225 Seventh Street, SE Washington, DC 20003)
See schedule for juggler, crafts, tree decorating and more event and activity times.

Many theatre productions you can see this weekend!