Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

Hallelujah the Washington Monument has reopened after many years of it being closed. Same-day, free tickets for opening day (September 19) and all tours through October 18 will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:30am at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th Street, between Madison Drive, NW and Jefferson Drive, SW. The monument will be open daily from 9am until 5pm. Starting on October 10 at 10am, advance reservation tickets may be ordered online for tour dates beginning on Oct. 19 (advance reservation tickets require a nominal processing fee). Same-day, free tickets will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis daily, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Washington Monument Lodge. The monument will be open daily from 9am until 5pm.

Elephant & Piggie hit the stage at Adventure Theatre this weekend! The award-winning, best-selling children’s books jumps from page to stage as a musical experience you won’t forget! Gerald and Piggie are “bestus” friends, with Gerald taking care of all the worrying and Piggie living her best life. Piggie’s even happier and more excited than usual. They’re going to a party hosted by the Squirrelles! And so begins a day when anything is possible.

Goodnight Moon is at Maryland Ensemble Theatre through October. One of the most cherished children’s book of all times springs to life onstage in this delightful and imaginative musical for the whole family. Bunny’s room magically comes alive as he dances and sings his way to sweet dreams through nursery rhyme scenes with dancing bears with chairs, the Cat and the Fiddle, the Cow Jumping Over the Moon and even a trip through the night sky with dancing constellations.

The REACH Opening Festival is wrapping up at the Kennedy Center this weekend. Scroll through the calendar & see all of the great events lined up.

For more than forty-two seasons the Maryland Renaissance Festival has provided a unique outdoor entertainment experience to patrons from all over the world. Weekends through October 20 you can join the joust, enjoy a turkey leg, listen to live music, kids can play on a huge pirate playground or ride a pony, watch puppetry and theatrical shows, dress up in costume if you please; you won’t be alone.

Friday

4:00pm-7:00pm: Open House at My Gym
Learn all about fall classes, meet the teachers, play fitness games, practice gymnastics, and receive back to school discounts.  

4:00pm-11:00pm: Truckeroo
Truckeroo is a monthly festival held at The Bullpen that showcases the hottest food trucks in the DC area. Held April through September, Truckeroo is a family friendly event and features live music, cold drinks, games, and more.

7:00pm-9:00pm: Back to The Yards: A Throwback Neon Dance Party
The Yards, DC’s most exciting waterfront neighborhood for living, dining, shopping and relaxing, invite you to celebrate the last days of summer with Back to The Yards, a throwback neon dance party! Jam out to a playlist of 80’s and 90’s chart-toppers, one-hit wonders, and favorites – don’t forget to wear your best throwback attire!  Family-friendly activities like slap bracelet making, neon glow face paint, all the best vintage arcade games, and more will make this a party for the ages! Admission is free and kids of all ages are welcome to attend. 

Saturday

9:00am-3:00pm: Homecoming at President Lincoln’s Cottage & Freedom 5K & Family Day
During the Civil War, the Lincoln family called the Cottage home. This year they welcome everyone back “home” to join for a full day of racing and family fun activities at Homecoming. Register for a 5k or the Tot Dash. There will be pony rides, arts and crafts, story hour, music, food and more. You can even tour the cottage: take a guided tour of the Lincoln family’s seasonal retreat. 

9:30am AND 11:00am: Saturday at the National Theatre: Michael Shwedick: Reptile World
Exotic creatures headline this much-loved National Theatre tradition, combining Michael Swedick’s lessons on ecology with his unique way of providing intriguing, up close, kid-friendly encounters with alligators, snakes, and other fascinating reptiles. Tickets may be reserved beginning the Friday, one week prior to the performance. There will be a limited amount of walk-up tickets will be available on-site on the day of the show. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the performance time to take place in the “Stand-by line.” Program is best suited for children ages 4 to 10 years.

10:00am-3:00pm: Hispanic Innovators in Air and Space Family Day
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the National Air and Space Museum and learn about Hispanic innovators of the past and present. Meet Hispanic scientists and engineers. Build a clothespin airplane to celebrate the first Hispanic fighter pilot Felix Rigau Carrera. Take a tour of the Museum in Spanish (times TBD). Attend a bilingual planetarium show at 10:30 am (free). Enjoy Flights of Fancy story time in Spanish (time TBD). Create your own airship like Alberto Santos Dumont.

10:15am AND 11:30am: Saturday Family Story Sessions at Strathmore: Adventures in Arden with Shakespeare for the Young
Four Saturdays this fall, families enjoy diverse and dynamic programs from some of the best storytellers in our area. At Strathmore’s Saturday Family Story Sessions, stories encourage active imagination and come alive through improv, puppetry, songs, and more. Kids and parents alike will be enamored by the epic tales our storytellers spin. Snag a spot in the cozy Mansion Music Room and get up close to the performers—you might even find yourself participating in the story! Ideal for ages 4–8. See Strathmore Kids Tips for this program. The 10:15am performances are sensory-friendly to create an experience that is welcoming to children with autism or sensory sensitivities.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book, The Wheels on the Bus, with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home.

11:00am-3:00pm: ZooFiesta
Kick off the Smithsonian-wide Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at “ZooFiesta: Un día de diversión animal para toda la familia,” a free event. Come together with your family and friends to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a fun-filled day of live music, activities and animal demonstrations. Learn about animals native to Latin America and conservation efforts in the region, and discover how Smithsonian scientists work to protect species and habitats worldwide!

12:00pm-7:00pm: H Street Festival
H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals in Washington D.C.  The festival is 11 blocks long and has 14 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different segments of audiences.  The staging areas feature music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and many more.

Sunday

9:00am-10:30am: Llama, Llama Red Pajama! Preschool Class
Baby llama creates nighttime drama for his mama. But what is bedtime like for his alpaca cousins at Kids’ Farm? Are they full of mischief or gentle as lambs when it’s time for their keepers to put them inside for the night? Let’s find out together! Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 2-3 to discover a whole new view of the National Zoo. “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo Walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. 

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories, The Rainbow Fish, to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item which was used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books.

11:00am-4:00pm: Taste of Georgetown
Washington, D.C.’s most anticipated epicurean festival will be celebrating its 26th year with creative tastes from more than 30 of the neighborhood’s best restaurants along with beer and wine. This foodie event takes place in the heart of Georgetown, on K Street NW, between Wisconsin Avenue and Thomas Jefferson Street and along the scenic Georgetown Waterfront. This event is family-friendly and there will be a Kids’ Corner tent with coloring and face painting, too!  Please note there will be live music

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Despicable Me 3
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of the delicious dining establishments, and meet at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages!

-Have you entered to win 5 tickets to Wayside Farm? Winner will be announced on Saturday!

-Follow us on social media- Facebook & Instagram. We always add even more events on both outlets; don’t miss them!