Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

The Cold weather may be just around the corner, but so is The Polar Express! Don’t miss out on the journey of a lifetime as scenes from this celebrated holiday classic come to life before your very eyes! The conductor will punch your golden tickets and make sure you make it to The North Pole right on time, but not before you’ve enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, and receiving the first gift of Christmas from Santa Claus himself! So don’t wait – get your tickets to The Polar Express Train Ride 2019 at the B&O Railroad Museum: where Baltimore BELIEVES! Rides are November 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 29 & 30 and
December 1.

Friday

10:00am AND 11:30am: Baby Beats with Max and Root
Two Beat Boxing Dads making music and songs the whole family can enjoy! Best for ages: 0-8.

5:30pm-8:00pm: Harry Potter Nerf Night at Badlands
Accio all Wizards and Witches:It’s a magical night for the Quidditch World Cup as the Houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin compete for victory! You bring your robe and wand, and we’ll bring the snitch!Costumes and wands encouraged! Kids tickets are $30 and include a pizza party. Muggles (Adults) are free and even get a complimentary beer tasting.

6:30pm-9:00pm: Friday Night Rox at Earth Treks
Kids get a fun night of climbing adventure (2.5 hours!) and parents enjoy a night out on the town- what could be more perfect! Activities include vertical games, age appropriate basic skills instruction, and tons of climbing, all under the supervision of our qualified instructors. No experience is necessary. Ages 6-12.

Saturday

9:30am AND 11:00am: Saturday Morning at National Theatre: Virginia Repertory Theatre: Thumbelina
This charming, funny, and joyous musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story features all the beloved characters: toad, fish, field mouse, mole, shallow, and, of course Thumbelina herself. It’s a delightful exploration of nature’s tiny enchanted world. 

10:00am AND 11:30am: Baby Beats with Max and Root
Two Beat Boxing Dads making music and songs the whole family can enjoy! Best for ages: 0-8.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio at The Kreeger Museum
Children, ages 3-5, are invited to use their imaginations as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each First Studio includes a gallery tour, a story, and a hands-on art-making experience. This program is limited to 10 children accompanied by a single adult companion.  Pre-registration is required, for questions or inquires, please contact here.

10:00am-12:00pm: Weekend Workshop at Red Panda Art Studio
Neon art is always more fun under the blacklight! Turn off the lights and turn on the glow. Paint with neon materials and make glowing slime during this workshop! Ages 3.5 to 10 years old, drop-off welcome.

10:00am-4:00pm: Fossil Fest at National Museum of Natural History
Gather your friends and family and get ready for a fun, fossil-filled day in Q?rius! Learn about the tools and research techniques experts use to unearth the facts about prehistoric ecosystems and life long ago. Explore the world of paleontology by meeting scientists and paleontology staff to get a behind-the-scenes look into their work. Experience the field yourself through virtual reality, handling 3D fossil prints, or by sifting for and identifying fossils YOU can uncover at our hands-on learning stations! Find something for everyone in your family to enjoy, from arts and crafts and mask making to film shorts, and much more! Fossil Fest is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Registered guests will receive a special gift at the registration check-in table! Come and discover your inner scientist.

10:30am: Oran Etkin at Jammin Java
This internationally touring jazz clarinetist and educator will perform songs from his new globe-spanning album Finding Friends Far from Home: A Journey with Clara Net. Oran and special guests will invite loads of audience interaction including singing, clapping, dancing and drumming.  As the instruments “talk” with one another, children learn that making music means bringing their own character, humor and emotion along for the ride. Oran’s approach to children’s music is highly interactive, and it’s based on his acclaimed Timbalooloo method. Tickets can be bought here. $12 advance, $15 day of show.

11:00am-7:00pm: Baltimore American Indian Center’s 45th Annual PowWow
The BAIC will have its 45th Annual Pow-Wow at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 4H Building on Saturday, November 16th, 11am – 7pm, with Grand Entry at 12pm! The 45th Annual PowWow will include Native dancing, drumming, music, cultural presentations, jewelry, artwork, crafts, clothing, and food vendors. The event is open to the public! Gate admission: $10 Adults, $5 Children

11:30am-1:30pm: Tykesgiving at A Rake’s Progress
At A Rake’s Progress, James Beard Award–winning chef Spike Gjerde cooks what he sources from Mid-Atlantic farms and waters. Join us for a family-style feast of local and seasonal flavors to kick off your Thanksgiving festivities! Sip on an expertly paired wine while your pipsqueaks partake in a post-meal turkey day singalong by local children’s musicians, Crescendo Communication.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Parents Night Out at Dynamite 2 Gym
Get ready for date night! Put your kids in their jammies and drop them off (pillows and blankets optional) for three hours of open gym fun, followed by pizza dinner, movie popcorn, and watching Space Jam in the gym. Pizza is available for $2/slice, payable online when you register.

Sunday

10:30am-11:30am: Groovy Nate at Capitol Cider House
Groovy Nate is a children’s entertainer and Wolf Trap Teaching Artist who creates fun and educational shows using exotic musical instruments and puppet skits— a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic, meshed with The Electric Company, Kraftwerk, and Dub Reggae. The shows encourage children and adults to move, sing, and play creatively with one another, while exposing them to various genres of music. Tickets required for all ages. All adult ticket holders will be able to enjoy our normal weekday happy hour – $4 pours of house cider, $5 craft beer, $6 local wine & $7 cocktails – from 10am-noon.

11:00am-1:30pm: Pancake Battle at Nats Park
Head to Nationals Park for a festive afternoon celebrating education, family, and delicious food for a family-friendly fundraiser supporting Generation Hope! Enjoy pancake masterpieces from the region’s leading “education celebrities,” a full brunch and mimosa bar, activities for kids, lawn games, the festivities of Nats Park, and a silent auction—all while supporting the life-changing work of Generation Hope. This is a family-friendly event, and children 5 and under are FREE! Generation Hope surrounds motivated teen parents and their children with the mentors, emotional support, and financial resources that they need to thrive in college and kindergarten, thereby driving a two-generation solution to poverty.

3:00pm: Disney Junior Holiday Party at Warner Theatre
Disney Junior Holiday Party! is a dazzling musical wonderland where children and their families can sing and dance along to their favorite Disney Junior songs plus holiday classics with their favorite Disney friends, including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, the Puppy Dog Pals, Vampirina and many more, plus a special visit from Santa Claus!

Plan Ahead:
Book holiday photos of your kids! A simple background at Little Loft in Takoma Park and Katie Jett Wells expert eye will give you the best holiday photos you’ve ever had. Schedule a 15 minute mini-session, then play at Little Loft for up to 1 hour. Sunday, Nov 23, 9:00-2:00. Book here.

Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats Pajama Jam Party at AMP Strathmore: December 1, 2019

Frosty the Snowman: December 7-28, 2019