Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

All weekend

Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume made it’s debut at The Kennedy Center yesterday. New York Times best-selling author Kwame Alexander brings two of his beloved children’s books—Acoustic Rooster and Indigo Blume—to the stage. Alexander teams up with his writing partner Mary Rand Hess and long-time musical collaborator Randy Preston to tell a story about being scared, being brave, and believing in yourself. With special guests like Duck Ellington and Ms. Dairy Parton—plus Preston appearing as Acoustic Rooster—this musical adaptation will have children (and families) dancing in their seats. Most enjoyed by ages 5+.

All aboard! The B&O Railroad Museum is celebrating the return of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Baltimore beginning Friday, November 19^th and continuing through December 12^th.  Gold class tickets are already sold out. The remaining silver and bronze tickets are flying faster than Santa’s reindeer! Climb aboard The Polar Express to create a Christmas memory that you and your family will cherish forever. Come in your pajamas as a family to watch the live performance of the The Polar Express. The performance will begin in our North Car Shop where you will be invited onto the Polar Express to travel by train to the North Pole. Once on the Polar Express, the classic Christmas tale will be performed, and little ones will have the opportunity to meet Santa and receive their first gift of Christmas!

Get three shows for the price of one! Winterfest at Adventure Theatre brings favorites from the digital Jingle in July festival to the live stage. Snowflakes, frost, and fantasy abound in Uri & Ora Light the Menorah by Robyn Shrater Seemann, Connection by Diego Maramba and Michelle Bowen, and Cranky Penguin by Keegan Patterson. Winterfest opens this Friday, November 19th, and runs through the holiday season until January 2nd.

S.P.I.E.S. & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis Imagination Stage virtual show is full of surprises, fun, and memorable characters. Each performance takes the cadets (audience) through a series of puzzles, codes, and challenges on a quest to help Spy Team 7 recover the stolen Heart of the Dragon from the evil Dr. Levinious. The experience is led by a hilarious improvisational actor  playing the role of Pat, who interacts with individual spy cadets in the Zoom room. Part online escape room, part interactive game, this creative and immersive theatrical experience is a live virtual event perfect for ages 5+. Just $28 for the whole household!

LuminocCity Festival Holiday Lights at Roer’s Zoofari is inspired by the power and warmth of light overcoming the darkness, our theme this year is “Shine Again”! Lumi and the team have been hard at work preparing for this year’s immersive light festival!

The 17th Annual Downtown Holiday Market, Washington D.C.’s outdoor shopping village, kicks off the holiday season Friday, November 19. The beloved outdoor market continues to support small businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, welcoming shoppers for a safe, secure and enhanced shopping experience in the heart of the District this year.

DC’s Main Streets and commercial corridors have joined together to bring you a spectacular holiday experience: DC Holiday Lights. Between November 19 and January 6, take a stroll down each of the participating corridors below to experience a dazzling array of lights and decor. Then, cast your vote for the best decorated corridor!

You are invited to travel through space and time with the largest exploration of the future by the Smithsonian this November 19-21. To celebrate the Smithsonian Institution’s 175th anniversary, the Arts and Industries Building will temporarily open for the first time in almost 20 years with an exhibit that will blast viewers towards the future. FUTURES will host its opening weekend full of site-specific art commissions, research and designs that could change the world, unique pairings and more, all in the name of building a future that is sustainable, equitable and accessible for all. The immersive experience will feature Bill Nye, Pattie Gonia, HBO Max’s “Legendary,” Kal Penn, SHAED, Mariah the Scientist and more. Bring YOUR voice, because these are OUR futures. Let’s make them work.

Friday

The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink opens! Tie up your laces and hit the ice. The ice rink is open until March 6 (weather permitting).

5:30pm-8:30pm: Holiday Tree Lighting at Color Burst Ice Rink
Come together for a bold and bright celebration at our inaugural tree lighting and the opening of our ice rink! They’re bringing the cheer with live holiday performances, ice carving demonstrations, kids crafts and more. Write a letter to Santa, sip on a cup of chocolate from a hot cocoa bar and skate a lap around Color Burst Ice Rink. To kick off the most wonderful time of the year, the tree lighting festivities are free to the public. RSVP here and purchase tickets to ice skate here.

Saturday

9:30am-12:30pm: Moomin Animations: Thrills + Cuddles – The Music of Moominvalley
Join composers Samuli Kosminen & Jarmo Saari on livestream for a musical ride to the fantasy world of Moomins! Hear more about how the heart-warming score music of the award-winning Moominvalley TV series (Gutsy Animations, 2019) was made. Discover the most bizarre instruments used to create the perfect sound. Use your ears to “watch” scenes, discover the sounds different instruments make, and learn more about the basics of composing! Recommended ages: 3+ with the duration of 30 minutes. This event will take place both virtually + in person. To attend this event in person, you must reserve tickets to visit National Children’s Museum on November 20, 2021, during the morning session from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. At the time of the event, Museum staff will invite you to gather in the Moomin Animations – Thrills and Cuddles exhibit located in the Museum’s Visiting Exhibit Hall. You do not need to register for the event using the form below if attending in person. If you’re choosing to attend the event in person, please note that the event will be livestreamed and recorded for on demand viewing. To attend this event virtually, please register using the below form. You will receive access credentials to join the virtual program via email.

10:00am-12:00pm: Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade
Larger than life inflatable turkeys and penguins, glittering floats, marching bands, dancing groups, and Santa and his elves!  The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is the only Thanksgiving Parade in the metro DC area. Held in downtown Silver Spring, the exciting parade traditionally heralds the start of the holiday season.  The parade steps off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue. 

10:00am-8:00pm: Outdoor Holiday Market & Charlie Brown Concert
Join BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, MD for an outdoor holiday market plucked right out of a European folktale followed by a live indoor concert of jazzy holiday standards with the Eric Byrd Trio at 8:00 P.M.! Food, games, photos with Santa, holiday music, crafts, games, and surprises, this festive season kickoff only needs one thing- your family- to complete its winter wonderland magic.

10:00am-1:00pm: Fall Train Rides
All aboard the Fall Train at The Station at Riverdale! The Fall Train will be pulling away from The Station for the entire family to explore the community and take a pit stop at one of The Station’s retailers and restaurants. Guests can also enjoy some festive fall arts and crafts, glitter temporary tattoos, and more. Register for free at the link above!

Sunset – 9:00pm: National Harbor Tree Lighting & Fireworks
Watch the 54-foot tree comes to life nightly with a breathtaking light show in the heart of the Waterfront District. Show runs on the half an hour from sunset to 9pm. Join Saturday nights from November 13 – December 18 at 5:30pm for a spectacular fireworks display.

Sunday

1:30pm: Sky Survey with Artist-in-Residence Tommy Bobo
Meet National Children’s Museum artist-in-residence Tommy Bobo under the blue awnings on Woodrow Wilson Plaza for some Sky Survey fun! First, observe the sky above at the Sky Survey Drawing Tables. Record what you see in a drawing, which will become a part of the collaborative art installation inside the Museum’s Entry Hall! Then, get a behind-the-scenes look at the technology that brings to life the digital portion of the installation. Recommended for all ages. This programming is included in the price of admission for the afternoon session of November 21. Reserve your tickets.

2:00pm-4:00pm: Movie on the Potomac- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of the delicious dining establishments, and meet on the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages!

Plan ahead

We have a special discount code to see Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical., giving you the opportunity to purchase three tickets and get one FREE. Offer is eligible for select-seats only, evening performances through 12/2. Eligible dates include 11/23, 11/24, 11/26, 11/27, 11/30, 12/1, 12/2.  To redeem this offer, 

1. Visit The National Theatre website.
2. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical – On sale now! –> Buy Tickets 
3. You will be redirected to Ticketmaster. 
4. Enter code MAMAWHO at check out. 
5. Enjoy the show! 

Holiday prep {updated lists to come}

Stocking stuffers under $10
Gift Guide for Kids
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