Weekend Picks: October 13-15, 2017

Surely you’ve heard about the new District Wharf that just opened! Mark your calendar for four days (started Thursday) of live music, fabulous food, and fun at the Southwest Waterfront as we celebrate the long-awaited opening of The Wharf. The District’s biggest neighborhood event will feature free live entertainment and headliner bands, including The Great Zucchini on Saturday, restaurant openings from DC’s hottest chefs, debuts of iconic shops, and lots of waterside activities and games—concluding both Thursday and Sunday with sunset fireworks.

Fall Festivals have commenced!!! Let the apple and pumpkin picking start.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs for opening weekend!   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-

10:00am-4:00pm: The Big Build at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Be a builder for the day at The Big Build community day. Amateur builders young and old can discover what it’s like to don a hard hat, pour cement, spackle a wall, and much more as you work side-by-side with designers, builders, and artisans demonstrating their skills. Meet plumbers, electricians, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields to learn about their professions and hobbies. Free, drop in. No registration required. Recommended for ages 5-12; all ages welcome.

10:00am-2:00pm: Truck Touch at Suburban Nursery School
(7210 Hidden Creek Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20817)
Make way for Suburban Nursery School’s 10th Annual Truck Touch – one of the best fall events for families in the DC Metro area. Join the fun to celebrate the coolest trucks around. In addition to trucks, there will be cars, buses, food trucks, face painting, bounce houses, crafts and more. $5/person. Under 2 free.

10:00am: You & Me Song Circle with Imagination Stage at Avalon Theatre
(5612 Connecticut Ave NW)
You and your child are invited to join in the wild rompus in this fun, interactive musical experience with Imagination Stage! In this workshop, an Early Childhood Teaching Artist accompanied by a live percussionist guides you through a musical exploration of the classic children’s story Where the Wild Things Are.  Together we will celebrate fall with our mightiest roars and dancing shoes as we bring this Maurice Sendak tale to life through song, movement, and instrument play. Best for ages 1-5, but all are welcome! $8

10:00am-4:00pm: Heritage Day at Pierce Mill
(2401 Tilden St NW, Washington, D.C)
There will be a quilting demonstration by the Needlechasers of Chevy Chase that will include “make and take” quilting for children. Master Weaver Chapuchi Bobbo Ahiagble from Ghana will demonstrate West African Kente strip cloth weaving. Chapuchi grew up among the Ewe weavers near the town of Agbozume, the largest market for Ewe Kente cloth in the world.  A blacksmith, carpenters, bluegrass music, cider press, and corn sheller will round out the activities. Tours of the new orchard will be given throughout the day. And we’ll have hands-on children’s crafts. A food truck will provide lunch options. The waterwheel will be turning from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to showcase the magic of the giant wooden machine, designed by Oliver Evans. Built in 1820-1829 by Isaac Peirce as part of his large estate, the gristmill brings to life the agricultural history of Washington County.

2:00pm-5:00pm: 2nd Annual Pike District Fall Festival
(Rockville Pike & Marinelli Rd)
7 Locks Brewing (yes, Surrender Dorothy will be on tap!) and a Fall wine selection from North Bethesda Market‘s HOP N GRAPE. You’ll be hungry so nibble on sweets from local faves Ize’s Deli & Bagelry, Pike & Rose‘s Summer House Santa Monica – North Bethesda and Stella Barra – North Bethesda. Don’t forget the food truck brigade of Greatest American Hot Dogs, El Pollo Submarine, The Rolling Brick, La Strada Mobile Italian Food and Tasty Grill To Go. Wait! Don’t leave the Fall Fest without entering your name for the GRAND PRIZE drawing – Strathmore is giving away 2 tickets to a show in the President’s Box and you can win a brunch at Pinstripes! Finally, there will be a moonbounce, facepainters, balloon artists, reps from community organizations so you can learn more about what is going on in Pike District?

Sunday-

12:00pm-4:00pm: 3rd Annual Cardboard Day of Play at Annemarie Sculpture Garden
(13470 Dowell Road, Dowell (Solomons), MD 20629)
Take the Global Cardboard Challenge and join us for a day of outrageous construction, games, and imaginative play.  With activities for all ages, this is an over-the-top day of building and creating! Families are invited to an afternoon of imaginative play as Annmarie Garden participates in the Global Cardboard Challenge, an annual event that highlights childhood creativity. The Main Gallery of the Arts Building will be filled with cardboard creations and activities that will delight and engage families. Children will have the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and build their way through awesome amusements, art activities, cardboard construction. From mini-golf to cardboard cornhole, families can enjoy friendly competition and groovy gameplay. Stop by one of several art stations to create your own cardboard masterpiece or cardboard hat. Visit Cardboard City or the Cardboard Farm! Builders, tinkerers and little engineers will love the cardboard construction zone. There will be plenty of great photo opportunities, so get ready to grab a cardboard prop, strike a pose and capture great memories! Members FREE; Non-members $4; kids 4 & under FREE.

1:00pm-8:00pm: Tenleytown Block Party (Rescheduled from last weekend)
(4100 River Rd)
Free Grilled Burgers/Hot Dogs/Drinks/Desserts & More, Free Ice Cream by local area favorite food truck, 45′ Inflatable Obstacle Course For Kids/Teens/Adults, Children’s Ferris Wheel & Bounce House, Face Painting/Balloons/Live Entertainers, The Fan Zone- Featuring Live Viewing Tent For NFL Games, Shaded Seating Areas, Heroes Spotlight with local Police and Fire Dept, 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament, Live DJ/Music, Cornhole & Football Toss, Help put together 150 care packages that will be distributed by Martha’s Table to neighbors in need, Cupcake Baking Competition, And Much More!

1:00pm AND 5:00pm: Peppa Pig at Warner Theatre

Shows:

How I Became a Pirate at Adventure Theatre- Sept 22 – Oct 22, 2017
(7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD. 20812)

Drumming with Dishes– Oct 6 – Oct 21, 2017
(The Lab Theatre at Convergence: 1819 N. Quaker Ln. Alexandria, VA. 22302)

The Smartest Girl in the World at Imagination Stage- Oct 7 – Oct 29, 2017
(4908 Auburn Ave. Bethesda, MD. 20814)