Weekend Picks October 28-30

Boo!!! Halloween is almost here and looks like the weather is in our favor, especially for all of these fun weekend events. Weekend Picks are mostly Halloween celebrations but we added a few extra events worth checking out. DC Public Library has many festive events happening this weekend.

Saturday, Sunday & Monday Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon from 3:30pm-6:30pm. Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Come and see wool carding, spinning, and fish net making in the historic area before greeting “Martha Washington” on the piazza of the Mansion. In order to burn off all the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing in the upper garden. Historic chocolate-making demonstrations and chocolate tastings will take place. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine.

Friday-

5:30pm-7:30pm- Hilloween at Eastern Market
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St. Count on moon bounces, hay rides, treats, face painting and many, many costumes.

7:00pm-9:00pm- Haunted Hangar at College Park Aviation Museum
Wear your costume and join in the Halloween fun at the annual Haunted Hangar event. Arts, crafts, hayrides, and spooky fun are waiting for kids and families. $5/per person.

Saturday- 

8:30am-9:30am- Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.

9:30am-10:30am AND 10:30am-11:30am- Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.

9:30am AND 11:00am- Traveling Lantern – “Ben Frankin” at National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
Meet the intrepid inventor, productive scientist, and founding father, Benjamin Franklin. Audiences will travel with him, meet his friends, and learn all about the courageous and diligent man who tamed electricity with a kite and a key. Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am the Friday a week prior to the performance. Click on the link to reserve tickets, and review our ticketing policies. Walk up tickets are always available, if prior registration is not completed. Please arrive to the theatre 30 minute before the show to collect a walk up ticket.

10:00am-2:00pm- Kids Day: Washington International Horse Show
Hundreds of children and their families attend WIHS Kids’ Day — a free, fun, family-friendly event created to share the joy of horses with the local D.C. community and teach kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. Children participate in more than a dozen hands-on educational and fun activities, including pony rides, the Animal Planet Horseless Horse Show, the Horse Stars Hall of Fame interactive exhibit, horseshoe painting, face painting, pony brushing lessons, plus giveaways from Paisley Pony magazine and Georgetown Cupcake. Klinger, the famous horse from the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon, often attends as a special guest to greet the children. There’s even a pony kissing booth with Leo The Magnificient, the mini pony!  Outdoor activities will be held in front of the Hotel Monaco at 700 F Street NW (the street will be closed for the event) and face painting and other events will be held on the Verizon Center concourse.

10:00am- John Henry at Avalon Theatre
For the twelfth year, John Henry brings his playful musical style to the Avalon for our annual Halloween concert party. Children are encouraged to come in costume (adults too!) and sing and dance along during the show! Treats will be distributed afterwards.

10:00am-12:00pm- Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Halloween is “spooktacular” at Tudor Place! Wear your costumes (optional) and follow meandering paths to find treats (not tricks!) in every corner of the enchanting North Garden. Enjoy pumpkin-decorating and other crafts, face painting, and outdoor games amid lovely autumn color. Register online ahead of time.

10:30am- The Little Prince Movie at National Gallery of Art
In this animated update inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella, an overscheduled girl befriends an eccentric aviator. He regales her with tales about the adventures of an unusual boy who lives on an asteroid. Engligh-language version. (Mark Osborne, France, 108 minutes.) Ages 7+

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Activities in Saturday Song Circle are best for 1-3 year-olds but 4-5 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome to join in the fun. Featured book: 5 Little Pumpkins

10:30am-1:30pm- Children’s Day at Bethesda Farm Women’s Market
Pick up a pumpkin, tiny Henna Tattoos of pumpkins, ghosts or ghouls ($2.00ea.) on hands and/or wrists. Hooked & Loopy Handmade Crochet Toys, Trunk Love Children’s Apparel, Chouquette Chocolates, Kron Ice Cream & Candy and a variety of Halloween Cookies & Treats.. Plus Apple and Pumpkin Butter…Music will be played 12:00pm-1:30pm.

11:00am-1:00pm- Friends of Forest Hills Playground Halloween
The neighborhood looks forward to this party every year, and this year’s event features Abracadabra Alex, our famous costume parade, a bake sale and pizza from Armand’s. The proceeds from the bake sale and pizza sales go toward events like this party and the summer concerts, plus playground improvements. We can’t wait to see you in your amazing costumes!

12:00pm-2:00pm- Mall-O-Ween at Lakeforest Mall
Wear your costume and join for an afternoon of fun fall activities and trick-or-treating at the mall.

12:00pm-4:00pm- Pumpkin Rock n Roll at Warner Circle Park
The park will be transformed into a full-blown Halloween extravaganza. Participate in a fun costume contest and parade, and enjoy family-friendly attractions including festival-style musical performances, food trucks, inflatable rides and slides and a rock wall. The main event is a derby race of Halloween pumpkins-turned-boxcars! Admission is free.

1:00pm-4:00pm- Join 30 talented 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students selected as finalists for the Broadcom MASTERS^® (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) 2016 at the Science and Engineering Project Showcase at National Geographic Society. Finalists will be on hand to discuss their science and engineering projects with students, teachers, parents, scientists, engineers and members of the general public who share their enthusiasm for science and engineering during this free event.

1:00pm-4:00pm- Glen Echo Fall Frolic
Fall Frolic is the Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual Halloween-themed family event. It’s open to the public, and visitors of all ages are invited to the Park to explore the arts through hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, trick-or-treating and visiting open studios. It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone! For the kids, there will be pumpkin decorating and face painting ($1 fee for pumpkin; $1-$2 for face painting). All other craft activities and trick-or-treating are free! Adults will enjoy strolling through the Park’s open studios and galleries, including Glen Echo Pottery, the Art Glass Center, Photoworks, Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery, and more. The celebration will conclude at 3:30 with a costume parade through the park.

1:00pm-4:00pm-  6th Annual Little Goblins Parade
We can’t wait to see Logan and DuPont Circles’ cutest little goblins for an afternoon of family fun! Please feel free to dress you dogs as well and bring them along for the parade–just note, unfortunately, they are not permitted at Stead Park but we’d love to have them during the parade through Logan Circle. This year we’ll welcome back some of our best entertainers and we’ve added a few new forms of entertainment as well. Here’s what you can expect at the parade and the post-parade festivities (immediately following at Stead Park at 2PM): Blue Styles Brass Band (a NOLA style 2nd line band), Stilt Walker, Juggler, Brazilian Dancers, CMI Kidz Dancers, Bridgette Michaels Guava Jelly Band, Super Soccer Stars, Halloween cookie decorating station via Par LeJeune fancy foods, Caricature Artist and a DJ.

4:00pm-8:00pm- Haunted Garage and Day of the Dead Festival at Oyster Adams Bilingual School
Join us for a walk through the haunted garage and for traditional Day of the Dead activities such as decorating sugar skulls.  Wear your costumes for a costume parade with prizes awarded for the best in many categories.  Bring a cake for the spookiest cake contest which will be followed by a cake walk. Additionally, there will be an inflatable obstacle course, a movie at 6:00pm, pumpkin painting, a fortune teller and face painting.  Ticket price: $10/child over 2 years of age; concessions purchased separately. Location: Oyster Bilingual School garage at 2801 Calvert St NW.

Various times- 3rd Annual Pumpkin Hunt at Lee-Fendall House
Alexandria’s ghosts and goblins will fill the Lee-Fendall House garden with hundreds of colorful toy-filled Halloween pumpkins for local children to discover. Other activities include crafts, refreshments, spooky stories, and a costume parade. All children of elementary school age or younger are eligible to participate in the Halloween Pumpkin Hunt. Older children and adults are welcome to enjoy all other activities. Tickets are available for sale online.

3:00pm-5:00pm- Rollingwood Neighborhood Halloween Party at The French International School
PARADE led by Chevy Chase Fire Truck at 2:30pm. (meet at Leland & Summit). Join us for our annual neighborhood tradition! Live music, bounce houses, photo booth, face painting, crafts, games, food and more. Purchase tickets online or at door.

8:00pm & 9:00pm- Ghost Tours at The National Building Museum
Ghost tours at the National Building Museum combine history, humor, and several hair-raising tales into a fun evening. Constructed between 1882 and 1887, the Museum’s historic home was formerly the Pension Building and was frequently visited by war veterans. The National Building Museum collection houses many artifacts related to the building—plans, drawings, and tools—as well as some objects that defy easy explanation, including a collection of shoes found underneath the foundation, believed to have been buried to ward off evil spirits, and a plaster mask, thought to be a death mask dated from the late 1800s. Our building is spectacular, and eerie, with the lights out.  Ghost tours are recommended for ages 10 and up.

Sunday-

10:00am-10:45am: Sunday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Activities in Sunday Fun-Day are most appropriate to 3-5 year-olds but 1-2 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome! Room on the Broom is the story this weekend. $8 per person.

2:00pm- 20th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
Don your best Halloween costume and march in the 20th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, which historically has attracted thousands of participants. Awards will be given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Awards will be presented in a brief ceremony after the parade, along with refreshments and goodie bags for the children. Adults, children and dogs are all welcome to join and for free.

3:00pm-5:00pm- Busy Bees Not So Spooky Halloween Party
Dress up in your awesome costume & join us for our 2nd “Not So Spooky Halloween Bash!” Unparalleled fun in the playscape, followed by a lil’ parade leading to our party room, where each child will choose a pumpkin and a kit to turn it into their own masterpiece! Top the fun off with cupcakes and milk! Oh wait, there’s more: There will be 3 BuzzyPasses waiting to be found. One FREE birthday party to the BEST FAMILY COSTUME!

3:00pm-6:00pm- Volta Day