DC Thrifty Mom’s
FREE & Cheap Things To Do
THIS WEEKEND
in the Washington DC Metro Area:
October 25 & 26, 2014
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
***Visit our Calendar for more FREE & Cheap happenings.***
Kids Euro Festival 2014
Through Sunday, November 9th ∙ 80+ FREE Events!
Kids Euro Festival is a two-week long festival of European arts and culture presenting more than 80 free activities to D.C. metro area children and their families. There are performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, and more… and it’s all brought to you by the 28 European Union Member States. It’s like a trip to Europe — but you don’t need a passport! ON SUNDAY, Theatre Mala Scena at Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE! This show uses miming and circus arts to tell the story of an unusual girl who was born with needles all around her body. Although she tries desperately to fit in with everybody else, she struggles to find a place in society. Part of Kids Euro Festival 2014 and presented in cooperation with the Embassy of Croatia.
Saturday Morning at the National - Tom Dougherty: Classic Clowning
The National Theatre
Saturday, October 25∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
As lead clown for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Tom Dougherty delights families with classic and contemporary visual comedy expressed through his unique and engaging character. Weaving circus skills and theatrical style, Tom creates an atmosphere of play that invites everyone to join in the fun!
Truck Touch
Suburban Nursery School
Saturday, October 25∙ 10:00 am ∙ $5 per person – Children Under 2 FREE!
If your little one can’t go one block without pointing out every pick-up, trash, or fire truck they see, then they won’t know how to contain themselves at this annual event. Multiple vehicles (in the past they’ve even had a paper shredding truck and a pink dump truck!) will be parked in the nursery school’s lot, ready to be poked and prodded by kids of all ages. If all that truck crawling works up an appetite in your kiddo, no worries—this year marks the addition of food trucks to the lot. Don’t miss Pumpkin Decorating ∙ Halloween Bake Sale ∙ Toy Raffle [Note: Kids in costume get a free raffle ticket] ∙ Bounce House & Face Painting too!
Family Program: Buds Story Time
Rock Creek Park – Nature Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
Buds is a tree-focused story time aimed toward an audience of toddlers and preschoolers (18 months to 4 years). Buds will be held in the area outside the auditorium on the lower level of the Rock Creek Park Nature Center one Saturday per month. The story time will feature four to five tree and environment focused books interspersed with songs and a craft project. Each family will leave with a list of seasonally appropriate “scavenger hunt items” to track down while exploring the trails on their own after the Buds program has concluded.
Harvest Festival
National Geographic
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
Celebrate all things food at the Harvest Festival, DC’s official Food Day celebration and part of the National Geographic Museum’s Food: Our Global Kitchen exhibition! Watch demonstrations by local chefs for both kids and adults, ride a smoothie-bike, taste healthy and delicious treats, explore a mini-farmers market complete with a produce scavenger hunt, explore your inner artist with fruit and veggie watercolor painting, and much more. Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food.
56th Annual Washington International Horse Show – Kids’ Day
Verizon Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
More than a dozen hands-on educational and fun activities are available, including pony rides, the Animal Planet Horseless Horse Show, horseshoe painting, face painting, pony brushing lessons, plus giveaways from Paisley Pony magazine and Georgetown Cupcake, while supplies last. Klinger, the famous U.S. Army Caisson Platoon horse, will be a special guest. And there’s even a pony kissing booth!
Target Family Night: Chocolate City Rocks presents Jali D, Uncle Devin, and Bab Ras D
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
This for the kids edition features live performances by critically acclaimed musicians, children entertainers, and educators and is hosted by Risikat Okedeyi.
KIDS INTERNATIONAL DISCOVERY (KID) MUSEUM GRAND OPENING!
Davis Library in Bethesda, Maryland
Sunday, October 26 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission!
Bring your family and friends and enjoy a variety of unique, hands-on activities, including digital light painting, creative computing and video game design, kite-making and kite flying, animation, electronic music production, cardboard construction, and Tinkertoy and Lego building. You’ll be able to play with kid-friendly drones, observe our cool 3D printer, make circuit boards, experiment with a wind table, check out a soldering demonstration, and see our inaugural kite exhibit, Kites, Flying Machines, and Life in the Air.
***Washington D.C.***
Ghosts of Georgetown Walking Tour
Start: Old Stone House at 3051 M St NW / End: 36th and Prospect Street NW
Cost: Name Your Own Price!
Is this tour family friendly? Yes! We share with you stories of curses, eerie coincidences, and of course a few haunted houses. We aren’t ghost hunters, we’re historians – so we’ll be taking you through the darker side of Georgetown, but we do not have any one jump out at you! More humor than screams, this is fun for all ages!
FALL FUN DAY
Mount Vernon Triangle
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
Fall Fun Day! This morning, we want to highlight everything we have going on for the kids! Starting at 10, we will have free mini-pumpkin painting on the plaza. At 10:30, mini-monsters trick-or-treating K Street begins with retailers World Class Cuts, Vida Fitness, Mandu, Taylor Gourmet, sweetgreen, Capital One, Safeway,Chipotle Mexican Grill and FRESHFARM Markets all participating. Walk the red carpet when you’re done for photo ops and free polaroid (we have the new gen!) of your mini-monster. Busboys and Poets will also be hosting eco “Jugs into Jack-O-Lanterns” painting during the morning AND we have face painting starting at 11. 5th Street Ace Hardware will be providing free popcorn and will have sidewalk chalk out for the kids. FRESHFARM will also be bringing crowd-pleasing musicianRoss Farquhar to the plaza for his great country/bluegrass entertainment. While you’re at the plaza with your kids next week, stop by to talk to Cheryl Zandt, who will have information about Jrs. Clubhouse, her indoor playground/studio initiative that is in the final weeks of crowdfunding.
PUMPKINS IN THE PARK!
Canal Park
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
The fun, hosted by Capitol Riverfront BID, includes small pumpkins and decorating tools, face painting, and a performance by Mr. Skip at 12:00pm! All kids and kids-at-heart are welcome to join.
FALL FESTIVAL
Whole Foods Market Tenley
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Parents, bring the kids to trick or treat throughout the store and get a sneak peek of some of our favorite holiday offerings. You can also sip hot apple cider on the porch while you listen to local band South Rail and youngsters create painted pumpkins with a featured local Etsy artist, Elizabeth Korson.
DPR presents a Boo-tiful, Bubbling Cauldron of Halloween Events for All, complete listing HERE:
Halloween Party
Takoma Community Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Youth will have a variety of activities including games, a haunted house and refreshments. Ages: 12 and under
Halloween Parade
Stead Recreation Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
In conjunction with the Moms of Logan Circle (MLC), participants will parade around the community/neighbor in costumes from Stead to Logan Circle. Come dressed as your favorite scary character and show off your Halloween costume during a fun Halloween parade at the Stead Recreation Center. Ages: 5 and under
Haunted Chocolate House: A Workshop for Children
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 1:30 pm ∙ $3- $15
Enjoy a Spooktacular family-friendly tour through the historic gardens. After the tour, children participate in a chilling chocolate workshop to create 3-D haunted chocolate houses to take home (one per child registered). Ages 5+
Holla-ween Boogie (Costume Dance Party!)
Joy of Motion Dance Center – Friendship Heights
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 7:00 pm ∙ $5- $10
Bring the whole family to Joy of Motion Dance Center’s costume dance party! This event is appropriate for all ages. A portion of the proceeds go to support JOMDC’s community outreach initiatives.
***Maryland***
Monster Mash!
National Children’s Museum
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ Included with Admission
Wear your favorite costume for a day of non-spooky fun at National Children’s Museum’s Monster Mash! We’re planning special Halloween programming, including a dance party, and such hands-on activities as making masks, bats, spiders and paper bag pumpkins and much more! If that’s not enough, the Museum’s theatre staff will debut a brand new show: The Adventures of L.G. and I.F. I.F. will show L.G. what can happen when we use our imaginations to play. No tablets, no phones, no TVs required. Just imagination and you!
Calabash Carnage Family Pumpkin Carving Workshop
Brentwood Arts Exchange
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
Celebrate Halloween with the Brentwood Arts Exchange! Your family is invited to join us for a pumpkin carving workshop. Use your imagination and create your own pumpkin designs. Admisssion is FREE, $5/pumpkin
FALL FROLIC 2014
Glen Echo Park
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
For the kids, there will be pumpkin decorating and face painting ($1 fee for pumpkin; $1 and $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.
It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone!
HALLOWEEN IN DOWNTOWN FREDERICK
Downtown Frederick
Saturday, October 26 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Bring the kids for an afternoon of trick-or-treating and spooky Halloween activities hosted by your favorite Downtown Frederick businesses!
Halloween Celebration
National Harbor
Sunday, October 26 ∙ 11:00 am
A Spooktacular family event where the whole family can enjoy…
- Trick-or-treating at select stores and restaurants
- Kids (12 and under) dressed in costume will qualify for a free child’s ride on The Capital Wheel (with adult purchase)
- A Pumpkin Patch at the Miller Farms Farmer’s Market!
- A showing of Hocus Pocus on the Plaza Big Screen (movie will begin at 11:15 AM)
Annual Howl-loween Party
The Black Dog
Sunday, October 26 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Make new friends and enjoy a scenic tour of the Harbor.
The Meet and Greet is from 12pm – 1pm. At 1pm, you and your pup will proceed down the ramp to National Plaza, pass the Gaylord Hotel, and make your way down Fleet Street and American Way. You’ll end up back at the Black Dog, where prizes will be awarded!
All dogs must be leashed or they cannot walk.
***Virginia***
ANNANDALE FALL FESTIVAL
Safeway parking lot
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
This is the largest public event in Greater Annandale attended by over 10,000 people. The Annandale Fall Festival will offer something for everyone in the family, and will be held in conjunction with the annual parade for a fun-filled day! In the Food & Entertainment Zone, Rock, County, & Jazz Bands along with costumed international dancers, will entertain. Japanese, Thai, Nigerian, Caribbean, German, Greek, Italian, and Latin cuisines will be represented along with the perennial favorites such as barbeque, burgers and fried chicken, funnel cakes, snow cones, home baked good, cotton candy, Kettle Corn, and Jaguar Joe Coffee. In the Community Market you can SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP with over one hundred vendors to include numerous artisan handcrafts. The ever popular Pet Vendors will again feature a broad range of clever pet accessories, dog trainers & walkers, and gourmet pet food. Children’s books & toys, endearing marionettes, herbal wraps & wreaths, garden accessories, quality giftware from major manufacturers, silks, handbags, exquisite hair jewelry, fashion accessories, and professional stylists will fill-out the Community Market. You can begin and complete your holiday shopping in this market. In the Kid’s Zone a full day of fun awaits. The Toddler Play Area will be back with age appropriate games such as the Bubble Booth and the Lil’ Pirate Moon Bounce. Puppet Shows are scheduled for your entertainment in The Secret Garden. The ever popular Obstacle Course & Bungee Jump are planned along with interactive & inflatable games. You can also test your racing skills with the Nationwide NASCAR’s Driving Simulator.
FALLoween
Market Common Clarendon
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
Come for free fall fun and entertainment at Market Common Clarendon and enjoy 3 hours of trick-or- treating, a petting zoo, face painting, the festive photo stop, pumpkin decorating, treats and tastes from restaurants and retailers and much more! Don’t miss featured musical performances are by DC-region favorites, Mr. Knick Knack at 10 a.m., and Rocknoceros at 11:45 a.m.Williams-Sonoma will be handing out apple cider samples along with Nicecream Factory who will feature their fall flavor for sampling! For the adults, Bluemercury will have $5 facials, Ann Taylor will be scheduling private stylings with 15% off all day and Indian food tastings on the second level terrace at Zaika.
TRICK OR TREAT WITH THE BOO-TIQUES
Old Town Boutique District
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
On Saturday, October 25, start trick-or-treating early and stop by the dozens of shops of the Old Town Boutique District dishing out treats to goblins and ghouls of all ages between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.! Also stop by Pink & Brown for its 5th Annual Costume Contest! Plus, Kids 10 & under eat free from the children’s menu Saturday with the purchase of one adult at Union Street Public House!
The fun continues on Sunday for your furry friends. Join The Dog Park for an afternoon of Doggy Trick or Treating! Click here to download a map of participating boutiques.
Trick or Treat! at Reston Town Center
Reston Town Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE Admission
Trick or Treat! at Reston Town Center, Costumed children can visit participating retailers and the Information Center for treats and goodies. Look for the pumpkin flyer in the window!
FAMILY DAY — FAMILY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EVENT
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Bring your little ghosts and goblins to the Museum for a special Halloween event. Crafts, games and a magic show are just the beginning of this annual fun, festive (not the least bit spooky) event for ages 1-10.
TRICK-OR-TREAT @ THE ROW
Pentagon Row
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Join us for a bewitching day of trick-or-treating fun for you and your wee ones. Put on your best costumes and take a stroll by any of the participating merchants on Saturday, October 25th between 1pm and 5pm for treats* and more! Additional offers are listed below. *Free treats are while supplies last.
18TH ANNUAL DEL RAY HALLOWEEN PARADE
Del Ray
Saturday, October 26 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Grab Your Ghosts and Goblins and Head to The Avenue. It’s Time for the Halloween Parade.
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions is coming soon–the Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade–on Sunday, October 26, at 2 p.m. Please note that both judging for Best Decorated Stroller and registration for Best Pet Costume will begin at 1:30 p.m. The parade begins at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb. The Parade and all activities are free!
AIR & SCARE
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE but Parking $15 until 6:00 pm
See the spooky side of air and space at our annual Halloween event! Arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. The tiniest visitors can check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. Pose for a photo with your favorite Star Wars or Ghostbusters character. Air & Scare is fun for the whole family! Read SMITHSONIAN AIR & SCARE 2013 REVIEW from Thrifty Contributor, Renita H.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL 2014
Falls Church Community Center
Saturday, October 25 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ $ 2 per child, ages 2 and up
The carnival has been a popular event for children for more than 30 years. Infants through sixth graders are invited to enjoy carnival games, a moon bounce, crafts, a haunted house, candy, and a live creepy creature show featuring the spookiest reptiles in nature. Entrance fee is $2 per child ages 2 and up, and free for adults and children under 2 years old
Haunted Trail at the Workhouse
Workhouse Arts Center
Through Saturday, November 1 ∙ 7:00 pm ∙ $5-$10
Strange things are happening in Lorton. One by one, citizens are succumbing to an unidentified infection that mutates them into empty drones with a single purpose: to convert more and more humans to a growing Horde. Self-appointed militias are assigning un-infected persons to safe zones until the situation can be contained. Safe passage is not guaranteed.The trail takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Please note that this is an outdoor trail and may not be appropriate for everyone. This trail is rated PG-13 and recommended for teens 13+.
Enjoy your weekend!
*****
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