DC Thrifty Mom’s
FREE & CHEAP Things To Do
THIS WEEKEND
in the Washington DC Metro Area:
November 22 & 23, 2014
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
***Visit our Calendar area Tree Lighting and more FREE & Cheap happenings.***
Saturday Morning at the National - Mary Ann Jung: Feasting with the Queen
The National Theatre
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Just in time for Thanksgiving, children see if their table manners are up to snuff to dine with England’s Good Queen Bess! Come dressed as your favorite princess or knight in shining armor and learn how to curtsy, bow and dance.
16th Annual Thanksgiving Parade
Silver Spring – steps off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
The reverberating drums of the marching bands herald the coming of the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade even before you catch site of the first giant inflatable turkey. The line-up of over 100 parade units features a new Baby Smurf inflatable, a massive dinosaur, a portable skating rink, and more colorful dancing groups than you have ever seen.
Emcee ABC 7 Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff will introduce glittering floats, a wide variety of high school, college, and professional marching bands; beauty queens; clowns; fire engines; and performing dog and rescue animal groups. As always, the Parade will end with Santa’s float playing holiday music and showing the smiling, rosy cheeked man in a red suit who loves to hang out with elves and give out candy canes.
56th Holiday Shops
Presented by: The Junior League of Washington
Venue: Sphinx Club in downtown Washington
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 10:00 am & Sunday, November 23 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ $5
This year’s event features four days of shopping and special events throughout the weekend. The 56th Holiday Shops will put you in the holiday spirit with proceeds and a portion of merchant sales providing direct support to the JLW’s literacy programs.
5th Annual Handmade Holiday Craft Fair
TC Williams HS
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
The annual handmade holiday craft fair raises money for Joining Hearts and Hands, an organization that builds schools and promotes economic improvements in Kenya and Tanzania. Over the past three years, the students at TC Williams HS have raised close to $4,000 which has helped build a form four (fourth grade) classroom in Tanzania. Each year, the craft fair hosts over 45 local, handmade crafters, student art work, and more! This is a perfect place to get your holiday shopping done while support TC students and a great cause!
SACRED and PROFANE: Free Concert for Children!
Hosted by: Ibis: A Chamber Music Society
Venue: Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 10:30 am ∙ FREE but donations appreciated
Midway between Halloween and Christmas IBIS Chamber Music presents a program for kids with music both spooky and reverential. Kids will get to see the harp and members of the string family up close, while IBIS performs Andre Caplet’s Conte Fantastique, based on Edgar ALlen Poe’s Masque of the Red Death, with narration and music. Soprano Elizabeth Kluegel will delight with beautiful singing and IBIS’s original arrangement of Saint Saens Danse Macabre will have kids dancing in the aisles. This concert is free–your goodwill donations are welcome–and will be fun for kids of all ages.
Tudor Tots: Turkey and Thanks
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 10:30 am & 1:30 pm ∙ $0-$5
Celebrate turkey day at Tudor Place! Tiny tots enjoy an interactive story, songs, and movement activities in the enchanting historic buildings of Tudor Place. The program concludes with a special holiday craft to take home! Ages 2-4
EdFEST
DC Armory (2001 East Capitol St SE)
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ Admission and parking (Lot #3) is FREE!
Come to EdFEST and explore the city’s many public school options (PK3-12) for your child. Representatives from more than 180 DC public schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools will showcase their programs. With the launch of the My School DC application on December 15, EdFEST is a timely event to help you make informed school selections for the 2015-16 school year common lottery.
EdFEST will also feature many free services and fun activities for the whole family, including:
*Flu shots for adults, immunizations and dental services for kids and teens, free health screenings and lots more family fun, games and entertainment brought to you by the DC Department of Health
*Sports activities for all, such as soccer, basketball, and tennis brought to you by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, including information about DPR Fun Days, Winter and Spring Break Camps, Cooperative Play, and more
*Story time with DC Public Library
2nd Annual Thanksgiving Glitter Fest
Brentwood Arts Exchange
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
A one-day workshop for young artists and families to decorate sparkling centerpieces with glitter for their Thanksgiving table. Nothing says “Thanks!” like glitter – and all the mess can stay in our classroom. Families are encouraged to bring their own items to decorate, but can also choose from a limited selection of free centerpiece items at the workshop.
Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters: The Musical
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 11:00 am & 2:00 pm ∙ $5-$15
Come on down to Bear Country for this enchanting adaptation of Stan and Jan Berenstain’s beloved children’s series. Fresh from its sold-out off-Broadway run this heartwarming musical based on three of the Berenstain Bears most popular books. Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear can’t stop eating junk food – but thankfully, they – and we – can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to set things right. Filled with original songs, fun dancing, and important life lessons, this humorous and heartfelt theatrical experience gives parents the opportunity to share these treasured tales they enjoyed as children with their own young cubs! “Like honey for little kids!” (Mommy Poppins)
Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol
Adventure Theatre MTC
Through Thursday, January 1, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $19 [50% Discount Available]
Tiny Tim longs to have his father home on Christmas day, but mean old Mr. Scrooge won’t give Bob Crachit the day off! There must be a way to change Scrooge’s mind – perhaps a ghost or two will set Scrooge right. Can this clever boy and his best friend Charlotte save Christmas and change the heart of the meanest man in town? This exciting world premiere story of a father and son is adapted by Broadway’s Tony-winning Ken Ludwig (Twas the Night Before Christmas) and his very own son, Jack. Get ready for the wildest ride
Ornament Decorating at Friendship Firehouse
Friendship Firehouse in Alexandria, VA
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ $2 includes ornament
The Friendship Firehouse Museum is offering ornament decorating on Saturday November 15 and 22, from 1-4 p.m.
Participants can decorate and take home dough ornaments made in shapes inspired by firefighting. Come and put your own unique embellishment on forms such as fire helmets, fire trucks, and fire hydrants. They are great decorations for the home or office, during the holidays, or any time of year – and make excellent gifts!
Experience the Magic: Macy’s Holiday Window Unveiling!
Macy’s Downtown-Metro Center
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission
The celebration begins outside on G Street as our co-hosts, FOX 5 Reporter Allison Seymour and American Ballet Theatre Soloist Misty Copeland kick off the festivities! Our star-studded lineup includes performances by Bystorm/RCA recording artist, Mali Music and Season 6 contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” Ddendyl.Enjoy performances by the Washington Performing Arts Society’s Children of the Gospel Choir, and excerpts of The Nutcracker by the Washington Ballet. Plus, the man of the hour, Santa, and the Ballou High School Marching Band will count down to reveal this year’s spectacular holiday windows!The Fun Continues Inside2:00pm, Main Floor- Come in and warm up with treats and goodies! Enjoy a special toasty beverage courtesy of Spilled Milk Catering!*3:15pm, 2nd Floor Men’s Dept.- Stop by the Men’s Department for an exclusive meet and greet with Mali Music and Ddendyl and get an autographed picture!**3:15pm, 3rd Floor Women’s Dept.- The excitement continues with an exclusive meet & greet with Misty Copeland!** Enjoy a one of a kind ballet experience. Learn moves from The Washington Ballet dancers and bring your camera to take a special photo. With any $100 or more Macy’s purchase made that day, take home a voucher to redeem a pair of tickets*** to The Washington Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker and a copy of Misty’s book*, “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”3:15pm, 4th Floor Kids’ Dept.- Its a kids’ holiday play land! Join us for kids’ activities* with the Newseum and Disney’s Frozen layers.3:15pm, 4th Floor Kids’ Dept.- Meet the man of the hour, Santa!** Walk the red carpet to the man who will grant all of your holiday wishes! Take a photo or just meet Santa!Event subject to change or cancellation. *While supplies last. **While time permits. ***One voucher per customer, while vouchers last. See voucher for redemption details.
Cashore Marionettes presents: Simple Gifts
Presented by: Reston Community Center
Venue: CenterStage
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 3:00 pm ∙ $5-$10
Simple Gifts is a series of touching portrayals and poignant scenes from everyday life set to stunning music by such composers as Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven and Copland. Through a combination of virtuoso manipulation, beautiful music, theatrical illusion, and artistic insight, the original vignettes provide an entertaining and sensitive vision of what it is to be human. Appropriate for ages 8 and up.
Rhode Island Row Neighborhood Tree Lighting and Open House
Rhode Island Row
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 6:30 pm ∙ FREE Admission
Join us for the inaugural Neighborhood Tree Lighting and Open House holiday event.
Enjoy live performances, photos with Santa, festive entertainment and more.
Donate a coat or winter accessory they will receive one free ticket for photos with Santa to be redeemed during the Rhode Island Row holiday open house.
Event Schedule:
*10:00am to 7:00pm – WPGC Coat Drive, benefitting the Salvation Army
*6:30pm to 9:00pm – Photos with Santa, free face painting, free balloon twisting, roaming festive entertainment, live entertainment and merchant specials
*7:00pm – Tree lighting with a live special performance from the all-male choir from Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church, located in front of Carolina Kitchen
In addition to its holiday open house, Rhode Island Row is the new flagship location for the WPGC Coat Drive, in partnership with Salvation Army, a DC tradition more than 20 years in the making. WPGC will broadcast live from Rhode Island Row, collecting coats and winter accessories donations for the Salvation Army.
Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel
Presented by: Capital City Symphony
Venue: Atlas Performing Arts Center
Saturday, November 22 ∙ 7:30 pm & Sunday, November 23 ∙ 4:00 pm ∙ $25 [50% Discount Available]
Saturday’s concert is a full version, semi-staged concert opera for adults and older children. Sunday’s concert is a 1 hour version for younger audiences. Come early on Sunday for our Instrument Petting Zoo at 3:30pm! (Age 16 and under are free.)
Sunday Fun Day – From Head to Toe
Imagination Stage
Sunday, November 23 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $10
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. Best for ages 1-3.*
*Though these workshops are recommended up to age 3, we know your 4 & 5 year-old children will enjoy them, too!
Enjoy your weekend!
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