A peek at the fantastic OSGEMEOS exhibit at the Hirshhorn Happy Weekend! Ideas for ongoing local fun in these KFDC posts: * Best Outdoors in the DC Area * Local Hikes with Kids * Indoor Action * The Great Indoors * Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums * Kid-Friendly Dining * Pick Your Own (Apples!) * Baltimore with Kids * Bike Rides * Stunning Spaces * Peaceful Places Happy Birthday, Hirshhorn! Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Free The Hishhorn is celebrating its 50th with some special activities and treats! On Friday and Saturday, drop-in from 10:30am – 3pm for an artmaking adventure inspired by the milestone. Join museum educators for interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the monumental artwork, Mark Bradford’s Pickett’s Charge. Also on Saturday at 12pm, 2:30pm, and 4pm will be Agents of Deterioration, a new musical encounter in the Revolutions exhibition galleries. Even more, they are giving out free doughnuts (while supplies last)!  And all weekend long, you can visit the new, wonderfully vibrant OSGEMEOS: Endless Story — easily one of the best exhibits I’ve seen in DC in awhile! Dance For All Where: Dupont Underground | Dupont Circle, DC When: Friday, 7:30pm | Saturday, 3pm & 7:30pm Admission: The Washington Ballet is kicking (and pirouetting) off its 2024-25 season at Dupont Underground. Dance For All features the Washington Ballet’s Studio Company, bringing to life emotive and boundary-breaking choreography. Step into an immersive world of dance showcasing new artistic director Edwaard Liang’s emotive and innovative choreography, brought to life by TWB’s talented Studio Company, all to the evocative music of Blake Neely.Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before the performance begins for an immersive pre-show experience. Wicked Fun Where: Around the DC area When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Varies by activity Get the Halloween party started early with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit throughout October. This new post has details on where all the tricks and treats are happening. Kids Workshop: Fire Rescue Truck Where: Home Depot locations around the area When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm Admission: Free – be sure to register in advance Home Depot’s free monthly workshop for kids invites young DIYers to make their own fire rescue truck. All supplies are provided, including a little apron, and kids get to keep their craft along with a certificate of achievement and collectible pin. All attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. Register in advance! She Persisted Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo Park, MD When: Sat, 11am & 2pm | Sun, 2pm Tickets: $27 It’s opening weekend for Adventure Theatre’s newest show… Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor. First Studio: Art, Story, and Workshop Where: Kreeger Museum | Foxhall/Palisades, DC When: Saturday, 10–11am Admission: $10 Young artists ages 3-5 and an adult companion are invited to use their imagination as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each program focuses on a theme supported by a story, works of art from the collection, and a hands-on art-making experience. This month explore the collection with our theme “A, B, C to Y & Z.” Open Streets: A Mile of Play E St NW Where: 7th St NW | Rhode Island to E St NW, DC When: Saturday, 9am – 3pm Admission: Free Open Streets is back — on 7th Street NW this weekend! This car-free mile invites everyone to walk, run, bike, and play together. Enjoy free activities like yoga, live music, and a dragon dance. Check out the sports lounge with Nintendo Switch games, watch Chinese 9-Man volleyball or join in on wrestling lessons. It’s a day to connect, move, and have fun! Fall Festing Where: Around the DC area When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Varies by activity Pick some pumpkins, whiz down giant slides, get lost in corn mazes, go on and hayrides, bounce around on jumping pillows, and so much more. There are activities galore to help you embrace the autumn spirit, and the KFDC guide to fall festivals has details on all of them. Taste of Bethesda Where: Woodmont Triangle | Bethesda, MD When:Saturday, 11am – 4pm Admission: Free, but pay for samples According to some stats, Bethesda has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. Accurate or not, DC’s suburban neighbor definitely has a food scene worth celebrating. The 32nd year of Bethesda’s famous food and music festival will bring the best restaurants and five stages of entertainment to the downtown’s Woodmont Triangle. Along with delicious food samples and live entertainment, there will be a kid’s corner for face painting, arts & crafts, and more fun for young ones. Admission is free, and taste tickets are sold on-site. Art on the Avenue Where: Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray | Alexandria, VA When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm Admission: Free Celebrate the diversity of Alexandria’s Del Ray community at this multicultural arts festival. Numerous artists — jewelers, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, painters, sculptors, fabric artists, and musicians — will have their work on display and for sale. And kids activities have always been a vital part of the festival — there will be crafts especially for young festival-goers to enjoy and take home. Food vendors will also be there offering hot dogs, BBQ, Indian fare, crab cakes, chocolate bananas dipped on a stick, and home made cider donuts. Oktoberfest in Vienna Where: Vienna, VA When: Saturday, 11am – 7pm Admission: Free Enjoy a day of Oktoberfest fun in Vienna. Along with beer and wine, thee are a loads of kids activities, live entertainment on three stages​, a business expo, a marketplace showcasing local vendors and atisans, and a new bike gaeden and bike fest. Plenty of food will be available for purchase, too. Model Trains Open House Where: Historic Vienna Train Station | Vienna, VA When: Saturday, 1-5pm Admission: Free (donations accepted) While you’re in Vienna for Oktoberfest, go to the Historic Vienna Train Station and Museum where you can see and hear HO scale model trolleys and trains, including Thomas and some of his friends, on display and in operation. It’s a great family fun and activity for the young and young at heart. The Station is at 231 Dominion Road NE, Vienna, VA along the W&OD trail just past the Caboose. College Park Day Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD When: Saturday, 12-6pm Admission: Free Join friends, neighbors, and the entire City of College Park community at the Annual College Park Day Festival. This free event is fun for the whole family with live entertainment on three stages, including a family stage with performances for children and families. There will also be wandering performers, crafts, activities, games, races, bounce houses, obstacle courses, and more. Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy browsing the College Park Aviation Museum’s exhibits (free on College Park Day) and a helicopter fly-in! Lots of food and drink options, too. Rosslyn Fall Fest Where: Gateway Park | Rosslyn, VA When: Saturday, 1-6pm Admission: Free Celebrate the start of autumn with the Rosslyn BID. Head to Gateway Park for an afternoon of fall-favorite activities for all ages to help welcome the season of crisp air and colorful leaves.Enjoye live music by Jessica Allossery and Rock Creek Kings, food trucks, hard cider and seasonal beer tastings, and more fun. Their pie eating contest will be back, and you can register to enter for on-site. A Journey Around the World Through Music Where: Highland Elementary | Wheaton, MD When: Saturday, 11am & Sunday, 2pm Admission: Free InterAct Story Theatre is kicking off their 10th Anniversary Season of the Wheaton Family Theatre Series with this celebration. This inspiring cross-cultural musical journey explores ancient musical traditions from across a variety of cultures woven together with modern technology. Barkaeology Parade Where: Picnic Grove #10, Beach Dr. | Rock Creek Park, DC When: Saturday, 9:30-11:30am Admission: 0-$15 It’s the 20,000th anniversary of humans’ domestication of the dog (give or take 5,000 years). Join Archaeology in the Community for a celebration of that historic event with a Barkaeology Parade on Saturday. Enjoy the beauty of Rock Creek Park, learn more about the archaeology and history of dog domestication, and see extremely good pups. The parade route will follow a 1-mile trail loop in the woods. Costumes for humans and dogs are encouraged. Registered attendees receive a bandana and a chance to win prizes, such as a $50 gift card to Big Bad Woof. Register today! Oktoberfest at The Wharf Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC When: Saturday, 2-7pm Admission: Free It’s that time of year… put on your dirndl or lederhosen, grab your Dachshund, and head to The Wharf for  free Oktoberfest festivities. The highlight:  Cheer on the dogs competing in the 12th Annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash to benefit Rural Dog Rescue. Throughout the weekend, enjoy German fare, Bavarian decor and costumes, and Sam Adam Octoberfest beer for adults. Clue Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC When: Fri, 7:30pm | Sat, 1:30pm & 7:30pm | Sun, 1:30pm Admission: $29-169  Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 movie and inspired by the classic board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Recommended for ages 12+. Winnie the Pooh Where: Imagination Stage | Bethesda, MD When:Saturday & Sunday, 10am & 1pm Admission: $12-44 Everyone’s favorite bear from the 100 Acre Wood is surrounded by Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl in this delightful and gentle musical. Set during one busy day, there’s a Heffalump to catch, Eeyore’s tail to find, and a misunderstanding between Rabbit and Kanga to sort out. In the end, friendship and understanding win the day. Recommended for ages 3+. Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD When: Through November 5 Tickets: $15 The Puppet Co. favorites Ingrid and Mollie are bringing a charming and educational adventure to the main stage for Halloween! Come meet Jennie the Cat!  When Jennie receives a Halloween card that calls her a scary cat, she feels like she’s been put in a box. Does she have to be scary? Join Jennie as she meets new friends with some spectacular tricks and treats to share, like skateboarding, shadow puppetry, and pumpkin carving. Who will Jennie choose to be? This show features cuddly puppets, audience interaction, and all original music. Hamlet…the Rest is Silence Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Theater | Arlington, VA When: Through October 13 Tickets: $35-65 Synetic Theater’s haunting and wordless adaptation of Shakespeare’s iconic masterpiece, first performed in 2002, returns for a limited engagement, laying bare the tormented soul at the heart of one of literature’s greatest achievements. Synetic burst onto the theater scene with this movement-based, Helen Hayes Award-winning spectacle, reimagining the tragic tale of a prince’s journey through vengeance and loss. Vato Tsikurishvili steps into the role of Hamlet as the great story unfolds once more, promising a visceral and unforgettable theatrical experience. Takoma Park Street Festival Where: Carroll Ave. to Carroll St. | Takoma Park, MD When: Sunday, 10am – 5pm Admission: Free The streets of Takoma Park will be filled with music, artisans, community groups, kids activities, food vendors and a variety of green companies at the city’s 41st annual festival. Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping — over 150 vendors will be selling all kinds of artistic wares. Music lovers will enjoy three stages hosting 18 bands playing all day. Literary Hill Bookfest Where: Eastern Maket North Hall | Capitol Hill, DC When: Sunday, 11am – 3pm Admission: Free The 13th annual Literary Hill BookFest, a beloved annual celebration of books and authors on Capitol Hill in DC is Saturday. TThe event features acclaimed children’s writers, including sisters Frances and Ginger Park; nationally recognized anti-bias and antiracist author and educator Liz Kleinrock; award-winning author Hena Khan; former White House speech writer and improv performer Sean O’Brien; Kidlit Happy Hour podcast host Caroline Kusin Pritchard; Smithsonian Ambassador and beloved author of the Frankie and Friends series Christine Platt; and more. Visitors will enjoy a full slate of family-friendly activities in the Children’s Corner, meet some of their favorite authors, delve into Korean culture, dabble in poetry, learn about the White House, and even meet a teenager who wrote a book about diving. Guests can also enjoy a perty open mic. Free Community Day Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown, DC When: Sunday, 12-5pm Admission: Free The first Sunday of every month is a great opportunity explore the National Museum of Women in the Arts when admission is FREE!  Works span the centuries, from the 16th to the present in a variety of mediums, highlighting women artists all over the world. If tickets aren’t available, plan to go another day — the admission fee is worth it!  (Or snag them for a future free day.) ***MORE GOOD STUFF*** * How to help victims of Hurricane Helene. * Encore Stage & Studio just introduced new Flex Passes and Pre-Show Experiences! * How about some off-the-ground?  Check out this round-up of ropes courses! * Have you heard that Audi Field is one of the seven stadiums hosting 2025 World Cup matches? * An interesting rumination on AI’s affects on blogs. * How cute is this cable knit cardigan?  (And on sale!) * I bet this memoir is going to be a very popular holiday gift this year. * I am “I can’t watch TV without subtitles” years old. * Anyone else into the idea of a pizza oven?  Solo Stove has lots of options, and the brand Ooni is highly recommended —  there is even one on sale right now. * 10 Happy Things for October!