Enjoy the season and some active fun playing disc golf!   Happy Weekend! Find extra activities for the long weekend in these go-to KFDC posts: * Autumn Adventures * Best Outdoors in the DC Area * Kid-Friendly Dining * Local Hikes with Kids * Indoor Action * Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums * The Great Indoors * Baltimore with Kids * Bike Rides * Stunning Spaces * Peaceful Places Caps 50 Fest Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC When: Thursday, 5pm Admission: Starts at $19+ The Washington Capitals are kicking off their 50th Anniversary season with a celebration for the entire 2024-25 team, over 60 Caps alumni, and their fans.  The event will feature player and alumni stage programming followed by a Third Eye Blind concert. There will also be more festivities, and young hockey fans can take part in activities including Top Shot, Plinko, a hockey cage, inflatables, and more.  A limited number of tickets are still available, but you can also look for them here. Dwight D. Eisenhower Comorative Birthday Concert Where: Eisenhower Memorial | Southwest DC When: Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm Admission: Free Join the Trust for the National Mall to honor the five-star general and 34th president at his memorial on Independence Ave. (across from the Air & Space Museum). Enjoy inspiring patriotic songs, decorate your own “I Like Ike” button, and enjoy a free birthday cookie! Seating for the concert will be first-come, first-served. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the evening concert from the memorial’s lawn. Fall for Festival Season Where: Around the DC Area When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Varies by locale It’s starting to look and feel like fall, so get out and enjoy some quintessential seasonal fun!  Pick out pumpkins, whiz down giant slides, get lost in corn mazes, go on 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. Second Saturday Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC When: Saturday, 9:30am & 11am Admission: Free This series of free workshops designed for families with children 5 and under explores the power of the arts to promote wellness of the mind and body. At this session, Circle Yoga instructor Linda Feldman guides participants in Circle Yoga’s Family Yoga. The playful class is designed for kids ages 3 and up to experience yoga with a parent or caregiver. Register in advance. DIY-U Workshop: Fire Dog Bank Where: Lowes locations around the area When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm Admission: Free Spark imaginations at this DIY-U kids’ Firehouse Dog Bank workshop. Budding architects and future firefighters alike can assemble a charming bank, complete with a firehouse facade and a friendly Dalmatian peeking out. Not only will mini-builders enjoy the thrill of creating their own savings companion, but they’ll also learn about fire safety and the role of firefighters in our communities. Join for a day of building, bonding, and crafting memories that will inspire young minds to dream big and save with style. White House Fall Garden Tours Where: The White House | Downtown, DC When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm Admission: Free It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy autumn at the White House! The annual Fall Garden Tours are being held this weekend.  The public is invited, but every visitor, small children included, needs a ticket to tour. Starting at 8:30am on both days, free, timed-entry tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Tour times are indicated on each ticket, so keep your day open if you hope to go. Disc Golfin’ Where: Courses around the DC area When: Ongoing Admission: Free Hit the links, the chain links, that is! Disc golf is a great way to enjoy a nice spring day outdoors with the family. Not only is it fun and challenging, the courses, many of them set up in scenic places, are lovely this time of year. This post has info about our fave in College Park, and there are also great courses at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore, and Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA. Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm Admission: Free This free, family-friendly event celebrates the Mid-Atlantic region’s vibrant history of local grain growing, milling, and baking. There will be a classroom with grain cooking demonstrations and tastings, live milling demonstrations at Peirce Mill, and a farmers’ market with regional grain fare. There will also be music, arts and crafts, and fun, hands-on activities for all ages. Read more about Peirce Mill in this KFDC post. “Eye Spy” Halloween Trains Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Parks | Bethesda & Wheaton, MD When: Saturdays & Sundays,9:30am – 4:30pm Admission: $6 Hop on board the Halloween Trains! All ages can take a ride through “Trainslyvania” on Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train.  They run every Saturday and Sunday in October, and it’s best to purchase tickets in advance online to guarantee a ride (only a limited amount are available onsite.) Purchase for Wheaton here and Cabin John here. More Wicked Fun Where: Around the DC area When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Varies by activity Halloween may not be for a few more weeks, but you can get the party started with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit. A few are listed in this orund-up, and this post has details on where even more tricks and treats are happening. Lucketts Fall Market Where: Old Lucketts Store | Berryville, VA When: Friday – Sunday Admission: $45/weekend pass, $15/day pass Head out to Clarke County to browse and shop more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the East Coast. And it’s more than just a shopping trip; it’s a whole event with live music, beer gardens, delicious food trucks, and fun workshops. The Early-Buyer Weekend Pass gives you access on Friday from 8:30am – 12:30pm. General admission hours are 12:30-5pm on Friday, and 10am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Flowers & Folklore Where: DAR Museum | Downtown DC When: Saturday, 12-2pm Admission: Free Join DAR for some fun crafting, where kids will learn how to make a fabric flower to take home, based on the exhibition, Sewn in America: Making – Meaning – Memory. There will also be coloring pages all about local folklore and cryptids,  like the “Jersey Devil” and “Mothman” as a fun activity. Museum educators will guide guests through the process, providing all the materials needed.  Registration requested. Latino Heritage Festival: Latinos in Sports Where: National American History Museum | National Mall, DC When: Saturday, 11am – 5:30pm Admission: Free Step up to the plate for a home run of a festival that’s sure to score big. Celebrate the impact Latina and Latino athletes have had on the world of sports, from the soccer field to the boxing ring, the baseball diamond to the fairway. Enjoy interactive sports exhibits, and live demonstrations, meet some legendary athletes and rising stars, and take you team to the Family Fun Zone for sports-themed activities! Family Hike: Trees, Fungi, and Other Treasures of the Tregaron Woodlands Where: Tregaron Conservatory | Cleveland Park, DC When: Sunday, 11am – 12pm Admission: Free Citizen scientist Courtney Tolbert will lead a family hike along Tregaron’s pathways, sharing facts about the fascinating and complex world of trees and fungi, among other natural wonders. This event will take place on Sunday, October 13 from 11 am to noon, meeting at the 3031 Klingle Road NW entrance to Tregaron. (We will email attendees by 9:00 a.m. if we have to cancel due to heavy rain.) In registering for the tour, please indicate the total number of KIDS in your group. The material is geared toward school-aged families, but younger siblings are welcomed. All kids must be supervised by an adult. DIY at the Folger: Printing Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC When: Saturday, 11:30am Admission: Free Drop in at the Folger for their monthly series “DIY at the Folger,” which gives families a hands-on introduction to the Folger collections, exhibits, or the Shakespearean era. This month, families will learn about historic printing and help Folger staff pull a print from our very own printing press. Read more about the Folger here. Imagine Our Future and Storytime Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC When: Saturday, 12-2pm Admission: Free Join Imagine Our Future, a workshop presented by Play and Thrive DC, where participants can illustrate their perceptions of our community as it is now and their dreams for a utopian future. All are welcome, regardless of skill level.  Art supplies will be provided.  Storytime will come from Look Where We Live; A First Book of Community Building by Scot Ritchie. In this captivating book, five friends spend an exciting day exploring their community. Spooky Science Where: Maryland Science Center | Baltimore, MD When: Saturday, 12-4pm Admission: $26.95/adult, $20.95/ages 3-12 Take your Halloween costume out for a trial run and visit the Maryland Science Center, if you dare, for an afternoon filled with spooktacular science fun! Experiment with ghoulishly glowing lights. Creatively cast a spine-tingling shadow. Use leverage and elasticity to launch creepy catapults, and more! Read more about the Baltimore attraction here. Spells of the Sea Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC When: Saturday, 11am & 1:30pm | Sunday, 1:30pm & 4pm Tickets: $23.50 When Finley Frankfurter’s father, a famed fisherman, is struck by the Big Bad Sickness of the Sea, she embarks on an extraordinary quest for the elixir of life. Can Finley, a girl with dreams as vast as the ocean but plagued by self-doubt, save her father against all odds? This enchanting family musical blends laughter, magic, and music to tell a coming-of-age story about facing fears, embracing emotions, and believing in yourself. Recommended for ages ages 6+. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC When: Friday & Saturday, 8pm | Sunday, 7pm Tickets: $69-209 (look for discount) Six spellers enter, but only one can be named winner of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! This charmingly witty and touching musical has entertained audiences since its Tony Award®–winning debut. A group of six mid-pubescents (and possibly a few audience members) compete in the title championship, spelling their way through vexing vocabulary while sharing hilarious and poignant personal stories. A riotous ride complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced and funny D-E-L-I-G-H-T. 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. 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: Fri, 10:30am | Sat-Sun, 11:30am & 1pm 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: Fri-Sat, 7:30pm | Sun, 3pm 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. Capital City Africa Cup 2024 Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC When: Saturday, 6pm Admission: Resale tickets starting at $8 here DC United is hosting Ghanaian soccer team Asante Kotoko in this year’s Capital City Africa Cup. The annual ceremonial match is part of activities to mark Ghana Week DC 2024. The matchup between the two historic teams  highlights the celebration of Ghanaian culture in Washington, DC.  See some exciting soccer and celebrate with them! Learn to Letterbox: Halloween Edition Where: Potomac Overlook Park | Arlington, VA When: Sunday, 3:30-5pm Admission: $12 Letterboxing is a family friendly scavenger hunt style adventure that takes you to interesting locations all over the world solving clues and searching for hidden treasures. Participants will learn where to find the clues, how to decipher them, and receive hints on what to look for. Then off on an adventure around the park to find the boxes hidden there. Participants will also get a chance to carve their own personal stamp and receive an introductory logbook! Promote the Vote Where: Olney Theatre | Olney, MD When: Sunday, 3-5pm Admission: Free Join a non-partisan, family-friendly celebration of voting with all-ages activism, including (non-partisan) postcards, sign-making, and other art activities.  There will also be voter registration, early voting, and election info, plus song performances, pizza and ice cream for purchase from food trucks, and a raffle. Soccer Spirit & Hispanic Heritage Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC When: Sunday, 5pm (gates open at 3:30pm) Admission: Tickets start at $21 The Washington Spirit are hosting Racing Louisville on Sunday, and it’s also Hispanic Heritage Night, so there is extra fun along with the action on the pitch and the chance to support women in sports. Enjoy a mariachi band, a halftime parade of nations, and Latin dance performances celebrating a diverse range of cultures from across the Caribbean and South America. Fall Hikes Where: Around the DC Area When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Varies by place Get out on the trail for some early leaf peeping and some active fun with the fam. A few recs for places that are especially great right now: Dumbarton Oaks Park in Georgetown; Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington, VA; Patapsco Valley State Park near Columbia, MD; and Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA. Find even more walks in the woods here. ***MORE GOOD STUFF*** * The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are over, but a lot of the items I recommended here are still on sale if you want to score some great discounts. *  Mean Girls is running at National Theatre this coming week, October 15-20, and tickets are still available for most shows. * On Tuesday, October 15, the Czech Embassy is hosting Strašidla: Czech Legends and Mythical Creatures, an evening of scares and thrills for children ages 5-10. Email [email protected] to register. * 10 Great Ghost Tours Around DC * Just got the best, softest pajamas set (with the pants), and love them so much I’m getting another color and a set for Sasha. * Did you know the newest Love is Blind season takes place in DC? * H&M always has the cutest kids clothes. * The Best Food Cities in the U.S. * The 20 best movies for kids on Netflix right now. * A lovely listen — and even lovelier sidenote about its recording. * Halloween spirit with Spirit Halloween