As a follow up to my earlier post on family-friendly holiday activities, here are 15 more fun holiday things to do with kids in Washington, DC, metro. Have a happy holiday!

Norwegian Giant Model Train at Union Station, Washington, DC. Image from Norway.org.

FREE: Norwegian Giant Model Train at Union Station – Washington, DC
Daily until January 3, 2011

Each Norwegian model train is a replica of a current or a historic Norwegian train, hand-crafted by an expert model builder. Free admissions.

Union Station is located at 50 Massachusetts Ave, NE, Washington, DC (map it).

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I’ve been humming holiday songs since before Halloween. I can’t help it, I love the holiday season! I try to avoid malls and shopping centers whenever possible, but I love checking out holiday activities in the area. So check out 25 fun holiday things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia this season. Enjoy and have a happy holiday season!

Christmas Wonderland at Adventure Park USA. Photo from AdventureParkUSA.com.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Adventure Park USA – New Market, MD
November 5 – January 1: 6 pm

Enjoy a mile of Christmas lights at this drive through light show! Hundreds of thousands of lights, see Santa, toast s’mores and enjoy attractions at the park. Fees: $25 per car. A portion of the proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross and Christmas Cash for Kids. Get your tickets online.

Adventure Park USA is located at 11113 West Baldwin Road New Market, Maryland (map it).

ICE! at Gaylord National Resort. Photo from GaylordHotels.com.

ICE! featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas – National Harbor, MD
Thursday, November 18 – Sunday, January 9

Visit this 15,000-square-foot indoor winter wonderland at Gaylord National Hotel! This year, ICE! features How the Grinch Stole Christmas. See holiday scenes, Christmas icons and more ice sculpture maintained in a nine-degree facility. Dress warm, it’ll be 9 degrees in there! Winter coats will be provided. Weekend admissions: $29 for adults, $23 for seniors (62+), $18 for kids 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under. See my review of ICE! and get your tickets online.

Gaylord National Hotel is located at 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland (map it).

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Between holiday shopping and finding new Thanksgiving recipes, don’t forget to squeeze in some fun family times! Check out top 10 fun things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.

Trash to Treasure Green Craft Fair. Photo from CCM.org.

FREE: Trash to Treasure Green Craft Fair at Watkins Regional Park – Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Saturday, November 13: 10 am – 4 pm

Join National Children’s Museum Launch Zone and explore local artists who create treasures from things that people throw away. Check out gifts that are made from reused, recycled, natural or sustainable products. Your kids can also make their own recycled arts. Other activities include book exchanges and raffles. Free admissions.

Watkins Regional Park is located at 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (map it).

Saturday Morning Cartoon Skate – Reston, VA
Saturday, November 13: 11 am – 1 pm

Every Saturday, share the ice at the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion with Scooby-Doo, Tweety Bird, Cat in the Hat and more. Fees: $9 for adults, $7 for kids under 12, $7 for seniors (55+) and $4 for skate rentals.

The Ice Skating Pavilion at Reston Town Center is located at 1818 Discovery Street, Reston, Virginia (map it).

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Trick or treat!

Ah, Halloween weekend is finally here! Enjoy the last weekend of many Fall Festivals and the start of endless holiday sweets.

Do you prefer to stay close to home and go trick-or-treating with your kids in your neighborhood? Or do you take your kids somewhere else for trick-or-treating?

If you’re in the latter group, there’s always the mall, of course. It’s convenient, especially when the weather gets cold. If you don’t want to go to the mall, but you have no idea where else to go, check out these 6 fun trick-or-treating places this Halloween weekend in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Read full article for trick-or-treating places in DC metro >>

It’ll be another beautiful weekend in Washington, DC, so enjoy it! From fairs to family-friendly shows, check out our top 10 fun things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia this weekend.

Tractor Pull at Great Frederick Fair. Photo from TheGreatFrederickFair.com.

FREE for Little Kids: The Great Frederick Fair – Frederick, MD
Friday, September 17: 5 pm – 10 pm
Saturday, September 18 – Saturday, September 25: 9 am – 10 pm

Brought to you by Frederick County Agricultural Society, the Great Frederick Fair is one of the largest county fairs in Maryland. Check out animal shows, go on carnival rides, play in the kids’ activity expo, watch live entertainment, see a tractor pull show, enjoy fair food and more. See full schedule of events and download a map of the fair.

Free admissions on Friday, September 17, but there’s a $7 parking fee for parking onsite or $5 parking fee for parking in one of the satellite lots. From September 18th to 25th, admissions fees are $7 for those who are 11 and older and free for kids under 11. Carnival rides are extra. Get your admission and carnival tickets online.

The Great Frederick Fair will be held in the heart of downtown Frederick, located at 797 East Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland (map it).

Apple Picking at Homestead Farm – Poolesville, MD
Friday, September 17 – Sunday, September 19: 9 am – 6 pm

Choose from Sun Crisp, Jonagold, Cameo, Jonathan, Empire, or Golden Delicious apples to pick! Confirm availabilities by calling 301-977-3761 before you go to Homestead Farm. You and your kids can also say hello to farm animals and check out fresh produce in their market.

Homestead Farm is located at 15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, Maryland (map it).

Spot’s Birthday Party at Adventure Theatre – Glen Echo, MD
Friday, September 17: 7 pm
Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, September 19: 11 am and 2 pm

Celebrate Spot’s birthday with games, songs and magic! Spot’s friends will be there, too, from Helen the hippo to Steve the monkey. Tickets are $15 for kids and adults.

Spot will be celebrating his birthday at Adventure Theatre, located at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, Maryland (map it).

Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe performing at International Children's Festival. Photo by Henrik Sundqvist.

The International Children’s Festival – Vienna, VA
Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, September 19: 10 am – 4 pm

This year’s International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap features over 60 local performing groups with 16 cultures and cultures represented. Bob from Sesame Street will make a special appearance. Besides international kids’ performing groups, the festival will have fun activities for your kids; they can participate in global games, check out instrument petting zoo and get their face painted. Pick up a passport for your kids so they can travel the world through different art activities. When your kids complete an activity, their passport is stamped with a sticker. There is also a special tent for toddlers, where they get to paint an oversize floor mural, listen to stories and relax under the tent. See full schedule of events.

Admission fees (1-day pass): $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and kids. Two-day passes are also available at $18 for adults and $12 for seniors and kids. Get your tickets online.

The International Children’s Festival will be held at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, located at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

FREE: African Soul at National Museum of African Art – Washington, DC
Saturday, September 18: 12 pm – 4:30 pm

This Saturday afternoon, National Museum of African Art will be holding African Soul, featuring traditional and modern performances, film, music, arts and crafts. You and your kids can enjoy many family-friendly activities, such as carnival face painting, creation station and African headwrapping station. Live performances include rumba, samba, urban flavor, jazz and South African gum boot dance. Free admissions.

National Museum of African History is located at 950 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC (map it).

Colonial Market & Fair at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens – Mt. Vernon, VA
Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, September 19: 9 am – 5 pm

This weekend, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens will feature Colonial Market and Fair. See colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th centry crafts and sell traditional wares from woodcarvings to leatherworkings. Live entertainment includes music, fire-eating, sword-swallowing, puppet and magic shows. Food is available for sale. Admission fees: $15 for adults, $7 for kids ages 6 to 11 and free for kids 5 and under. Get your tickets online.

Sightseeing cruises this weekend are free this weekend only, courtesy of Spirit Cruises and Potomac Riverboat Company. First-come, first-served. Cruises depart at 10:30 am, 11:30 am , 12:30 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate is located at 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Fiesta Musical at the National Zoo – Washington, DC
Sunday, September 19:

Visit the National Zoo this Sunday and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Fiesta Musical. Check out animal demonstrations, enjoy Hispanic and Latino music, watch dance performance, shop for crafts and munch on delicious Latin American food. Free admissions.

The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC (map it).

Celebrate Gaithersburg, Maryland. Photo from GaithersburgMD.gov.

FREE: Celebrate Gaithersburg – Gaithersburg, MD
Sunday, September 19: 12 pm – 5 pm

In Old Towne Gaithersburg this Sunday, your kids will get to see performers on 7 different stages, pet farm animals, ride a pony, learn to juggle, check out under the sea touch tank and see Reptiles Alive! You can also check out the World Market to shop for crafts. Free admissions, and festival food will be available for purchase.

Celebrate Gaithersburg will be held in Old Towne Gaithersburg. Park for free at Lakeforest Shopping Mall, then ride a free shuttle bus to the festival. Lakeforest Mall is located at 701 Russell Avenue Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Pirate on the Potomac Cruise – Alexandria, VA
Sunday, September 19: 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm

This 40-minute cruise on the Potomac includes family-friendly music and tales of piracy. It also features Alexandria’s historic seaport and landmarks. Boarding begins 15 minutes before cruise departs. Tickets are $15 for adults, $9 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for kids under 2. Get your tickets online.

Cruise departs from Alexandria Dock, located on Cameron and Union Streets, Alexandria, Virginia (map it).

Hispanic Festival, Adelphi, Maryland. Photo from PGParks.com.

FREE: Hispanic Festival – Adelphi, MD
Sunday, September 19: 12 pm – 6 pm

Celebrate the rich heritage of Hispanic communities with this family-friendly event. Carnival games, crafts, music, entertainment, face painting, pony rides, delicious food and more. Free admissions. See festival map.

The Hispanic Festival will be held at Lane Manor Park, located at 7601 West Park Dr and University Blvd, Adelphi, Maryland (map it).