Ah, the first weekend of the new year … can we all relax now? Yeah, right! The kids still need to use up their energy. Check out top ten things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.

Greater Reston Arts Center - Free Friday. Image from RestonArts.org.

FREE: Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) Free Friday for Families – Reston, VA
Friday, January 7: 5 pm – 7 pm

Greater Reston Arts Center will host free activities this Friday evening for families with young kids! Create arts, listen to stories and explore the galleries. This free program is in partnership with InterAct Story Theatre who leads creative art workshops. Free admissions.

Greater Reston Arts Center is located at 12001 Market St, Suite 103, Reston, Virginia (map it).

Open Gym at Sport Bounce of Loudoun – Ashburn, VA
Friday, January 7: 9:30 am – 11 am and 11:30 am – 1 pm

Your kids can bounce, climb and slide at Sport Bounce of Loudoun. This Friday, open bounce time is open for kids 18 months to 6 years old for the early morning session and for kids 18 months and up for the 11:30 session. Admission fees: $10 for kids 24 months and up, $6 for toddlers 18 to 23 months and free for parents and caregivers. Siblings get $2 off.

Sport Bounce of Loudoun is located at 44710 Cape Ct, Suite 116, Ashburn, Virginia (map it).

Color Me Mine. Photo from ColorMeMine.com.

Pajama Party at Color Me Mine – Rockville, MD
Friday, January 7: 5 pm – 8 pm

Studio fee is free on Friday night if you wear your pajamas to Color Me Mine in Rockville, Maryland! Let your kids exercise their creativity by painting their own pottery. Call 301-251-2010 for more information.

Color Me Mine is located at 33 F Maryland Ave, Rockville, Maryland (map it).

Last Weekend of ICE! at Gaylord National – National Harbor, MD
Friday, January 7: 10 am – 10 pm
Saturday, January 8 – Sunday, January 9: 9 am – 10 pm

This Sunday is the last day of the sesason for the ICE! exhibit at Gaylord National in Maryland. Check out 2 million pounds of ice sculpture with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” as the theme. Admission fees: $29 for adults 13 and up, $23 for seniors (62+), $21 for military adults, $18 for kids 4 to 12, $13 for military kids 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under. Military IDs are required to get the military admission fees. Get your tickets online and see my review of ICE!

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

Professional Bull Riders Fairfax Invitational – Fairfax, VA
Friday, January 7 – Saturday, January 8: 7:30 pm

For your older kids, check out Professional Bull Riders Fairfax Invitational at the Patriot Center this weekend. Admission fees range from $10 for kids 2 to 12 to $65. Get your tickets online.

The Patriot Center is located at 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Littles Day at Port Discovery Children’s Museum – Baltimore, MD
Saturday, January 8: 11 am – 2 pm

Fun entertainment for kids 5 and under! Check out magic and balloon sculpting with Bubbles the Clown, enjoy the Kindersinger and say hello to Pets on Wheels and participate in activities provided by the Goddard School. Admission fees: $12.95 for anyone 2 and up, and free for kids under 2. Get your tickets online.

Port Discovery Children’s Museum is located at 35 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

NSO Teddy Bear Concert at Kennedy Center. Image from Kennedy-Center.org.

National Symphony Orchestra Teddy Bear Concert: Fancy That! at Kennedy Center – Washington, DC
Saturday, January 8: 11 am, 1:30 pm and 5 pm

Enjoy a one-woman show by NSO violinist Marissa Regni, suitable for kids ages 3 to 5. This special program features music by Bach, Mozart and Prokofiev and images by graphic artiest Marie Cheek. Come early before the show starts for musical playtime, where kids can enjoy music and movement activities. Tickets are $18; get your tickets online.

The Kennedy Center is located at 2700 F St, NW, Washington, DC (map it).

Tractorpalooza at Heritage Farm Museum of Loudoun County – Sterling, VA
Saturday, January 8 – Sunday, January 9: 10 am – 4 pm

See antique and model tractors. Go on wagon rides with your kids, weather permitting. Go cruising on a custom toy tractor mat and watch a tractor parade at 1 pm. Admission fees: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for kids and free for kids under 2. Get a free kids’ admission if you bring a toy tractor to carry in the tractor parade.

Heritage Farm Museum of Loudoun County is located at 21668 Heritage Farm Ln, Sterling, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Raise the Rafters/Winter Music Series and Game Day at Frying Pan Farm Park – Herndon, VA
Sunday, January 9: 2 pm – 4 pm

Go on a musical journey with string trio Virginia Virtuosi. With the theme of Rhythm Around the World, your kids can discover rhythmic elements from various countries. After the musical show, check out Game Day, where you can play games such as Monopoly, Dominoes, Backgammon or Parcheesi with your kids. Both events, Winter Music Series and Game Day, will be held in the Visitor Center. Free admissions. Call 703-437-9101 for more information.

Frying Pan Visitor Center is located at 2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Safari Winds at Providence Presbyterian Church, Fairfax, VA
Sunday, January 9: 4 pm

Enjoy a kids’ interactive concert. Your kids check out “how sounds work” science station and an instrumental petting zoo. Free admissions. Call 703-978-3934 for more information.

Providence Presbyterian Church is located at 9019 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Oh my, Thanksgiving is next week! Ready for turkey time? Forget the turkey, I’m ready for the sides! Before you start camping out in your kitchen next week, take a break with the kids. Check out top ten fun things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland this weekend.

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

ICE! at Gaylord National Resort – National Harbor, MD
Friday, November 19: 10 am – 10 pm
Saturday, November 20 – Sunday, November 21: 9 am – 10 pm
(ICE! is open from November 18, 2010, to January 9, 2011)

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. 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. Get your tickets online.

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

Purple Friday Discount Day at the Maryland Zoo – Baltimore, MD
Friday, November 19: 10 am – 4 pm

Raven fans or not, take advantage of Friday Discount Day at the Maryland Zoo! You’ll get a discount of $1 off general admissions for every touchdown the Ravens scored against the Falcons on Thursday, November 11th. So since the Ravens scored three touchdowns on the 11th, you’ll get $3 off your tickets this Friday the 19th. This discount is good for tickets purchased at the gate only.

The Maryland Zoo is located at Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

See more fun things to do with kids this weekend >>

Check out this Fall Festival in the City of Fairfax, Virginia!

City of Fairfax Fall Festival. Photo from FairfaxVA.gov.

What?
This 34th annual Fall Festival features more than 400 arts, crafts, food vendors, kids’ activities, a classic car show and live musical entertainment. Kids can go on amusement rides, enjoy performance by local kids’ band Rocknoceros and teen band Nocturnal Rush, watch a skateboarding demo and a fencing demo and get face painting.

When?
Saturday, October 9, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Where?
Festival is held in the City of Fairfax. Park at a designated lot and take a free shuttle bus to the event. You can park at George Mason University, located at 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia (map it) or at Fairfax High School, located at 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax Virginia (map it).

Download map of the festival.

How much?
Free admissions!

Also see more fun things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.

What a busy week! We had a birthday party at an awesome kids’ venue (review next week!) and this weekend is booked solid already. Can’t wait for Labor Day weekend to finally relax. Enough about my ranting, here are top 10 things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.

Curious George Live!

Curious George Live – Fairfax, VA
Friday, August 27: 7 pm
Saturday, August 28: 11 am and 3 pm
Sunday, August 29: 1 pm and 5 pm

A live stage musical, Curious George Live! will delight the entire family! Curious George swings and flips his way through a fun-filled story that takes the audience from home to Rome. Tickets range from $20.60 to $84.05, depending on show time and your seat. Get your tickets online.

Curious George Live! will be showing at Patriot Center, located on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Banjo Man – Vienna, VA
Friday, August 27: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

The Banjo Man performs folk and bluegrass-inspired children’s songs accompanied by his 5-string banjo. An entertaining show for young children. Tickets are $5 per person. Get your ticket at the door.

The Banjo Man will be performing at Jammin’ Java, located at 227 Maple E Ave, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Outdoor Screening of Wizard of Oz – Gaithersburg, MD
Friday, August 27: 8 pm

Enjoy an outdoor screening of Wizard of Oz for a family fun night in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Free admissions. Donations of nonperishable food items for local food banks are appreciated. Call 301-258-6350 before you go in case movie is cancelled or rescheduled due to weather.

Movie will be shown at Malcolm King Park, located at 1200 W Side Dr, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Maryland State Fair in Timonium, Maryland. Photo from MarylandStateFair.com.

Maryland State Fair - Timonium, MD
Friday, August 27 – Monday, September 6: 10 am – 10 pm

State fair time! Carnival rides, games, food stands, thousands of home arts and agricultural exhibits, thoroughbred horse racing, jousting tournament, cow milking clinic, US Navy simulators and more. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (62 and older), $3 for kids ages 6 to 11 and free kids for under 6. Rides are $1 per ticket and each ride uses between 1 and 6 tickets. See the full schedule.

You can also purchase concert tickets to see Gretchen Wilson on August 27th, Bret Michaels on September 1st and Justin Bieber on September 5th. No surprise, the Justin Bieber concert is sold out. You can still get tickets to see Gretchen Wilson and Bret Michaels. Bring blankets for the concert!

The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located at 2200 York Road, Timonium, Maryland (map it). More on directions to the fair.

Reston Restaurant Week – Reston, VA
Friday, August 20 – Sunday, August 29

Enjoy prix-fixe menus at Reston Town Center restaurants, including Mon Ami Gabi, Uncle Julio’s and Market Street Bar & Grill. Then throw some pennies and make your wish at the fountain and enjoy a leisurely stroll to check out the local stores. See menu of participating restaurants.

Reston Town Center is located at 11900 Market St, Reston, Virginia (map it).

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! in New York. Photo from YoGabbaGabbaLive.com.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! – Bristow, VA
Saturday, August 28: 2 pm – 3 pm and 6 pm – 7 pm

DJ Lance Rock, Muno, Foofa, Toodee, Brobee, and Plex will be in town, along with Biz Markie as a special guest. They’ll also have surprise guests for the dancy dance and super music friend, how fun! Tickets range from $48.60 to $69.50, depending on your seat. You can also get a party package for VIP access, such as a silly party with the Gabba gang and Biz’s Beat of the Day, for $135.50. Get your tickets online.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! will be performing at Jiffy Lube Live (formerly Nissan Pavilion), located at 7800 Cellar Door Dr, Bristow, Virginia (map it).

FREE: International Children’s Festival Preview – Fairfax, VA
Saturday, August 28: 6 pm – 8:30 pm

Enjoy a preview of International Children’s Festival coming up at Wolf Trap, including performances by International Dance School, Juventud Boliviana, Nomad Dancers and Phooljharis (Sparklers). Free admissions.

International Children’s Festival Preview will be held at Grand Plaza of Fairfax Corner, located at 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Storm Center Newseum Family Day. Photo from Newseum.com.

FREE for Kids: Storm Center Newseum Family Day – Washington, DC
Saturday, August 28: 11 am – 5 pm

Be a weather reporter for the day, learn how meteorologists predict the weather, participate in News Hound Scavenger Hunt and listen to meteorologist Bob Ryan discusses the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, during Storm Center Newseum Family Day. Besides the Storm Center, see the Berlin Wall gallery, check out 4-D theater, see interactive exhibits, play in the interactive newsroom and step out to the Family Terrace to enjoy a panoramic view of Washington, DC. Free admissions for kids up to age 18, with up to 10 free kids with each paid adult admission at $19.95. If you can’t visit the Newseum this weekend, they’ll have the free admissions for kids until September 6th! Get your tickets online.

Newseum is located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC (map it).

FREE for kids: Maryland Renaissance Festival – Annapolis, MD
Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29: 10 am – 7 pm

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is the second largest renaissance fair in the country. This weekend is Children’s Weekend at the fair! Free admissions for kids under the age of 11. Visit King Henry VIII and interact with villagers of Revel Grove. Enjoy entertainment from a strolling magician, mingle with a mime and more. See full entertainment schedule and map of the village.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be held at 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Movies on the Potomac – National Harbor, MD
Sunday, August 29: Sunset

Watch Spider-Man on the plaza’s big screen this Sunday night. Bring lawn chairs! Outside food and coolers with alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Free admissions.

Movies on the Potomac event will be held in National Harbor, Maryland (map it).

Can you believe it’s already the end of July? Before you know it, it’s back to school time. Oh well, enjoy your summer and try to stay cool!

Here are this weekend’s top fun things to do with your kids in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland.

Lisa Mathews from the band Milkshake. Photo by Steve Parke.

Diane Macklin & Milkshakes at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods – Vienna, VA
Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24:  10 am – 12 pm

At 10 am, Storyteller Diane Macklin tells captivating tales of the animal kingdom in the West African griot tradition. At 11:15 am, sing along and dance to the Grammy-nominated band Milkshakes. Enjoy a picnic in the meadow between performances at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. Tickets may be purchased for a single performance for $8 or for both the 10 am and 11:15 am performances for only $10. Get your tickets online.

Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods is located at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

Custis’ Patio Party at Fresh Lunch – Fairfax, VA
Friday, July 3: 11:30 am – 3 pm

Bring your kid and dog to Fresh Lunch in Fairfax, Virginia, where Fresh Lunch’s house Yorkie Custis hosts lunch for neighboorhood pooches and their parents on the Fresh Lunch Patio. Doggy treats for pups plus parents gets a free Chef Sie’s Sweet.

Fresh Lunch is located at 4023 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).

Open Play Time at & Kids Night Out at JW Tumbles – Arlington, VA
Friday, July 23: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm – 6 pm (Open Play Time)
Friday, July 23: 4 pm – 8 pm (Kids Night Out)

Tumble, climb, jump and be active in a fun indoor gym! Open play time at JW Tumbles is a parent-supervised activity. Open play time fees: $6 for members who are currently enrolled in a class. Kids Night Out fees: $30 for members, $35 for non-members, the second child is 10% off and the rest are free.

Kids Night Out is a unique opportunity for parents to drop their children off for four hours of fun at JW Tumbles. Activities include gym time, games, arts and crafts, a pizza party, and a G-rated movie. Children must be at least 3 years old and completely potty trained.

Call 703-531-1470 to reserve your spot. If you get their voicemail, leave your name, the name(s) of your child(ren), and a daytime phone number on our voice mail to make your reservation.

JW Tumbles of Arlington is located at 2449 N. Harrison Street, Lower Level, Arlington, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Boy Scouts’ Adventure Base 100 – Washington, DC
Friday, July 23 – Sunday, August 8

Ropes course, exhibits, Go Scouting! Dome at Boy Scouts' Adventure Base 100. Photo from adventurebase100.org.

Check out this traveling 10,000-square foot base camp with a ropes course, hands-on exhibits, a traveling scouts museum and a multi-sensory IMAX-like Go Scouting! Dome, to celebrate 100 years of Boy Scouts of America.

Non-Scouts will get a free compass and Scouts who bring their non-Scouting friends  get a free Year of Celebration patch. Participate in ScoutQuest to uncover the links between Scouting and our national treasures from 10 am to 5 pm. Admissions are free and you can pre-register online.

Adventure Base 100 is camping at the National Mall in Washington, DC (map it).

FREE: Firefly Safari – Centreville, VA

Friday, July 23: 8 pm – 9 pm

Go on a night safari at Bull Run Park in Centreville, Virginia, where your kids will have a blast searching for fireflies in the wild. Free admissions, reservations are required. Call 703-631-0550 for more information.

Bull Run Regional Park is located at  7700 Bull Run Drive Centreville, Virginia (map it).

Kids at Red Wiggler Community Farm, Gaithersburg, MD. Photo from RedWiggler.org.

Annual Farm Tour at Red Wiggler Community Farm – Germantown, MD
Saturday, July 24: 10 am – 3 pm

Tour the farm fields, go on a wagon ride, visit farm animals, enjoy live music, check out Red Wiggler’s solar house, visit the produce stand and more. Wagons leave every 30 minutes from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Please do not bring your dog to visit unless it is a certified therapy animal.

Red Wiggler Community Farm is located at 23400 Ridge Rd, Germantown, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Imagination Stage Open House – Bethesda, MD
Saturday, July 24:  9 am – 11 am

Enjoy sample performing art classes, a 15-minute live preview of upcoming show Egg and Spoon, help create a city in the build, bubble and boogie room and groove in the dance studio. This free open house at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland, is for kids ages 1 to 5. Space is limited, so arrive 15 minutes before the class that you wish to sample – see full schedule of sample classes.

Imagination Stage is located at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland (map it). Free parking is available at the public garage next door.

Princess for a Day Ice Cream Social, Sterling, Virginia

Princess for a Day Ice Cream Social – Sterling, VA
Saturday, July 24: 12 pm – 2 pm

Be a princess for a day! At the Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling, Virginia. The court of the Virginia Dairy Princess Program will serve ice cream at an old fashioned ice cream social. Your little girl can attend a princess lesson. There’s also a princess pageant at 1 pm. The first 100 kids will receive a complimentary tiara. Pre-registration is required. Call 571-258-3800 for more information.

Heritage Farm Museum is located at 21688 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Performances at the City Hall Concert Pavilion – Gaithersburg, MD
Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24: 7 pm

Enjoy free performances at Gaithersburg City Hall Concert Pavilion. Flower Hill String Band, a bluegrass band, performs on Friday and AngelStone, a rock/blues/pop band, performs on Saturday night. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic. There is a parking garage is located across the street from pavilion.

Gaithersburg City Hall Concert Pavilion is located at 31 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Movies on the Potomac: Gremlins – National Harbor, MD
Sunday, July 25: after sunset

Watch an 80′s classic movie this Sunday night with your family, Gremlins (rated PG – not recommended for little kids unless you want them to have nightmares). Movie is displayed on the plaza’s big screen. Bring your lawn chairs, but leave your coolers with food or alcoholic beverages at home.

National Harbor plaza is located at 137 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, Maryland (map it).