Keller Williams - photo by C. Taylor Cruthers

Take a break from holiday shopping this Thanksgiving weekend and take your kid to a fun kids’ concert on Saturday!

Join Keller Williams as he plays tunes from his new kids’ album, Kids, enhanced by live video footage that’s mixed with visuals related to each of the songs. Get ready for a down-home good time, with plenty of music, dancing, videos and more than a few surprises!

What?
Keller Williams kids’ show, featuring Ken Crampton with Everybody Drum.

More on Keller Williams kids’ show >>

All Around Ralph's World. Poster from RalphsWorld.com.

Yeah, Ralph’s World is back! We had a blast last time Ralph was in town. This Saturday, check out Ralph and band at Jammin’ Java in Vienna.

With songs that delight both kids and parents, Ralph puts on a fun musical show for the family. Sing along and dance to his tunes that range from crunchy rock to cowboy country. See my post on Ralph’s World’s concert at Jammin’ Java from earlier this year.

What?
Ralph’s World concert.

Where?
Jammin’ Java is located at 227 Maple Ave East in Vienna, Virginia (map it).

When?
Saturday, November 20 at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. Show normally lasts for an hour.

Read full article >>

Oktoberfests, Fall Festivals, pumpkin patches, oh my! Fall is definitely here. Enjoy apple picking, hay rides, Halloween events and more this weekend. Check out this weekend’s top 10 fun things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. As always, many of the events listed are free. Enjoy!

Oktoberfest - Reston Town Center. Photo from RestonChamber.org.

FREE: Oktoberfest – Reston, VA
Friday, October 8: 3 pm – 11 pm
Saturday, October 9: 11 am – 11 pm
Sunday, October 10: 12 pm – 7 pm

Yummy Oktoberfest fare and other cuisines from local restaurants, live music and entertainment, carnival rides for kids, horse carriage rides and more. Free admissions, carnival rides, food and beverages are extra. Get your tickets online.

Apple Picking at Homestead Farm – Poolesville, MD
Friday, October 8 – Monday, October 11: 9 am – 6 pm

Homestead Farm now has pink lady apples, yum! In addition to apple picking, you can also go on a hayride to the pumpkin patches on weekends and visit their adorable farm animals. Hayrides are $3 per person; pumpkins and apples are sold separately. Call 301-977-3761 before you leave to check on availabilities.

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

Kids' Pumpkin Dash in Reston Town Center, Virginia. Photo from TheGreatPumpkin5K.com.

FREE: Kids’ Pumpkin Dash – Reston, VA
Saturday, October 9: 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Get your kids all dressed up in their Halloween costumes and dash to the finish line at Reston Town Center! Kids will race in their age group, which are 4 years and younger, 5 and 6 years, 7 and 8 years and 9 and 10 years. Your kids can also participate in a pumpkin decorating contest. This popular event has reached capacity, but they’ll have a limited number of entries at the Reston YMCA on Thursday and Friday from 12 pm to 7 pm to register.

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

FREE: SterlingFest – Sterling, VA
Saturday, October 9: 11 am – 5 pm

Check out crafts and booths of local companies, kids’ rides and live entertainment at SterlingFest. Free admissions.

SterlingFest is held at Sterling Park, on Commerce Street and Enterprise Street, Sterling, Virginia (map it).

National Children's Museum - Jump Off. Photo from NCM.Museum.

FREE: National Children’s Museum Presents Jump Off! – National Harbor, MD
Saturday, October 9: 11 am – 4 pm

Check out nationally renowned Double Dutch jump rope teams and enjoy family-friendly activities at National Harbor this Saturday. The National Children’s Museum will also highlight community stars, such as Prince George’s County Police and Fire Departments, including members of the bomb squad, hazmat and SWAT teams. See a real fire truck and fire boat, an ambulance, a policy car and motorycle and command center vehicles. Munch on regional foods, enjoy local crafts and fashion as well as discounts from local retailers.

National Children’s Museum Launch Zone is located at 112 Waterfront St, National Harbor, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Festival of the Building Arts – Washington, DC
Saturday, October 9: 10 am – 4:30 pm

See architects, builders, designers and artisans demonstrate their skills at the National Building Museum this Saturday. Your kids can try out surveying, roof thatching, woodworking and more. Recommended for kids ages 5 to 13. Free admissions, $5 donations suggested.

The National Building Museum is located at 401 F St NW, #334, Washington, DC (map it).

Rumplestiltskin at the Kennedy Center. Photo from Kennedy-Center.org.

Rumplestiltskin at the Kennedy Center – Washington, DC
Saturday, October 9: 11 am, 1:30 pm and 5 pm
Sunday, October 10: 1:30 pm and 4 pm

Enjoy a family-friendly performance at the Kennedy Center this weekend as German Master Puppeteer Matthias Kuchta presents the classic fairy tale Rumplestiltskin with hand-made, life-sized puppets. Show lasts approximately one hour. Recommended for kids ages 5 and up. Tickets are $18 per person. Get your tickets online.

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

Hallowings and Things at Baltimore Aquarium – Baltimore, MD
Saturdays, October 8 – Monday, October 11: 12 pm

Check out Baltimore Aquarium’s creepiest and crawliest creatures in October! Every Saturday and Sunday at Noon, the Aquarium features special Halloween animal encounters. Visit warty toads, hissing cockroaches, slithering snakes and more. Admission fees: $24.95 for adults, $23.95 for seniors (60+), $19.95 for kids (3 – 11) and free for kids under 3. Get your tickets online.

Baltimore Aquarium is located at 501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

Jump for St. Jude at JW Tumbles – Herndon, VA
Sunday, October 10: 9:15 am – 12:15 pm

This Sunday, Herndon JW Tumbles will donate half of your entrance fee to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Pick from one the three open bounce times (each lasts for an hour): 9:15 am, 10:15 am or 11:15 am. For kids 1 to 5 years old; bounce area is recommended for kids 2.5 to 5 years old. To pre-register, call 703-481-2990 or email herndon@jwtumbles.com with your name, phone number, child’s name, child’s age and your desired open bounce time. Pre-payment is required with pre-registration. Admission fees for kids ages 2.5 to 10: $12 for members, $14 for non-members and siblings are half off. Admission fees for kids under 2.5: $8 for members, $12 for non-members and siblings are half off.

Herndon JW Tumbles is located at 12950 Highland Crossing Dr, Herndon, Virginia (map it).

Oktoberfest - Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD. Photo from GaithersburgMD.gov.

FREE: Oktoberfest at the Kentlands – Gaithersburg, MD
Sunday, October 10: 12 pm – 4 pm

Pumpkin painting, horse-drawn hay rides, pony rides, moon bounce, face painting, arts and crafts, authentic Bavarian food and beer, live performances by Bavarian dancers and live entertainment by local dance and singing groups. Free admissions; some activities may require additional fees.

Kentlands Village Green is located at 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

What a fun time of the year! Leaves will be changing color soon, the cooler Fall weather is coming our way and pumpkin festivals are everywhere! Check out top 10 fun things to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Pumpkinville at Leesburg Animal Park. Photo from PumpkinFestLeesburg.com.

Pumpkinville at Leesburg Animal Park – Leesburg, VA
Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, November 7: 9 am – 6 pm

So many things to do at Leesburg Animal Park’s Pumpkinville, opening this Saturday, September 25th. Face painting, pumpkin painting, camel rides, fort pumpkin, hay mazes, moonbounces, giant hill slides, mini tractor rides, scarecrow decorating and a 200-foot zip line for kids! Admission fees: $13 for those who are older than 2; kids 2 and under are free. Get your tickets online. Fees include admissions to Leesburg Animal Park.

Leesburg Animal Park is located at 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, Virginia (map it).

Fall Festival at Cox Farms – Centreville, VA
Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, November 7: 10 am – 5

Fun activities for the entire family at Cox Farms Fall Festival! Five giant slides, fun hay rides, rope swings, straw tunnels, farm animals, goat village, farm chores and more. Admission fees: $15 for those who are older than 2; kids 2 and under are free. Here’s a coupon to save $5 on admissions this weekend only.

Cox Farms are located at 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, Virginia (map it).

Baltimore Book Festival. Photo from BaltimoreBookFestival.com.

FREE: Baltimore Book Festival – Baltimore, MD
Friday, September 24 – Saturday, September 25: 12 pm – 8 pm
Sunday, September 26: 12 pm – 7 pm

Meet hundreds of author, check out 100+ exhibitors, see cooking demos by celebrity chefs, enjoy non-stop readings on eight stages and poetry readings, watch street theater, enjoy live music and participate in hands-on projects. Storybook Parade with light refreshments, balloons and dress-up surprises will be held on Saturday at noon. Free admissions.

Baltimore Book Festival will be held at Mount Vernon Place, located at 600 Block North Charles St, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Rockville Jazz Festival and Taste of Town Square – Rockville, MD
Saturday, September 25: 12 pm – 7 pm

Enjoy live jazz music all day and taste delicious food and specialty drinks from participating Rockville Town Square merchants, such as Bobby’s Crabcakes, La Tasca, Oro Pomodoro, Primo Italiano and Spice Xing. Free admissions.

Rockville Town Square is located at 200 East Middle Lane, Rockville, Maryland (map it).

Back to School Tea – Bethesda, MD
Saturday, September 25: 11 am – 12:30pm

Brought to you by Tea by Mrs. B, a children’s tea room in Bethesda. Back to School Tea is suitable for kids of all ages. Admission fees: $42 per person. RSVP to b@teawithmrsb.com or 202-448-2930.

The Historic Beall House is located at 7740 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, Maryland (map it).

Bunnicula at Imagination Stage, Bethesda, Maryland. Photo from ImaginationStage.org.

Bunnicula at Imagination Stage – Bethesda, MD
Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, September 26: 1:30 pm and 4 pm

Enjoy a family-friendly show at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. This Saturday is opening performance for Bunnicula, where family pets at the Monroe house meet a mysterious new addition to the family: Bunnicula, a small and furry animal with fangs! Recommended for kids ages 4 and older. Admission fees: $10 – $22 per person. Get your tickets online.

Imagination Stage is located at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland (map it).

FREE: The Universities at Shady Grove Community Day – Rockville, MD
Saturday, September 25: 10 am – 2 pm

Check out this family-friendly event, featuring over 60 interactive exhibits, fun activities for kids, food and live performances. They will also have fingerprinting and child safety sessions, brought to you by University of Maryland, College Park Criminology and Criminal Justice & Gaithersburg Police Department. Free admissions.

The Universities at Shady Grove are located at 9630 Gudelsky Drive Rockville, Maryland (map it).

Robbie Schaefer. Photo from JamminJava.com.

Robbie Schaefer at Jammin’ Java – Vienna, VA
Sunday, September 26: 3 pm

Take your kids to see Robbie Schaefer from Eddie from Ohio for a fun kids’ concert at Jammin’ Java this Sunday. You and your kids will enjoy his catchy, clever and cheeky tunes! Admission fees: $10.

Jammin’ Java is located at 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

Corn Festival at Crumland Farms – Frederick, MD
Sunday, September 26: 11 am – 5 pm

Fun activities for the entire family, where you can enjoy live music, bounce on moonbounces and try to get around the new corn maze! Admission fees: $5 per person.

Crumland Farms are located at 7612 Willow Rd, Frederick, Maryland (map it).

Fiesta DC - Latino Festival in Washington, DC. Photo from FiestaDC.org.

FREE: Fiesta DC/Latino Festival – Washington, DC
Sunday, September 26: 11 am – 7 pm

Check out five stages of live performances, including music, theater and folklore. Thirty groups from Latin America, Spain and Caribbean will be performing. Also watch the parade and enjoy delicious food at Fiesta DC! Free admissions.

Fiesta DC will be held on Mt. Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC (map it).

Sesame Street Live! Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Who’s your kid’s favorite Sesame Street character? Let me guess, Elmo? Well then, better get ready for Sesame Street Live! since Elmo and friends will be visiting Baltimore in a few weeks.

What?
Elmo’s Healthy Heroes
When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, Elmo and his team of Healthy Heroes are here. Teaching lessons of healthy habits through song and dance, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and your favorite Sesame Street friends will explore exercise, nutrition, sleep/energy and hygiene – all in a quest to put the “super” back in Super Grover. It’s Elmo’s Healthy Heroes to the rescue!

When?
Thursday, September 9: 7 pm
Friday, September 10: 10:30 am and 7 pm
Saturday, September 11: 10:30 am, 2 pm and 5:30 pm
Sunday, September 12: 1 pm and 4:30 pm

Where?
1st Mariner Area is located at 201 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, Maryland (map it). More on directions and parking.

How much?
Tickets range from $13 to $40, depending on show time and seating area. You can also get a Sunny Seats package for $67, which includes a VIP seat and a pre-show meet & greet photo opportunity with two Sesame Street Live friends. Get your tickets online.