Happy weekend! I hope you and your family are doing fine through all these storms that we’ve been getting. Check out fun and free things to do with your kids this weekend in Washington, DC; Baltimore and Montgomery County, Maryland; and Fairfax County, Virginia.

Fairfax County 4-H Fair in Herndon, Virginia. Photo from 4HFairfax.org.

Fairfax County 4-H Fair – Herndon, VA
Friday, August 6: 5 pm – 10 pm
Saturday, August 7: 11 am – 10 pm
Sunday, August 8: 11 am – 5 pm

Your kids will have a blast at Fairfax County 4-H Fair in Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia (one of my favorite local farms!). Activities for kids include hayrides, cow milking, blacksmith and farrier demos, animal washing and grooming and sheep sheering. Live entertainment by the Great Zucchinni and Jim Moyer’s Circus Club. Participate in pie eating contest and sack race. Check out dog shows, horse shows and tractor pull. And of course, what’s a fair without carnival rides? Ride on the expo wheel, swings, swinger, carousel and more! See entertainment schedule and view map of fair. Free admissions, but parking is $5.

Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Virginia (map it).

Project Trio and Wolf Trap Opera Studio – Vienna, VA
Friday, August 6 and Saturday, August 7: 10:00 am

See Project Trio, a dynamic trio who reinvents well-loved musical numbers from the Sesame Street theme song to Tchaikovsky, and Wolf Trap Opera Studio this weekend at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. Project Trio performs at 10 am and Wolf Trap Opera Studio performs at 11:15 am. Tickets are $10 per person for one show or $12 per person for both shows.

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods is located behind the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

How I Became a Pirate. Image from ImaginationStage.org.

How I Became a Pirate – Bethesda, MD
Friday, August 6: 10:30 am
Saturday, August 7: 11 am, 1:30 pm and 4 pm

See how a boy named Jeremy Jacob becomes a pirate in this light-hearted musical show at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Recommended for kids ages 3 and up. There’s a parking garage with free parking on weekends adjacent to the theater, enter from Auburn Avenue or Del Ray Avenue. Tickets are between $10 and $21 depending on seating area. Get your tickets online.

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

Bugs Bunny At The Symphony – Vienna, VA
Friday, August 6 and Saturday, August 7: 8:30 pm

Enjoy performance by the National Symphony Orchestra with everyone’s favorite bunny! Cartoons come to live on large screens in-house and on the lawn of the Wolf Trap Center to accompany NSO’s performance. Tickets range from $20 per person (lawn seats) to $52 (front orchestra and box seats). Get your tickets online.

Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is located at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Washingtonian Center Sidewalk Sale – Gaithersburg, MD
Saturday, August 7: 10 am – 5 pm

Take a stroll at the Washingtonian Center this Saturday to check out the sidewalk sale. Walk around the lake, feed the geese and swans, go on a paddle boat and enjoy free kids’ activities and live entertainment. While you’re there, check out deep discounts at stores at the center. SixPlay, a six-piece, high-energy R&B cover band, will perform from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Saturday, August 7, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Washingtonian Center is located at 9811 Washingtonian Blvd, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Mark Lohr. Photo from MarkLohr.com.

FREE: Mark Lohr’s Classic Comedy Show – Reston, VA
Saturday, August 7: 11 am – 11:45 am

Watch live entertainment by Mark Lohr for free at Town Square Park at Reston Town Center this Saturday. A fast-paced side-splitting family vaudeville show flled with audience participation and circus skills with a sprinkling of magic thrown in the mix. Get there early to find some shades. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a beach umbrella in case the park fills up! Free admissions.

Town Square Park at Reston Town Center is located at Town Center Parkway and Market Street, Reston, Virginia (map it).

FREE: National Inventors Month Family Festival at National Museum of American History – Washington, DC
Saturday, August 7 – Sunday, August 8: 10 am – 4 pm

August is National Inventors Month! Explore music and sound innovations at the Lemelson Center at National Museum of American History. Your kids will get to create their own musical instruments out of recycled material, mix music on digital systems, make music on percussion sculpture and experiment with sound and sound waves. Free admissions.

National Museum of American History is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC (map it).

BrickFair Lego Fan Festival. Photo from BrickFair.com.

BrickFair Lego Fan Festival – Dulles, VA
Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8: 11 am – 4 pm

See various creations from millions of Lego bricks at BrickFair Lego Fan Festival at Dulles Expo Center this Saturday. Check out sprawling towns, trains, planes, monsters and many more! Kids get to play with Lego bricks at Stay & Play. Also check out movies made in a Lego universe. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for kids 4 to 10, free for kids 3 and under and $30 for family of four. Get your tickets at the door, cash or check only.

Dulles Expo Center is located at 4368 Chantilly Shopping Ctr, Chantilly, Virginia (map it).

Old Town Ghost and Graveyard Tour – Alexandria, VA
Friday, August 7 – Saturday, August 7: 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Sunday, August 8: 7:30 pm

Follow an 18th century costumed guide through the charming streets of Old Town Alexandria in Virginia. Hear ghost stories, legends, folklore, unsolved mysteries, tales of romance and angry ghosts looking for revenge. Tour includes a six-block walk that lasts for about an hour. At the end of the tour, your guide will abandon you in a graveyard! Appropriate for kids ages 9 and older. Tickets are $12.50 for adults; $10.50 for seniors, military personnel and police officers; and $7 for kids ages 7 to 17. Get your tickets online.

Tours depart from Alexandria Visitors Center, located at 221 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia (map it).

Dolphin Sleepover at Baltimore Aquarium. Photo from Aqua.org.

Dolphin Sleepover – Baltimore, MD
Saturday, August 7: 6 pm – 9 am

Spend the night at National Aquarium in Baltimore with the dolphins! Talk to a private trainer to get the inside scoop on the dolphins, enjoy reserved seating at Our Ocean Planet: The New Dolphin Show, explore behind-the-scene areas and dare to take a walk on our shark catwalk. Sleepover is in the Underwater Viewing Area in the aquarium. Enjoy breakfast in the morning and join the trainers for an exclusive enrichment session with the dolphins. Kids must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by paying adults. Tickets are $94.95 per person or $84.95 for members. Get your tickets online.

Baltimore Aquarium is located at 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

Does this weekend seem so short to you, or is it because we had a 3-day weekend last week? Anyway, happy weekend! Check out top 10 things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia this weekend: June 4 – 6, 2010. 

FREE: Herndon Festival – Herndon, VA
Thursday, June 3: 6 pm – 10 pm
Friday, June 4: 5 pm – 11 pm
Saturday, June 5: 10 am – 11 pm
Sunday, June 6: 11 am – 6 pm

Check out live family-friendly entertainment, children's hands-on art activities, carnival rides, festival food and more fun activities to keep your kids entertained at Herndon Festival. Bike to the festival and get a valet service for free, or drive to either Worldgate Center or Herndon High School and take a free shuttle bus to the festival. Admissions are free, and carnival rides start at $1 per ticket or $15 per day on Thursday and Saturday for an all-day access to all rides.

Herndon Festival is held at downtown Herndon, Virginia. More on directions and see festival map.

Great Country Farms – Bluemont, VA
Open daily: 9 am – 6 pm

Play in a 5-acre farm play area, which includes four mazes, three 60-foot tube slides, 2,800-square-feet jumping pillow, rope swings and a tractor tire mountain. Other activities that your family can enjoy at the farms include 18-hole cow pie putt-putt course, farm animals, antique tractors and an imagination village. Admissions are $8 per person and free for kids ages 2 and younger.

Great Country Farms are located at 18780 Foggy Bottom Road  Bluemont, Virginia (map it).

Curious George, Let's Get Curious! at Port Discovery - Baltimore, MD
Friday, June 4: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday, June 5: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, June 6: 12 pm – 5 pm

Curious George: Let's Get Curious! is a special exhibit at Port Discovery, a children's museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Have fun with this interactive adventure that are based on math, science and engineering. Admission fees are $12.95 per person and free for kids ages 2 and younger.

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

FREE: Planetarium at Rock Creek Park – Washington, DC
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 6: 1 pm and 4 pm

Visit the only planetarium in the National Park System. There are two shows this weekend at the planetarium at Rock Creek Park. The 1 pm show (Spring Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star) is recommended for kids ages 5 and older, where they get to view the season's brightest stars, planets and constellations. The 4 pm show (Exploring the Universe) is recommended for kids ages 7 and older, where they get to explore the sun, moon, stars and planets. Admissions are free; get your tickets 30 minutes before the show starts.

The Nature Center/Planetarium at Rock Creek Park is located at 5200 Glover Road NW, Washington, DC (map it).

Things That Roll – Gaithersburg, MD
Saturday, June 5: 10 am – 12 pm

Your preschooler gets to take his or her scooter, Big Wheels, or anything else that can roll for a fun time at the Skate Park. Helmets are required! A limited supply of Big Wheels, scooters, helmets and safety gears are available, so it's best to bring your own equipment. Admissions are $3 per resident child, $5 per non-resident child and free for parents. No pre-registration is necessary, simply register at the gate. Call 301-258-6350, extension 168 for more information.

The Skate Park is located at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland (map it).

Hullabaloo Band - Vienna, VA
Saturday, June 5: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Hullabaloo Band is an award-winning band that features farm-fresh, free-range, organic kid-folk music. Admissions are $8 per person and free for babies younger than 12 months old. Get your tickets online.

Hullabaloo Band's performance is held at Jammin' Java, located at 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it). 

Imagination Bethesda – Bethesda, MD
Saturday, June 5: 11 am – 4 pm

The 17th annual Imagination Bethesda is a fun street festival geared towards kids ages 12 and under. Activities and entertainment include face painting, hands-on creative activities, balloonists and family-friendly performers. 

The festival is held on Woodmont Avenue between Bethesda Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. More on directions and parking.

FREE: Occoquan Craft Show – Occoquan, VA
Saturday, June 5: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, June 6: 10 am – 5 pm

Get your holiday shopping done early! The Occoquan Craft Show features local merchants, crafters, food vendors and live entertainment. Admissions are free. 

The craft show is located in the historic Town of Occoquan, Virginia. Shuttle bus is available at designated parking lots for $4 per person or free for kids under the age of 12. More on directions and parking.

Virginia Renaissance Faire: Pirate Invasion – Spotsylvania, VA
Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6: 10 am – 5 pm

Visit an English country village and meet nobles, merchants, artisans and the queen herself. Children's activities include arts and crafts, puppetry and interactive fairy tales. This weekend's theme is pirate invasion, where you get to meet pirates and privateers. Admissions are $8 per person and free for kids 5 and under.

Virginia Renaissance Festival is held at 5621 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Love Your Body, Northern Virginia Yoga and Wellness Day – Reston, VA
Sunday, June 6: 10 am – 4 pm

Try a yoga class, learn about holistic wellness, sample drinks and snacks and get a massage. Kid yoga is scheduled from 12:20 pm to 12:40 pm and teen yoga is scheduled from 12:45 pm to 1:10 pm.

Northern Virginia Yoga and Wellness Day is held at Reston Town Center Pavilion, located at 11900 Market Street, Reston, Virginia (map it).

Come join the fun at Celebrate Fairfax! Festival from Friday, June 11th to Sunday, June 13th. There are so many fun activities to keep you and your kids entertained at the festival, from carnival rides to live entertainment.

What?
Celebrate Fairfax! Festival is a large annual festival in a 25-acre site in Fairfax, Virginia. Check out more than 400 exhibitors, food vendors and crafters. Stay late and enjoy fireworks on Friday and Saturday night at 9:15 pm.

They also have five stages for live concerts where more than 60 performances are held during this 3-day festival. Entertainers include Rusted Root, Carolina Liar, Josh Thompson, Jimmy Wayne and KC & the Sunshine Band.

At the children's stage, your kids can enjoy performances by Rocknoceros, Reptiles Alive!, Magic 4 U and other kids entertainers. See a full schedule of performers on the children's stage.

Other activities for your kids include carnival rides, provided by Amusements of America. Ride along on a merry go round, take a ride on a ferris wheel, go on a roller coaster ride and so many more rides.  

 Stop by the petting zoo to say hello to baby farm animals, such as lambs and baby chicks.

Of course, don't forget to grab a bite to eat while you're there! What's a festival without funnel cakes, kettle corn and ice cream? Over 30 vendors are at the festival, so take your pick. You'll find the typical festival food vendors where you can get burgers, fries and pizza, as well as some surprising vendors such as Bonefish Grill and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

When?
Friday, June 11: 6 pm – 12 am
Saturday, June 12: 10 am – 12 am
Sunday, June 13: 11 am – 7 pm

Where?
Celebrate Fairfax! Festival is held at the Government Center, located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia (map it).  You can bike, drive or take public transportation there. Free bike valet parking is available.

If you plan to drive, park at one of the designated parking lots for the festival and take a free shuttle bus from the parking lot. More on parking and directions to the festival.

How much?
Admission fees per day are $12 for adults, $5 for kids 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Admission fees include free access to concerts, entertainment and exhibits. Tickets for carnival rides are sold separately for $25 per day. You can get combo tickets which include admissions, concerts, entertainment, exhibits and all day carnival rides. Combo tickets per day are $35 for adults and $28 for kids 3 to 12. 

Save time and a few bucks by getting your tickets online instead of at the gate. Admission fees if you purchase online are $9 for adults and $4 for kids 3 to 12, plus $2 service charge per order. Get your tickets online. 

More information
More information about Celebrate Fairfax! Festival can be found on their website or by calling 703-324-3247. Download the Festival Map below.

This weekend marks the start of summer for many families as well as a very important reminder to honor the men and women who have served our country. Here are fun activities that you can do with your kids this Memorial Day Weekend.

FREE: Monuments and Memorials – Washington, DC

Take the time to pay tribute to those who have served our country by visiting the various monuments and memorials in Washington, DC. Go early before it gets too hot and so you can find good parking spots if you prefer to drive. Start with Washington Monument, walk to National WWII Memorial, then pass the reflecting pool and keep going to Lincoln Memorial. On your walk back to Washington Monument, stop by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Washington Monument is located at 2 15st NW, Washington, DC‎ (map it).

FREE: Viva Vienna – Vienna, VA
Saturday, May 29 – Sunday, May 30: 10 am - 10 pm
Monday, May 31: 10 am – 6 pm

Go on fun amusement rides, check out retail vendors and grab a bite to eat from various food vendors at Viva Vienna. They also have a children's stage on Sunday and Monday from 1 pm to 4:45 pm. Admissions are free. See festival schedule.

Viva Vienna is held at 245 Maple Ave W, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Hometown Holidays – Rockville, MD
Saturday, May 29 – Sunday, May 30: 1 pm – 10 pm
Monday, May 31: 9 am – 1 pm

Enjoy free live entertainment, arts, crafts and kids activities at Hometown Holidays in Rockville, Maryland. Fun activities for kids include moonbounces, a rock climbing wall, a swing ride, a spin ride and more. Kids activities are available on Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 10 pm.

Also check out kids' stage on Saturday at 2, 4 and 5:30 pm and on Sunday at 2, 4 and 6 pm. Monday's events include a band performance, a ceremony and a parade. Admissions to the event and live entertainment are free, but not all of the kids activities are free.

Hometown Holidays are held at Rockville Town Square in Rockville, Maryland (map it). See map of event.

Newseum – Washington, DC
Saturday, May 28 – Monday, May 31: 9 am – 5 pm

Visit this interactive museum in Washington, DC, where you can see the Berlin Wall Gallery, 9/11 Gallery, an Elvis exhibit, Presidential Pets exhibit and more. Your kids will have fun pretending to be a TV reporter, too.

Admission fees are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors (65+), $17.95 for military with a valid military ID, $17.95 for students with a valid student ID, $12.95 for kids 7 to 18 and free for kids 6 and younger. Get your tickets online to save 10% or download a coupon to save 25%. The 25% off offer is valid during Memorial Day weekend only.

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

FREE for Military Personnel: WaterWorks at Kings Dominion – Doswell, VA
Sunday, May 29 – Monday, May 31: 12 pm

WaterWorks is a 20-acre waterpark at Kings Dominion. Check out tidal waves, rafting, giant waves, tubing, water slides and more. Private cabanas are also available for rent. Admissions are free with Kings Dominion park admission. Stay late and enjoy firework displays at 10 pm at the park.

Admission fees are $33.99 per person if you buy your tickets online. Kids 2 and under are free. Active duty and retired military personnel can get free admissions on Sunday, May 30th and Monday, May 31st. Just show a valid military ID or discharge papers.

Kings Dominion is located at 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, Virginia (map it).

Splash Down Waterpark – Manassas, VA
Sunday, May 29 – Monday, May 31: 11 am – 6 pm

Splash Down Waterpark is Northern's Virginia largest waterpark. At this 13-acre park, you'll find a lazy river, cannon ball slides, 4-story water slides, a lap pool and more. Admission fees are $14.95 for those 48" and taller, $10.95 for those under 48" and free for kids 2 and under. Get your tickets online.

Splash Down Waterpark is located at 7500 Ben Lomond Park Drive, Manassas, Virginia (map it).

Strawberry Festival – Delaplane, VA
Sunday, May 29 – Monday, May 31: 10 am – 5 pm

Take a drive to Strawberry Festival in Delaplane, Virginia, to enjoy music, crafts, field games for kids, hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, puppet shows and plenty of ripe strawberries, of course! Fees for 1 day passes: $20 per car or $10 per motorcycle. Bus with more than 15 passengers is $5 per person.

The Strawberry Festival is held at Sky Meadows State Park, located at 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, Virginia (map it).

Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon – Mount Vernon, VA
Saturday, May 28 – Monday, May 31: 6 pm – 9 pm

Take evening tours and enjoy wine and desserts, 18th-century music, dancing, games and wagon rides. Say hello to Lady Washington and her granddaughter Nelly. Fees: $18 for adults, $12 for kids 6 to 11 and free for kids under 5. Get your tickets online.

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

FREE: PBS National Memorial Concert – Washington, DC
Sunday, May 30: 8 pm – 9:30 pm

Free concert to the public on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol – no tickets are needed. Concert starts at 8 pm, but gates open at 5 pm. Taking public transportation is strongly recommended due to limited parking, street closings and high volume of traffic. You can take the Metro to Capitol South, Federal Center SW, or Union Station.

Access to concert is from Southwest area of the Capitol grounds. See map of the Capitol.

FREE: National Memorial Day Parade – Washington, DC
Monday, May 31: 2 pm

The National Memorial Day Parade is brought to you by the American Veterans Center. You can take the Metro to Archives/Navy Memorial, Smithsonian and Federal Triangle.

The parade will start at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. See parade route.

It's another super cold, windy day in Washington, DC. I turned on the news real quick to check the weather and high today is in the upper 20's. Brrr…!

Here are top things you can do with your kids (indoors!) in the Washington, DC, metro area today on January 3, 2010. Make sure to call them first, especially for special exhibit, in case they're already sold out.

Catch kiddie rides at Frostival
Where?Dulles Expo Center (North Entrance)
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
800-880-6629

When?
Open today from 10 am to 5 pm

What?
Rides, food and exhibits for families. Activities are targeted to kids from pre-school to elementary school aged kids

How much?
$5 for adults, $12 for kids (2 – 12), kids 2 and under are free

More info: http://www.frostival.com

Check out SR-71 Blackbird at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Where?
14390 Air & Space Parkway
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
703-572-4118

When?
Open today from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

What?
Check out cool aviation and space artifacts, including SR-71 Blackbird, in this museum with your free admission. IMAX theater, ride simulators and interactive flight simulators are also available.

How much?
Free admission, parking is $15 per car, extra for IMAX theater and simulation rides

More info: http://nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy

Learn to be a spy at International Spy Museum
Where?
800 F St NW
Washington, DC 20004
(The museum is located in the Pennsylvania Quarter area, only a block away from the Gallery Place/China Town Metrorail Station and the Verizon Center)
202-393-7798

When?
Open today from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (last admission 4:00 pm)

What?
Tour School of Spies and test your skills to become a spy. If you're hungry, grab a bite to eat at Spy City Cafe.

How much?
$18 for adults, $15 for kids (5 – 12)

More info: http://www.spymuseum.org 

Check out the terra cotta warriors at National Geographic Museum
Where?
17th & M Streets NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-857-7588

When?
Open today from 10 am to 6 pm

What?
See fifteen life-size terra cotta warrior figures, weapons, armor, coins, and more. According to their website, this is the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States. 

How much?
$12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, military and members; $6 for kids (2 – 12)

More info: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors/index.html