Me, oh my! We’ve got some incredibly fun and different events on the menu this weekend! Maryland’s STEM festival kicks off this Friday with creative, kid-friendly events encouraging our young ones to explore their blossoming engineering skills! Pop-Up Storytime is happening at Mt. Rainier’s The Waterhole and an incredible Hip-Hop Jazz ensemble is visiting from Chicago! Greenbelt’s having an evening Observatory Star Party filled with telescopes and sightings of galaxies, star clusters. Say what? So exciting! And, as if that’s not enough, toy helicopters are being made and dinosaurs are being dusted off should you choose to indulge. Lastly, premiering today – a sneak peek/heads-up into an awesome event appearing in the next update!
FRIDAY
Storytime PopUp! at The Waterhole
Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and more at this innovation collaboration between PGCMLS & Mt. Rainier’s fabulous organic juice & smoothie joint, The Waterhole. Best for 0-5 years old. Curious? Click here for fun video of a past collabo!
When: 10 am
Where: The Waterhole, 4004 34th St., Mt. Rainier
Admission: Free (Heads-up: Waterhole’s menu is delish, highly recommend indulging!)
** Read our review of The Waterhole, an organic juice and smoothie bar
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Check out Chicago-based Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (HBE) for a music education program that freely mixes the brass band tradition with generous doses of hip-hop, soul and funk, creating an intoxicating and boisterous blend. The Ensemble comprises of seven brothers from the south side of Chicago who come from an extraordinary musical family.
When: 10:15 am & 12:00 pm
Where: Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd, Cheverly
Admission: $8 p/p
Bladensburg Community Center Presents: STEAM Family Recycling
This event will allow families to participate in STEM activities that will encourage them to work together to solve engineering design problems. Stations will be set up where participants can rotate through the test and build their STEM skills. Best for ages 5-12.
When: 2 – 4 pm
Where: 4500 57th Avenue, Bladensburg
Admission: Free!
Magic: The Gathering Club
Come cast spells and battle wizards in our favorite fantasy card game. Bring your own cards or use the ones we have here. All experience levels welcome, from never-played to expert.
When: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Where: Hyattsville Public Library,
Admission: Free!
SATURDAY
Build Your Own Toy Helicopter!
Join Home Depot’s hands-on workshop in honor of Veterans Day, and you and your child can build a toy helicopter with turning blades! Once the toy helicopter is built, your child can decorate it with paint & stickers to create a mini-military vehicle.
When: 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Home Depot, 3301 E West Highway Hyattsville
Admission: Free…but registration is required so click on link above to do so now!
Friends of the Patuxent Wildlife Holiday Bazaar
Get some holiday shopping done early then enjoy a walk through Patuxent River Park! Shop for wild and not-so-wild new and gently used treasures. Find unique gifts from local crafters and our own ‘crafty’ Friends, visit Candy Cane Lane (Kid-friendly) shop, see live animals and more while supporting the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Patuxent Research Refuge.
When: 9 am- 3 pm
Where: 230 Bald Eagle Drive, Laurel
Admission: Free!
Dinosaur Park
Come to Dinosaur Park Open Houses (every 1st & 3rd Saturday) to meet paleontologists, learn about Maryland prehistory, and search an active fossil site for 115 million-year-old remains of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals!
When: Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Where: 13200 block of Mid-Atlantic Blvd., Laurel
Admission: Free!
Steam Maker Space!
Join the Maryland STEM festival for an afternoon of fun arts activities that are all based in STEM! Build, Experiment, and create at five stations that include: Light Painting Lab, Go! Bots, Minecraft, and Build-It Discs.
When: 1 – 3 pm
Where: 5600 Regency Lane, Forestville
Admission: Free!
Old Greenbelt Theatre Family Series
Don’t Fence Me In! A 1945 American Western film starring Roy Rogers (yeehaw!). Dale Evans plays a magazine reporter who comes to Roy Rogers’ and George “Gabby” Hayes’ ranch to research her story about a legendary late gunslinger. When it’s revealed that Gabby Hayes is actually the supposedly dead outlaw, Rogers must clear his name. Dun, dun, dun….!
When: 1 p.m.
Where: 129 Centerway, Greenbelt
Admission: Free!
STEAM Takes Flight!
Join us & learn about the history and science of flight through hands on demonstrations, experiments, and crafts to take home.
When: 2-4 pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr., College Park
Admission: Free!
FutureMakers: Circuits, Switches & Lights!
In this family workshop, child – adult teams learn about the basics of electronics, and go home with a project that gets you started on the path to making things come alive. No experience needed, all
supplies provided. Workshop serves families with children ages 7 and older & registration is required (call 301.985.4690)
When: 3 – 4 pm
Where: Hyattsville Public Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd, Hyattsville
Admission: Free!
Greenbelt Observatory Public Star Party
The Astronomical Society of Greenbelt and the Goddard Astronomy Club are joining forces to host this special Maryland STEM Festival star party on the grounds of the City of Greenbelt Observatory for school age children (Kindergarten through 12th grade), weather permitting. Children will have the chance to see the various telescopes being set up & about 7 PM we will begin observing the Moon, planets, and deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. An astronomical camera will be mounted on the observatory’s 14 inch telescope for more sensitive viewing of deep sky objects.
When: 6 – 9 pm
Where: Northway Rd. (at end, next to James Wolfe Field), Greenbelt
Admission: Free!
College Park Blue’s Festival
Take the kids along to hear some sensational live blues music, including a performance by the winner of the 2016 DC Blues Society Battle of the Bands. Dancing, vendors, craft beer, food.
When: 6 – 11 pm
Where: Ritchie Coliseum, 7675 Baltimore Avenue, College Park
Admission: Free!
SUNDAY
Watkins Regional Park Playground
This. Place. Is Awesome. Truly awesome Wizard of Oz-themed playground where you literally follow the yellow brick road under a rainbow arch as the Scarecrow shows you the way to your choice of six fun areas: Dorothy’s Farm House, Munchkin Land, the Emerald Forest, the Emerald City of Oz, the Balloon Escape, the Ruby Red Shoes. Playground, nature center and farm are free to explore and enjoy!
When: 9 am – 6 pm
Where: 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro
Admission: Free!
STEAM Into History!
We’ve added art to STEM! Families, you’re invited to learn about arts & sciences 19th century-style with hands-on activities in the 200 year old historic house!
When: 12 – 3 pm
Where: Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park
Admission: Free!
Model Rocket Launches
Like to build model rockets, but don’t have a launch pad? Now you do! Anyone can bring a model to fly at the Goddard Visitor Center rocket launches; there are no costs or fees to participate. Rockets, motors and supplies are available for purchase at the nearby Goddard Gift Shop (and many hobby shops or toy stores) and you can even get rocket construction and launch tips from our on-site experts on launch day!
When: 1 pm
Where: NASA Goddard Visitor Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt
Admission: Free!
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NEW: Sneak Peek at Next Week’s Lineup!
For those with older offspring, check out this free weekend workshop about 3D design!
For Teens: Intro to 3D Modeling
Are you interested in learning 3D design? Would you like to learn how to use a 3D printer? Come check out Brentwood Arts Exchange’s new MakerBot and learn the basics of 3D printing. You’ll come away from this class with your very own three dimensional object!
When: 2 pm
Where: Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood
Admission: Free with registration. Call 301-277-2863 or register in person at Brentwood Arts Exchange
Got an event you’d like to add? Let me know at Byrne6@gmail.com
Based on your suggestion the fam and I checked out Watkins Regional Park this past weekend and we were blown away by its awesomeness! Not only is the Wizard of Oz playground amazing with plenty of room even on a busy Sunday afternoon, both the nature center and old Maryland farm were great hits for our little guy. Thanks for the rec!