The Mother of Holiday Events Listings

Every year, the Washington Post puts out a list of all the Holiday events in the area that are submitted to them. There are all types of events from concerts to festivals to Santa visits all happening in the Washington DC area.

That listing can be found here or you can purchase a paper today to get the paper copy. It's a 12 page insert.

Check it out!!

Visits with Santa

It's hard to believe that in less than a week it will be Thanksgiving and soon after, Christmas!

If you haven't already started getting into the Christmas spirit, this is the perfect time to start. Check out all the places you can visit with Santa (Remember to use the categories at the bottom for easier searching)! There are free gifts, free photos, visit for your pup, and more!

Dress up the kids and the dog and get your pictures taken with Dear Ol' Saint Nick!

Keep checking back for updates to the calendar as the holidays get closer.

Ho! Ho! Ho!!!

The Enchanted Forest

It's time again for The Enchanted Forest, which is sponsored by the Junior League of Northern Virginia.

The event takes place this weekend, Nov. 21-22 at the Sheraton Reston.

The Enchanted Forest, is a winter-themed festival designed for the entire family, and includes activities such as Breakfast with Santa, Cocoa and Georgetown Cupcakes with the Snow Fairy Princess, Kids in the Kitchen and Children’s Science Center interactive activities, a professional train display, musical and dance performers, arts and crafts, photos with Santa, a holiday shopping boutique, the 10th Anniversary Diamond Gala, and the “forest” itself filled with merchandise-decorated holiday trees.

Here is the schedule of events. These events are covered by the general admission. Additional events are priced according to event. Check out the website for specific times.

Come out and get into the spirit of the holidays by supporting this great organization. We'd love to see your pictures on our Facebook page from this event!

addition
**Tickets may be purchased in advanced, online, or at the door. General Admission tickets are $10.

A Neat Opportunity

Do you know an artistic teen or college student who is passionate about our oceans?


Oceans 2030: Youth Outlook is a multimedia - photo, video and art - contest that provides a forum for youth to share their vision for our oceans over the next 20 years. It is being organized as part of the Our Changing Oceans Conference by the National Council for Science and the Environment.

Top winners will receive an Ipod Touch.

Winning entries will also received complimentary registrations to the Our Changing Oceans Conference in Washington, DC, get showcased at the conference's Waves of Change Ocean Expo from Jan 2-21, 2011, and be published online on the Encyclopedia of Earth.

High school students (15-17 yrs) and college students (18-24 yrs) are invited to submit ONE of the following:

• Photograph - high resolution in digital format as a .jpg, .png, or .gif file
• Video - short video (up to 5 minutes) uploaded via YouTube
• Graphic Art - illustration or comic (up to 3 panels) in high resolution as .jpg, .png, or .gif file

Each submission must also include 200-300 words outlining your vision for our oceans in 2030 and why.


Submission Deadline is November 22, 2010

Contact Lyle Birkey at lbirkey@ncseonine.org
To learn more about the Oceans 2030: Youth Outlook Contest, visit http://www.ourchangingoceans.org

Pass it on - there's no time to lose!!

It's Nutcracker Time!

The first time I went to see the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center was when I was probably nine years old. It was the real deal, with men in tights, gorgeous women in costume and an orchestra. I don't think I will ever forget it. It was so, so amazing.

You don't have to wait for your kids to be nine years old though... nor do you have to travel to DC to get a similar experience. There are so many amazing and professional Nutcracker performances right here in our own backyard.

Throughout my years of living in this area, I have attended various performances of the Nutcracker performed by different companies. I have rarely been disappointed. So, if you have little ones at home and you're ready for them to experience the most breath-taking of all performances in living color, check out this listing of local performances.

I'd be happy to recommend a particular one to you offline. Just drop me an e-mail.

Stay tuned for listings of other Holiday performances such as A Christmas Carol and The Messiah.

Enjoy this little snippet of The Dance of Sugar Plum Fairies.




Or the Russian Dance



I could go on and on... but I know you can browse through YouTube yourself.

I hope watching these helped get you in the spirit.

Halloween Parades 2010

My kids are so excited about Halloween they can hardly contain themselves!

I think they plan to trick or treat all night long!

If trick or treating is not your cup of tea, maybe a local parade is more your speed.

For instance, The Old Town Alexandria Parade
On Saturday, October 30th
Beginning at 10am
At the intersection of Main and 5th Sts.
Following the parade, trick or treat at participating stores in Old Town, and special treats at the Fauquier Bank Plaza-Courthouse Square. For more information please call (540) 347-2700.
It is listed on the Fauquier events page.

and...

Leesburg's 54th Annual Parade which is a tradition since 1957!
On Sunday, October 31
6-8pm
From Ida Lee Park to Safeway
View over 200 bands, police, fire and rescue units, walking units, floats, animals, and more in this year's Leesburg Kiwanis Halloween Parade.
Be sure to bring your donation of non-perishable items to donate to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief Food Pantry.
For full details click the events listing on the left sidebar of their page here.

Whatever you do, we wish you a Happy & Safe Halloween! Bwaaaahahaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

Halloween is almost here!!

Are you ready?

I have one Halloween costume down, one to go, how about you?
There is so much going on from now until Halloween. Check out our Halloween events listing here.
Also, this is the last weekend of the Renaissance Fair in Crownsville, MD for the 2010 Season.

If you're not quite ready for Halloween fun yet, check out an airshow that is happening at the Leesburg Executive Airport on Saturday.
Excalibur! by the Elden Street Players is also on the calendar. Check it out!

Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend and the weather!

Flu Prevention

I went to pick up my daughter from school on Monday and I overheard a conversation about there being too many kids in the clinic with vomit and flu-like symptoms.

I personally think that October is too early to get a flu shot, but perhaps not. Perhaps right now is the perfect time to get one. Here is a listing (in pdf) of Inova clinics with times and dates.

*addition
Also check out FluShotUSA.com for a listing of local clinics.

Most grocery stores and pharmacies are also offering flu shots at specific times and by appointment.

As always, remember that the best way to prevent the flu is to wash hands consistently, supplement with vitamin C and zinc and to maintain your intake of fluids.

Cheers to a healthy fall season.

Then Leaf Subsides to Leaf...

"Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
~by Robert Frost

Isn't this a fitting poem?

My favorite time is here, Fall! And with it come the many celebrations of this beautiful season.
This is the time of year when you might wish you had a cloning machine. Just take a look at all the events that are taking place just this weekend?!?! You couldn't possible go to all of them, even if you tried!

I hope you get to enjoy time with your family this month. Check out the listing of Halloween events! If you know of one not listed, please post it in the comments!!

Being that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to alert you of an event that a reader sent in. While it's not a "children's event" it is to benefit all the mommies current, past, and present... so it counts.

Please check out Shop For A Cure this Sunday at Sonak Family Chiropractic in Sterling, VA. Contact Alison Sonak for more information at (703) 406-0200.

Happy Fall!!

Books, books, and more books

School is now back in full swing. The kids are learning, the teachers are teaching and the parents are back into a routine, right?

There is no better time of year than now to buy books. Even though the kids are busy learning at school, they still need to be reading at home. Maybe they need a special book to read for an upcoming book report, or for a specific project. Libraries are wonderful, but it is sooo nice to have the book you need right on your bookshelf at home.

Right now, there are tons of used book sales coming up; this weekend and in the next few weeks. Take your kids to these sales and help support your local libraries and communities. Click here to check out the listing and don't ever stop reading!!

There is also the National Book Festival going on this weekend in DC.

The 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are honorary chairs for the event. The festival, a celebration of the joy of reading for all ages, is free and open to the public. For more information regarding the Festival, please click here.

A Fun Filled Weekend

If you've ever wished you could clone yourself, this weekend would be a good reason. There is not enough time in the day to enjoy all the fun activities that are scheduled. Why does that always happen that everything gets planned for the same date??

For starters, how could you miss the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap in McLean?

Then, the Dr. Seuss Anniversary and the Parks in Annandale. Not to mention RunnyMede Park's Nature Fest in Herndon. And the Thomas and Friends Playdate at participating ToysRUS.

Then there's the amazing AwakeningFest on Saturday in Leesburg. And of course the Maryland Renaissance Fair is also now in full swing in Crownsville, MD (thru the end of October).

Check out the full schedule here and we hope you love whichever event(s) you decide to attend!

Storytime!

By request, Children's Events has added a listing of local storytimes.

These include libraries, local book stores and other facilities.

If you know of other storytimes that are not listed, please let us know about them.

Happy reading!

Drive Thru Flu Clinic

Get your flu shot without having to leave your car.

On September 11 & 12, 2010. from 9am - 3pm, NOVA Urgent Care Center is offering drive-thru vaccines for $20 per Vaccine - Cash only.

They are located at 21785 Filigree Court, Ashburn, VA 20147

For more information, visit their website at http://www.novaurgentcare.com/.

Grandparent's Day - Knack Free Family Event

Michaels stores are sponsoring a fun event for Grandparent's Day tomorrow, Aug. 28th from 10am - 2pm.

My calendar shows that Grandparent's day is on Sept. 12th... but I guess it doesn't hurt to be prepared, right?

Make the grandparents go gaga by capturing your baby's handprints in Crayola Model Magic. Ages three and up are welcome while supplies last!

For more information click here. Be sure to call your local store to verify details!

The Best Kind of Showers - August 12 & 13

I know I don't ever post events after midnight... After all, my kids are certainly not awake then.

But, this event will certainly knock their socks off and it's definitely worth being awake to see.

The Perseid Meteor Showers are currently lighting up the skies.

Experts predict that the showers will be the strongest on the night of August 12th & August 13th, between midnight and the wee hours of the morning.

Do I recommend that you wake your children up for this event? Absolutely NOT! This is your call and yours alone to make.

But, if you do wake them up to see it, here are some tips to follow:

1) Most importantly, you need a dark sky... so if you live in the city, unless you have a super duper telescope, you may not catch much action.

2) Verify the dates and times.

3) Expect to be outdoors for at least an hour to get a good view.

4) Dress warmly, use binoculars if desired, bring a warm drink and get comfortable.

Other Meteor Shower predictions for this year include:

October 7 & 8, the Draconids

October 21st, the Orionids

November 5th, South Torids

November 12th, North Torids

November 12, Leonids

and December 13 & 14th, Gemenids

Don't ask me where all these names come from; I'm sure there's logic somewhere.

For more information on each of these showers, click here.

Come back and let us know where you went and what you saw... I can't wait to see these myself!

Silly Bandz Swap at Participating Borders Stores

Check your local Borders stores for a Silly Bandz swap on Saturday, August 7th at 2pm. A listing of all store is listed here by state.

Bring your collection and get set to swap.

Events and details vary by store. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Hope you get some really cool Bandz!

August Sales Tax Holiday: School Supplies and Clothing

The weekend of August 6-8, 2010, is Virginia's August Sales Tax Holiday.

During this three-day period, purchases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item, and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

For a full list of exempt supplies, clothes, and footwear, please click here.

Loudoun County Fair 2010

This week is the Loudoun County Fair!

Welcome to the 2010 Loudoun County Fair. We are so excited to have all of our friends in the community join us for another great year. Come visit us for an exciting week of attractions, carnival rides, animal exhibits, vendors and an amazing display of crafts. Our fair offers a special piece of tradition for each of you. On behalf of all the volunteers and clubs, we wish you and your family a week filled with moments you'll treasure forever. Come enjoy the sites and sounds of the fair; we're thrilled to have you.

Advance Sale Weekly Pass	$20.00	for adults ages 13 and up $8.00 children ages 6 - 12
Weekly Pass at the Gate	$25.00 for adults ages 13 and up	$10.00 children ages 6-12
Daily Pass at the Gate	$10.00 for adults ages 13 and up	$5.00 children ages 6-12

Admission to the fair is free of charge for:

• Children under six
  
• Active military personnel with a valid military ID
• Children under 15 on Children’s Day (Wednesday, July 28th) until 4pm
• Seniors age 62 and older on Senior Citizens’ Day (Thursday, July 29th) until 4pm

The schedule of events includes A Demolition Derby, Extreme Cyclists, A Great Outhouse Race, Professional Bull Riding and and Barrel Racing, a Lumberjack Show, a Karaoke Contest, and Carnival Attractions are just a few of the items on the schedule.

I hope you'll get an opportunity to attend this fabulous event that's going on all week long, Sunday, July 25 - Saturday, July 31st.

Teen Film Competition

Enter your original short film to be judged in the Teen Film Competition. Film must be turned in between June 19 and July 31, 2010 at any library in Loudoun County.

For your film to be eligible for viewing at the finale and for prizes, it must be under 5 minutes long, no larger than 40 MB, and be in Windows Media Format (.wmv) or Apple Quicktime format. Films will not be returned and they will be posted on the Library's webpage and Youtube Channel. Entry forms are at the information Desk and must be submitted with your film. If you are under 28, your parent or guardian must sign your form.

The participating libraries are: Ashburn, Cascades, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Rust, and Sterling Library. For more information, please click here.

Good Luck!!

On a side note, the libraries are an amazing resource. I hope you plan to benefit from all the amazing programs put together by the library systems in all the counties in the area.

It's Summer Camp Time!

It's officially summer now and therefore, time for summer camps!

I'm sure you've already signed your kids up for summer activities and camps; in particular if you need the daycare.

But, I know there are some of us who have yet to book our kids for the whole summer... So, I have put together a list of as many Vacation Bible Camps in the Northern Virginia area as I could find. About half of them are free, some others are fairly inexpensive but many provide scholarships as well. I have also listed camps that are closed.

Because the events are weekly and take up a lot of room, I have listed them for access by registered members. Registration is free and can also be done via your Facebook account. You can register at our Community page.

If you know of other VBC's that are not listed, please let us know. Any feedback you might have about VBC's is also greatly appreciated.

It's the Official First Day of Summer!

Today is the first day of summer or the Summer Solstice.

Wikipedia says that

"The Summer Solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'... Except in the polar regions (where daylight is continuous for half of the year), the day on which the Summer Solstice occurs is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. Thus the seasonal significance of the Summer Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual shortening of nights and lengthening of days. The summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere, in December in the Southern Hemisphere."

So, longer days means more time to enjoy your kids! I know of two things that kids enjoy most. Music and being outdoors. So, what better way to spend those longer summer hours with your kids than at free summer concerts!

Grab some chairs, a blanket, bug spray, and some snacks and check out your nearest free summer concert series. Even if the band is not what you expected, you can't really complain since it's FREE and you're still getting to spend that time with your kids.

Check out the summer concert series list here. There are even some events happening indoors!!

If you know of a series that's not included, please let us know in the comments!

Enjoy today and here's to a musical summer *raises water bottle!*

Breaking News - SkateFest Fairfax 2010 starts now!

Have a skateboarder on your hands who doesn't know what to do for the summer?

Check out this event - there's still time!

Skateboard Competition on Friday, SK8 for a Cause on Saturday!

"Celebrate National “Go Skateboarding Day”and help raise money for Children’s Hospital National Medical Center inWashington, DC, by signing up and supporting SkateFest Fairfax.

Fairfax Surf Shop, Wakefield Skate Park and Fairfax County Park Authority presents this philanthropic skateboarding event and competition at Wakefield Skate Park (8100 Braddock RD. Annandale VA).

Previous SkateFest events have featured hundreds of participants ranging in ages from 5-50. Over $16,000 has been raised for the Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, DC through our philosophy of “kids raising money for kids.” The annual festival is at its fourth
year and is anticipated to be the most successful yet.

Beginning Saturday June 19, 2010, from 1pm to 7pm the excitement of the festival begins, and will commence with “SK8 For A Cause” with skateboarders of all ages and skill levels participating. SK8 For A Cause participants will follow a check pointed route through the Wakefield Skate Park. Skateboard competitions and the festival will proceed “Sk8 For A Cause.”

The action-packed festival features over $5,000 in prizes, food, activities. giveaways, games, open skate, music and the exciting final rounds of the skateboard competition. The festival gives skaters a chance to showcase themselves and even try out for the Fairfax Surf Shop Skate
Team.

On Friday June 18, 2010 at Wakefield Skate Park, registration begins at 5 pm and the preliminary rounds of the skateboard competition will be held from 6-9:30 pm. To sign up for SK8 For A Cause and SkateFest Fairfax visit www.skatefestfairfax.com or visit Fairfax Surf Shop (3936 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA). Or for more information feel free to call (703) 425-5400 or email jolleen@skatefestfarifax.com."

I hope you get to participate or at least that you will make a donation to Children's Hospital!! It only takes raising $25 in donations for Children's For Children's Hospital to receive a prize! Get your Family, friends neighbors or businesses to sponsor you. For Sponsor information, please click here.

Sounds like so much fun and for a great cause!

Lord and Taylor's Back to School Fashion Show Casting Call

Wouldn't it be fun to walk the catwalk at a young age? Or just to model the latest fashions even just one time?

Now is your chance. Lord and Taylor is hosting Fashion Show Casting Calls at various locations!

Bring in your kids, ages 4 to 11 (sizes 4-16 in girls, 4-20 in boys), for a chance to be a part of our Back to School Fashion Show.

Parents/guardians must bring one current color full-length or head shot photo and will be required to fill out an application in the store.

This website has a full listing of all the casting calls in the area. If you don't see your mall on the list, be sure to call to make sure they're not involved. I found a couple of malls that are not on the list but are holding a fashion show.

Recycle Those Running Shoes

It's that time of year again when you're out shopping for back to school. If your kids are anything like mine, they have already outgrown their shoes (again) and you are buying them a new pair for what seems like the 16th time this year.

So, what do you do with the old pair? Some of my previous options have been to give them to a younger child as hand-me-downs. Sometimes, I've sold them at a yard sale. I've also given them away to various organizations that collect shoes and clothing throughout the area.

But what about the shoes that just can't be used again? The ones that were well-worn and loved and just can't be given away for anyone else to use? You still love that shoe and can't bare to part with it, but you can't hang on to it either...

Well, here's the solution from one of our readers.

Check out NikeReUseAShoe.com

Nike Re-Use A Shoe will accept any type of athletic shoe (any brand) according to these guidelines:

• We can only recycle athletic shoes (running shoes, sneakers, etc.)
• We accept all brands of shoes
• No shoes containing metal
• No cleats or dress shoes
• No wet or damp shoes
• No sandals or flip-flops

NikeReUseAShoe would like for us to spread the word about this wonderful service. Check out this link for more details on how you can help!

So, gather up those ratty old running shoes and drop them off at your nearest recycling location:

The two in Northern Virginia are:

Nike Factory Store
241 Fort Evans Rd., NE, Ste. 510
Leesburg, VA 20176
(703) 771-3060

and

Nike Factory Store
2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Ste. 511
Woodbridge, VA 22192
(703) 497-4513

Or, if your organization would like to host a group shoe recycling drive, click here for more information.

What a great resource for everyone!

Thanks, Brenda, for the tip!

FREE School Physicals for UNINSURED Children

There are three facilities that are offering FREE School Physicals for NEW Students ONLY (not sports physicals) to Pre-K through 6th Grade ONLY.

They are all from 8am - 12noon

On July 24th at Falls Church Health Department, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA

On August 14th at South County Health Department, 8350 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA

On August 14th at Springfield Health Department, 8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA

For more information AND to make an appointment, please call 703-698-2550 - Space is Limited. Call Today!

They are also listed on the calendar.

ONE MORE

On August 14th at the Jeanie Schimdt Free Clinic in Herndon, VA from 9:30am - 1pm

This clinic is offering free physical AND sports/camp physicals to children ages 3-18. Children must be uninsured and have a family income of less than twice the federal poverty level. Children MUST HAVE a parent or legal guardian present. You may register by phone at (703) 481-8160 or online.

The physicals will be given at Connection for Hope at 13525 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA 20172. For Metrobus use the Fairfax Connector 950, 927

There are also two Salvation Army Community Meals Programs that I know of:

The Salvation Army is providing meals to individuals and families at

Big Lots Parking Lot in Sterling at 4pm on Saturdays

and at the Shenandoah Building (North Parking Lot) in Leesburg on Saturdays at 5:15pm.

No income information or ID is required. Meals are given on a first come, first served basis.

For further services contact The Salvation Army at 703/777-3371.

Thumbs Up for Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA

The kids and I attended Country Farms on Saturday for their Strawberry Jubilee Festival. I was pleasantly surprised! The kids had a fabulous time and I enjoyed the trip very much.
The farm is in the heart of the country. It was a beautiful scenic route to arrive. When we got there, we had to take a hayride (sans the hay) to the strawberry patch to pick them. The kids had a fabulous time doing that. Then, when we came back down, there was so much fun still to be had. The farm boasts a fabulous cow train that takes you around the entire farm. Riding it, we got to see all the other fun activities that were in store for our day.

There was a giant bouncing pumpkin, a children's play area, another play area with giant wooden monster trucks and smaller trucks for kids to ride around, there was a 60 foot slide, a giant cobweb, a maze, a rope swing, animals to pet, an ABC garden, live music, fishing, face painting... not to mention all the activities they had planned for the festival and so much more! There was so much to do that we didn't get it all done!

We will definitely make a return visit to this farm! I hope you will check it out too! Pictures for this event are posted under our Community page on the main site. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Build and Grow Clinics at Lowes

I know how much my kids love to build! They use anything they can get their hands on to "make" things.

Lowes offers these great Build and Grow clinics FREE for kids on Saturday mornings. Kids get to build a different wooden craft at each clinic. They also receive a free apron and project patch with each clinic.
The clinic is open to the first 50 kids grades 2-5 who sign up and arrive at the store by 10am.

The project for this weekend (5/29) is a wooden race car
June 12: Picture Frame (wooden)
June 26: Monster Truck (wooden)

Keep checking back as they add the clinics slowly - not all at once.

To register your child, go to http://lowesbuildandgrow.com/

If the clinic at your local store is full, you will no longer be able to register.
Good luck and enjoy this fabulous event!

Pick Your Own Fruits and Vegetables

It's time again for picking your own fruits and vegetables with your kids.

If you're not able to grow your own garden or don't belong to a co-op, picking at local farms is the next best thing as it supports your local economy and it's close to home.

There is a great website called PickYourOwn.org that has updated listings of places to go picking in the surrounding area. On that page is this chart about what items are in season.

Typical Crop Availability - When to Pick in Virginia

Fruit/Veg

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

apples

asian pears

asparagus

beans

blackberries

blueberries

broccoli

cabbage

cantaloupes

cucumbers

eggplant

greens

herbs

nectarines

peaches

peas

peppers

potatoes

raspberries

pumpkins

squash

strawberries

sweet corn

sweet potatoes

tomatoes

watermelons

Refer to the website often as it's a wonderful resource and check out the Strawberry Festivals coming up for Memorial Day weekend now posted on the calendar.

The Virginia Renaissance Faire 2010 is here!

If you have ever attended the Maryland Renaissance Fair, you know how crowded and commercial the Renaissance Fair can be. The beauty of the Virginia Renaissance Fair is that it is not as commercialized. When you attend the fair, whether you dress up or simply go in a t-shirt and jeans, you are sure to feel the magic of the time period.

This year, the Virginia Renaissance Fair is being held at Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylviania, VA. Best of all, the cost is so low it's practically free!! For those of us who've trekked to Crownsville, you will agree that $8/person is a fabulous deal!!

I hope you will make an effort to attend the fair. It is worth the drive to learn a little bit of history and to enjoy the fresh air! For more information, please check out their website or check our calendar. Don't forget to send us pictures!!

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

Check out this great find brought to my attention by a fabulous reader!!

'To commemorate the first birthday of Sesame Street Forest of Fun, Busch Gardens is offering kids ages 5 and younger a Free Sesame Street Forest of Fun Preschool Pass, valid for unlimited admission through Sept. 6, 2010. Begin the registration process HERE."

Once you've registered your child for free, you can print your e-tickets. In order to redeem your passes, you must present a certified copy of the child's birth certificate or a passport and your e-ticket.

I signed-up and the process is fairly painless. Besides, you can't go wrong with Sesame Street, right?

FREE Worldgate Centre Safety Shred

I know this is not a kid's event, BUT, it's a very important event nevertheless.

On May 15th, Worldgate Centre is having a FREE Safety Shred event where you can bring up to six standard boxes per person to have shredded, did I mention for free?

I don't know about you, but I know I have six boxes in my basement of old bills that need to be shredded. You can download the flyer here. The event runs from 10am - 1pm.

Please be sure to support the local businesses when you go for your shredding. A map of the Centre is here.

Mother's Day Contest for a Spa Weekend Getaway ends May 9th!

In honor of Mother’s Day, Care.com, the premier source of trustworthy care options for families, launched the Happy Family Moments video and photo contest on Facebook. The contest, designed to celebrate those special family moments that you were lucky enough to capture, will reward one grand-prize winner with the ultimate Mother’s Day gift: a spa weekend getaway for two including roundtrip airfare, a two-night hotel stay and spa treatments – a $2,000 value! For a chance to win, simply click the contest tab on the Care.com Facebook page and submit a photo or video of your happiest family moment.

Other prizes include a $500 spa gift certificate or a one-year subscription to Care.com – perfect for finding babysitters so mom can take the night off. The final day for contest submissions is Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010. Contest voting will begin on May 10, 2010.

Care.com also provides:
• Articles and resources for child care, special needs care, tutoring, senior care, pet care and housekeeping
• Essential guides that provide all the basics you need to know to find the right care
• A babysitter pay calculator that suggests a base pay rate for child care based on your Zip Code
• Online networks that help families connect to people in their area

Breaking the Rules

Have you checked out our latest Calendar of Events?

The more I play with it, the more I LOVE it!! It just has so many amazing features... and I'm sure there are more too.

Well, if you checked the calendar for today, you can see that I have broken my own rule by posting Herndon's Public Works Truck Days. But you can see why I couldn't resist. I took my kids to this event last year which may have had a showing on Saturday and they cried when we left; seriously. So, how do I allow you to deprive your kids of such an amazing event? I couldn't.

So, I have posted a "weekday" event, but a great one!

When you attend, please take non-perishable items for your entrance fee and also take lot of pictures!!

Come join us at our community page and post your pictures!

Have a fabulous week and be sure to check back as I populate our amazing new calendar!

Explore More is currently on Hold

My kids love art of all kinds. They love to make crafts, to draw, color, sculpt; you name it. So when we attend GRACE's Explore More, they get to experience art first hand.

For just $5 per child, kids get to explore art on their own terms.

• Come to GRACE (children must be accompanied by an adult or teen).
• Take an Art Bucket and use it to explore the exhibition.
• Buckets include a treasure hunt, art supplies, and suggestions for projects.
• Follow the guide to learn about the artwork on display.
• Use the art supplies to create your own projects.
• Take your creations home and come back soon!
• $5.00 re-stocking fee per bucket.

Currently, however, there is a "BEAUTIFUL Virginia Women Artists and the Body" exhibit which includes mature content. GRACE is not taking group reservations for "Explore More" at this time.
For those who choose to visit the gallery, an activity guide and art materials are available for an age-appropriate selection of works on display in the Learning Center.
Please visit GRACE in late June for gaps, a juried sculpture and new media exhibition.

For more information, you can visit RestonArts.com.

New Web Layout

I hope you're having a fabulous spring!

I have not been happy with Google Calendar and that unhappiness has lead me to seek newer and better things...

Children's Events will be launching it's new website in the next few days!

It is new and improved!

It will allow you to submit your own events to the calendar, you will be able to join in groups and have discussions with other parents about similar topics. You will be able to post your own pictures and much, much more!

I hope you'll come back soon to check out the new layout! I guarantee you will love it!

To keep you busy, I have added some events for this weekend to the Google Calendar which you can access here.

Have a fabulous weekend and come back again soon!!

Visiting the Easter Bunny

Have you had your visit with the Easter Bunny yet?

If not, the Easter Bunny is visiting several malls until Sat., April 3rd.

Check out each one here. I've also added a few more Easter Egg Hunt events... they just keep cropping up!

We attended the Reston Easter Egg Hunt today. The kids had a blast... literally, it was so windy!

Be sure to dress your little ones warmly when taking them out egg hunting! I hope you'll send in your photos for our Facebook page!

Happy Easter!

First Annual Kids in the Kitchen

Check out this fabulous event! It's the first Annual Kids in the Kitchen Health Fair!

Everyone wants to encourage their kids to eat better and to exercise more!

What better way to do that than to make it fun! This event will provide resources for child-based exercise, nutrition education, and recipes for healthy eating habits. The event will include fitness demonstrations, cooking demos, interactive booths and many other fun activities. Participating children will have an opportunity to enter a drawing to win a Wii Fit.

And the best part of it is the event is FREE.

I hope you'll do your best to attend this event this Saturday from 10am -2pm in Springfield, VA. To find out the details, please check out their website.

Enjoy the weekend and please send us your pictures so we can post them on our Facebook page!

It's Time for Spring Cleaning

What a gorgeous day today, huh?

We went for a walk (or two), then played outside, then sat outside with our popsicles. No one wanted to go back in.

But, since we're back inside, why not start going through the closets and getting ready for those consignment sales that are coming up!

Check out all the ones coming up in the next few weeks. Even if it's too late to consign, you can still get some fabulous bargains on clothes for the kids!

Have fun shopping and please come back and share your "great deal" stories!

Enjoy the weather!

The Big Apple

Wow, I really have been slacking!

The Big Apple Circus has been in Dulles for an entire week and I missed it!

Fortunately, it's not too late - March 6 - 27th, the Circus will run at various times
for one hour and 50 minutes with an intermission at 21100 Dulles Town Center Circle in Sterling, VA.

"Big Apple presents our all new show Bello is Back! under the Big Apple Big Top performing breath-taking feats of humor in the theatrical focus of one ring with no seat more than 50 feet away!

It seems like only yesterday that this daredevil clown made his hair-raising New York debut with the Big Apple Circus. He's been a big start all over the world ever since and was named "America's Best Clown" by Times Magazine.

Bello is joined by a world of stellar circus stars; Spain's juggling artiste, Picaso Jr., Russia’s Aniskin Troupe who catapult to the top of the tent on trampoline and soar across it on trapeze. For sheer beauty our very own aerialist Regina Dobrovitskaya rises through the air on shimmering ribbons. Equestrians Christine and Sultan get your heart pounding as they straddle galloping horses Roman style, and wait till you see what our company members can do with a pack of whacky dogs rescued from shelters!

Of course there's more and for an extra measure of love and laughter, there's our very own Grandma."

Go to their website and click on the box on the right that says "Buy Tickets Online" to see times and prices.

This is a great way to introduce your kids to the circus without having to drive into DC and spend a fortune on parking and tickets! This show is fairly priced and it's a lot of fun!

Have a great weekend and please send us pictures of your and your family at the Big Apple Circus!

On a Roll for Easter

Well, it seems that I am the only one lagging behind in regards to Easter Egg Hunts this year. Perhaps by posting Easter Egg Hunt events we can actually promote Spring. I'm all for it, then!

A current listing of many community Easter Egg Hunts is listed here. Some are free and some are not. Some have rain dates and others are "rain or shine."

Whichever you decide to attend, I hope you will have an Eggciting time. Please submit photos of you and you family at an Egg Hunt (or two - shhh, I won't tell).

If you know of a local Egg Hunt not listed, please forward the information so we can add it to the list.

Maple Syrup Boil-Down - last chance of 2010

This is the last chance of the 2010 season to watch gallons of maple sap collected on-site reduced to ounces of delicious syrup over an open fire. Sample syrup on fresh cornbread baked with Colvin Run Mill cornmeal.

Check out this neat event at Colvin Run Mill, 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. The event is on Sunday (tomorrow), March 7 from noon to 2pm.
The cost is $2 per person. The recommended ages for this event are: 3-93.

For more information please check out their website at CovinRunMill.org or call 703-759-2771. Enjoy it. Sounds like a blast!

It can't snow forever

Valentine's Day is almost here! Are you ready?

Yes, we all missed the Chocolate Lover's Festival. And the past few days of school and work and Valentine's Day shopping... But, they're not going to move Valentine's Day!

So, if you're still snowbound, here's a fun activity that kids of all ages can engage in for everyone on your Valentine's Day list.

I found a link on how to make Valentine's Day cookie necklaces. These cookie necklaces are a very classy gift idea and who doesn't love heart-shaped cookies?!

Check out the video and please send in photos of your creations for our blog. There is still plenty of time to make these lovely gifts!

We wish you a safe week and a lovely Valentine's Day weekend!

Who doesn't love chocolate?

I've only met two or three people in my lifetime who "don't like" chocolate. But for the most part, everyone else, loves it!!

February is the perfect month for chocolate. Wait, what month isn't a perfect time for chocolate?

This weekend is the Chocolate Lovers Festival 2010 in Fairfax, VA.

There will be lots of chocolate tasting, a chocolate challenge, a craft show, bake sales, and much more!

I hope you'll consider attending this neat event! As always, please send pictures for our page.

Check it out at http://www.chocolatefestival.net/

The Launch of Google Calendar

Have you checkout out our page lately? Did you notice a little link to our Google Calendar?

Google Calendar offers a great opportunity for posting events. Using this application, not only can I post events from a remote location, but now, Google is essentially keeping a calendar for me. So, you can also view past events.

I really like that this feature is live on my page. The thing I don't like is the inability to show links on the calendar. So, you can no longer just click the link for the event sponsor.

Both calendars will be maintained until either Google allows links on their calendar descriptions, until I get tired of updating both, or until you give me feedback about which you prefer.

I hope some of you were able to attend the Camp & Activities event at Fair Oaks Mall this past weekend. It seems to have been very informative.

Nature Find and Alligator Feeding

I started Childrens-Events.com because I thought there should be a central place to find local events to attend that were kid-friendly. There are so many amazing activities happening all around us. Yet, either because of poor advertising or for whatever reason, so many great events get missed.

Childrens-Events.com was to be that place where you go to find all local events and activities. Many of the events I post are outdoors, but so many more are indoor events.

I came across a great site today. It's called NatureFind.com. Isn't their logo beautiful?! I love it!

• "NatureFind is a content database for Natural Places and Events. The NatureFind system is automated for efficiency, every entry is reviewed by an editor for quality and appropriateness. Over 7,000 places have been selected (parks, nature centers, botanical gardens, zoos. Over 150,000 events are featured each year (nature walks, guided canoe trips, ranger talks, star gazing, animal showcases).
• "The National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest wildlife conservation organization, is NatureFind's Conservation Sponsor. Working together, NWF's Be Out There program and NatureFind are helping millions of viewers connect with nature."

ChildrensEvents.com is a small, mom-owned website. NatureFind.com is an amazing database compiled by professionals who work at it for a living, 24/7.
Check it out - they even boast an iPhone application! I'm downloading it right now!

I hope you'll continue to check our website regularly for events in the Northern Virginia Area, even though we don't have a phone application.

Currently, there is a cool event happening in Leesburg, VA called Alligator feeding at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. I didn't find confirmation of the event on their website, but a local paper had the following dates:

• Wed 1/20 at 3pm
• Thu 1/21 at 3pm
• Fri 1/22 at 3pm
• Sat 1/23 at 3pm
• Sun 1/24 at 3pm
• Mon 1/25 at 3pm
• Tue 1/26 at 3pm
• Wed 1/27 at 3pm
• Thu 1/28 at 3pm
• Fri 1/29 at 3pm
• Sat 1/30 at 3pm
• Sun 1/31 at 3pm

The description of the event reads: "See alligators leaping for food and hear their amazing strength as they bite into their food with powerful jaws."

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is located at 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg, VA, 20177.
Their phone number is 703-669-0316 and their web address is http://www.bansheereeks.org.

Please double-check the dates and times with the Preserve prior to attending and if you attend, please submit some photos of your adventure for our blog! Personally, we'll be passing on this particular event. The description is enough for me - crunch!

A Kid-friendly Valentine's Day Activity

January 15 - February 6, 2010, partner with Chick-fil-A in supporting our troops who are serving right now in remote regions of Iraq and Afghanistan. For every box you and I fill with our troops' most-needed items, Chick-fil-A will ship those items to those serving abroad. The box is called GIFTS FROM HOME. Here's how it works:

1. Go to any Chick-fil-A and pick up an empty box and a list of "Most Requested Items." Participating locations include Sterling, Reston, and Chantilly.
2. Collect needed items from the list and fill the boxes. DO NOT seal the box.
3. (OPTIONAL) Consider donating $11.50 to cover shipping costs for each box. Contributions may be made online at www.freedomalliance.org or mailed to:
   

Freedom Alliance Support Our Troops
22570 Markey Court
Suite 240
Dulles, VA 20166
In the memo line of your check please write "Chick-fil-A"
4. Drop off your full box(es) and receive a FREE Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich for each filled box.

Most requested items include:
Toiletries
Pre-Paid International Calling Cards
Non-Perishable Snacks
Magazines, Books, and Movies
Personal Letters
Cards of Encouragement
Energy/Protein Bars
Wet Wipes and Lip BalmValentine's Day is about showing how much we care. Let's extend that sentiment to our troops this Valentine's Day!

More 411 Bang For Your Buck

Are you ever out on the road and find that you have to call a place who's number is not in your speed dial?

What do you do?

Do you try to go online to find the number or do you blatantly pay the dollar and change that your cell company probably charges you to call 411? Only to find out that the place is either not listed or you don't have the proper spelling?

Well, Google has the solution! They have brought out their own 411 number and the best part is, it's F-R-E-E! That's right. You don't have to spend a single dime on information anymore.

Simply call 1-800-Goog-411. Give them the city and state and the name of the place and voila! They will connect you for free. You can also ask that they text message you the numbers so you have it for future reference. How cool is that?

Don't believe me? Check out this link here (http://www.google.com/goog411) for a short demo or try it yourself - afterall, it is FREE!

The Daring Book for Girls

I recently learned of this book and it's premise and I gotta say, I love it!

I think everyone should buy this book for every girl in their family! This book is about teaching today's girls to be like we were when we were kids. To be free and interesting girls, untethered to electronics.

I love the introduction in the book written by Andrea J. Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz. It's so good I'm gonna re-write it here for you even though it's on their website. It reads:

"We were girls before the Web, cell phones, or even voicemail. Telephones had cords and were dialed, by, well, actually dialing. We listened to records and cassette tapes - we were practically grown-ups before CDs came to pass - and more often than not, we did daring things like walk to school by ourselves. Ride our banana-seat bikes to the local store. Babysit when we were still young enough to be babysat ourselves. Spent hours on our own, playing hopscotch, or tetherball, building a fort in our rooms, or turning our suburban neighborhood into the perfect setting for covert ops, impromptu ball games, and imaginary medieval kingdoms.

Girls today are girls of the twenty-first century, with email accounts, digital cable, iPods, and complex video games. Their childhood is in many ways much cooler than ours - what we would have given for a remote control, a rock-climbing wall, or video chatting! In other ways, though, girlhood today has become high- pressured and competitive, and girls are inducted into grownup-hood sooner, becoming tweens and teens and adult women before their time.

In the face of all this pressure, we present stories and projects galore, drawn from the vastness of history, the wealth of girl knowledge, the breadth of sport, and the great outdoors. Consider the Daring Book for Girls a book of possibilities and ideas for filling a day with adventure, imagination - and fun. The world is bigger than you can imagine, and it's yours for the exploring - if you dare.

Bon Voyage."

So, don't wait any longer. Get your hands on this book and pass it on! Consider it a right of passage for your daughter, grand daughter, niece, cousin, or friend's daughter; sorta like passing on the family recipe book. I can't wait to start going through it with my daughter. I know I will learn new things as well.