CHILDREN'S EVENTS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

School Board Meeting tonight in Falls Church

2011-02-03T14:24:00.003-05:00

This is technically not a children's event but it does affect our children.

Tonight, at Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, at 7pm, the Fairfax County School Board will be voting on the Budget for 2011-2012 school year. Among the issues that will be discussed is an Amendment that was put forth by Tina Hone, that would cut the FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools) program from the current advertised budget for next year.

This post is not to advocate that you should stand for or against this issue, but that you should attend the meeting to make sure your voice is being heard.

A request for this post was submitted by a member of FLAGS.

More Days Off from School?

2011-01-28T23:46:00.004-05:00

We've already had two days off and now we have two more days off next week due to teacher work days. What will you do for the next four days to not get cabin fever?

Fear not, there is plenty to do.

Check out Frying Pan Park's 50th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday from noon - 3pm.
Activities will include a preview of coming events, wagon rides, children's party games, hot cocoa, birthday cake, and s'mores at an outdoor warming fire.

This weekend is also Pentagon Row's Ice Skating Gala in Arlington.
From 7-9pm there will be A performance by fools and horses, specials and giveaways, An Ice Princess, Magicians, Jugglers, Stilt Walkers, a Photo Boot and plenty of Refreshments. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Fees for ice skating still apply.

And what about Monday and Tuesday of next week?
Take the family for a fun trip around the ice rink. Check out an updated listing of local ice skating rinks.
On Monday afternoon you can also check out Groovy Nate at the St. Elmo's Coffee Club in Alexandria. He'll also be at the George Mason Library in Annandale on Tuesday evening from 7-8pm. Have Fun with music, puppetry, games, creative play, and comedy! Donations are requested for the Coffee Club event.

The McLean Community Center is offering Teacher Workday trips for teens 5th - 8th grade. The center is open 8am - 6pm for these events. Please register on their website.

Also Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center in Manassas has a Teacher Workday Camp on Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 8:30a - 4:30pm. Campers will participate in sports, crafts and swimming activities on their day off from school. Registration is required.

Whatever you do, enjoy this time with your family. Sometimes, we need to be reminded to slow down and spend some quality time together.

Send Your Love...

2011-01-24T18:59:00.005-05:00

Do you know that song by Sting, Send Your Love?

Well, now you can send your love through some really neat places throughout the United States for Valentine's Day!

This is a list of places that will postmark your love notes and letters and then send them to the final recipient for you!

Bliss, NY 14024

Heart Butte, MT 59448

Juliette, GA 31046

Loveland, CO 80538

Loveville, MD 20656

Loving, NM 88256

Romance, AR 72136

Romeo, MI 48065

Sugar City, CO 81076

Valentine, NE 69201

Valentine, TX 79854

Valentines, VA 23887

Click this link to get detailed information on how to get your love notes postmarked at these various places in time for Valentine's Day 2011!

Kinda makes you wish you had more loved ones doesn't it?

Even though I'm no longer in school, I send Valentine's Day cards every year to family and friends with fun little treats inside!

What is your favorite Valentine's Day tradition?

January 2011!

2011-01-12T22:37:00.002-05:00

I hope you had a fabulous Holiday and Happy New Year.

Let's get right to the chase.

There are two events you need to know about.

The first is Synetic Family Theater's Nutcracker! The last showing is this weekend! Don't miss it! Critics rave about this amazing show! There's still snow on the ground, so you can still watch the Nutcracker live! Check it out!

And, the long awaited Blacksmith Shop at Mount Vernon is now open! "George Washington's blacksmith shop is back in business! The building is a careful reproduction of the type of blacksmith shop that operated at Mount Vernon during Washington’s lifetime. Watch as blacksmithing demonstrations take place, giving visitors a dynamic view of 18th-century smithing by creating the same household and agricultural items that were used on Washington’s plantation. Included in admission."

Check out our calendar for updated events and find us on Facebook for quick and easy access to special events in your area!
Just because it's cold outside it doesn't mean you have to say home. Enjoy time with your kids at these various events. Don't forget to check out your local community center and libraries for daily events.

The Mother of Holiday Events Listings

2010-12-03T09:26:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-18T00:22:00.003-05:00

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

2010-11-15T23:20:00.004-05:00

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

2010-11-10T18:13:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-11-04T04:07:00.004-04:00

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

2010-10-28T09:49:00.005-04:00

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!!

2010-10-22T09:09:00.003-04:00

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

2010-10-07T17:36:00.005-04:00

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...

2010-10-06T13:35:00.006-04:00

"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

2010-09-24T12:53:00.003-04:00

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

2010-09-17T10:43:00.003-04:00

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!

2010-09-12T13:28:00.002-04:00

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

2010-09-10T21:12:00.005-04:00

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

2010-08-28T00:52:00.002-04:00

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

2010-08-09T05:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-04T14:28:00.004-04:00

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

2010-07-28T05:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-25T23:52:00.003-04:00

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

2010-06-24T20:00:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-06-23T23:10:00.004-04:00

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!

2010-06-21T13:30:00.003-04:00

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!

2010-06-16T05:00:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-10T12:23:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-08T13:24:00.004-04:00

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 Nike ReUseAShoe.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

2010-06-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-28T11:29:00.006-04:00

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

2010-05-26T15:00:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-05-25T13:16:00.002-04:00

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?

2010-05-24T14:08:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-12T13:33:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-05-06T11:01:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-03T00:33:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-30T10:53:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-28T13:24:00.003-04:00

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

2010-03-27T23:08:00.002-04:00

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

2010-03-25T23:14:00.002-04:00

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

2010-03-19T23:54:00.004-04:00

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

2010-03-12T14:42:00.007-05:00

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

2010-03-08T12:35:00.006-05:00

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

2010-03-07T02:00:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

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?

2010-02-01T22:04:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-20T23:17:00.006-05:00

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

2010-01-16T18:15:00.009-05:00

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:

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.
Collect needed items from the list and fill the boxes. DO NOT seal the box.
(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

2010-01-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-05T00:10:00.002-05:00

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.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T20:17:00.000-05:00

It's finally 2010; the fabled year of lore and movies.

If you make New Year's Resolutions, I hope that one of them will be to take your kids to more events. Personal experience is the way we learn best. It's one thing to watch it on TV, it's quite another to see it, hear it, feel it, smell it, and sense it with your entire being.

One fabulous event that is coming up this weekend is Celebrate Fairfax's first Annual Frostival!

Frostival is a wonderful way to start off the new year. This event is geared toward pre-k and elementary school aged kids. It's a wonderful way to celebrate winter indoors where it's not soooo cold - brrrrrrrr.

Check out their site for information on how to purchase tickets and times.

Please come back to give us some feedback!

May all your dreams come true in the new year!

A Christmas in Fairfax - Canceled

2009-12-21T22:45:00.004-05:00

The City of Fairfax band, together with the 140-voice Fairfax Choral Society presents "Christmas in Fairfax."

This year, the concert was scheduled for Saturday. However, due to the snow, the show was moved to Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 at Fairfax High School. Unfortunately, Fairfax County Public Schools have canceled all activities; therefore this concert has been canceled for this year.

Since you can't attend the concert, please enjoy this wonderful rendition of Sleigh Ride by the Boston Pops.

Happy Holidays!!

We Baked Until We Dropped...

2009-12-20T21:38:00.004-05:00

..all the sprinkles, that is.

The kids and I made sugar cookies today. Well, I made the dough, they cut it out and then, decorated the cookies!

Sugar cookies are a little more work with little kids but if you just let them do their thing, it's fun for them (but a lot of clean-up for you).

Here are the cookies we made.

This is what happens when you let your two-year-old run wild with a bottle of sprinkles.

It was okay though, as it didn't stain the counter.

This is my Sugar Cookie Recipe - let me know how it works out for you!

2/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

4 tsp. milk

2 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Cream sugar, shortening, and vanilla.
Add egg; beat 'til light and fluffy.
Stir in milk.
Sift together dry ingredients; blend into creamed mixture.
Divide dough in half. Chill 1 hour.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut in desired shapes with cookie cutters.
Bake on greased cookie sheet, about 6-8 minutes.
Remove from pan.
Decorate immediately before cookies cool off.

Makes about two dozen.

Isn't it great that all we have to do is follow a recipe instead of having to re-invent the wheel all over again to figure out which dough is best for sugar cookies?!

Enjoy making these with your kids. They will amaze you with their ability to use the rolling pin and cut out fun shapes.

Easy Holiday Cookie-Making with Little Kids

2009-12-17T22:00:00.001-05:00

Little kids love to cook and help out in the kitchen, but during this time of year, it's not always feasible.

Here's a quick and easy treat little ones can help make that will wow everyone and make your little helpers feel special!

Pretzel Treats

Ingredients:

Bite size waffle shaped pretzels

Hershey's Kisses or Hugs

Whatever semi-hard candy you desire - M&Ms are most common

Heat oven to 170 degrees. Have your little helper set out the pretzels on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. If you have more than one helper, another one can open the Hershey's kisses at the same time. They can also take turns.

Top each pretzel with your unwrapped and hopefully uneatened Kiss or Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (white chocolate melts more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Little helpers can then press your hard candy of choice into the center of each Kiss or Hug.

Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes.

Place treats in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set.

Enjoy!

Two More Weeks!

2009-12-14T00:26:00.005-05:00

In just two weeks, Christmas will be here!

Have you taken pictures with Santa or gotten your yearly dose of the Nutcracker?

It's not too late. Check out the schedule for an updated list of these events.

Check out some neat events as well such as Tunes for Tots and Rockapella.

It's not too late to start getting into the Holiday spirit!

As always, please send us your events; we love to hear from you!

Happy Holidays!

The Holidays Are Here!!

2009-11-21T10:45:00.003-05:00

The Holidays are here and that means lots of fun activities for kids and parents all around!

Check out Bull Run's Festival of Lights! Everyone can enjoy that activity and it doesn't required any walking in cold temperatures.

There are also various malls holding visits with Santa.

If you know of an event that is open to the public, please send us the link so we can post it on our site.

We hope you get to enjoy the various events in the area for the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for visiting our site!

October is the best time of year!

2009-10-22T00:20:00.002-04:00

I love the month of October! The colors, the pumpkins, apples, cider, chilly walks, falling leaves... what a beautiful time of year.

Many farms are holding Fall Festivals at this time of year. Kids can romp and play outdoors; enjoy the weather and the fun. Slides for all ages, cider and kettle corn... you name it.

I hope you and your family will get out this season to enjoy the many local farm events.

Thanks for visiting our blog!

Happy Fall!

It's Back to School Shopping Weekend!

2009-08-07T23:44:00.003-04:00

That's right, if you live in Virginia, this weekend is Tax-Free supply shopping time for all your back to school needs.

There's a great list here of all the items that qualify. Tax Free days are Friday - Sunday.

Clothing, shoes, lunch gear, computer accessories, and much much more will be exempt from tax this weekend. That's a huge discount if you're buying for more than one kid.

So, shop until you drop! I'm sure it's going to be crazy!

If you're not into shopping, there is the Irish Festival in Alexandria this weekend. It sounds like loads of fun!

Whatever you do, have a great weekend - I hope you get to enjoy the beautiful weather!

It's August!

2009-07-31T00:18:00.005-04:00

Can you believe August is already here?! I feel like summer just started last week when temperatures started shooting up to 90 plus degrees!

Anyway, we're not here to talk about the weather. There are tons of events happening this weekend! Tons!

There is the Fairfax County 4-H Fair, the 6th Annual Asian Festival, The Friendship Firehouse Festival, and the Manassas African American Heritage Festival.

Wow, it's an eclectic weekend for sure.

I hope you get to attend one of these great events! They all sound amazing; I wish I could attend all of them!

For more information, please check out the calendar page here.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay hydrated!

Gone Fishing!!

2009-07-17T22:19:00.003-04:00

There is a great event on Saturday at Lake Fairfax that is sponsored by the New Horizon Bass Anglers Foundation .

It's a great way to introduce your little ones to fishing. The event begins at 8am and is over by noon. Kids will get an opportunity to fish with the assistance of proficient anglers (fishermen). A fishing license is required for this event. A day, fresh water fishing license can easily be acquired online through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. They accept Visa and Mastercard only. Just print the license and keep it on your person during the event.

If you decide to attend this event, you should get there early. Don't worry if your child doesn't have a rod, the Anglers will provide a rental for free. A short seminar will follow the fishing to give kids an overview of the importance of caring for our natural resources.

Pre-registration is requested but not required. You may register at the derby on the same day!

It is recommended that you bring water and snacks for the event. A light lunch will be provided to all registrants who sign-up before noon. The lunch consists of a hot dog, a cold drink and a piece of fruit. For more information on the event please click here.

I hope you get to attend this event! I'd love to hear about your experience!

The Reston Fair

2009-07-11T22:23:00.010-04:00

I took my kids to the Reston Festival today. The weather threatened rain but in the end there was only a two-second spitting.

It was very crowded; more so than last year. But there were some great vendors and some awesome raffles. We entered to win tickets for the Children's Festival in September at Wolf Trap and also to win an Eco-Friendly Kite.

The kids area was clear across the other side from last year. But they added many more activities such as rides, walking jesters, and other fun activities. Like last year, there was a free craft section. But this year, you could buy tickets not only for the rides but also for activities such as a caricaturist. We missed that but I heard they had to close the line so the artist could go home at a reasonable time, ha!

I am hoping to attend tomorrow without the kids for a bit to check out the vendors more closely. I saw some really interesting things that need a closer look sans little, grabbing hands.

Here is a fun picture I took in the craft area. Wouldn't that be a great job, to walk around on stilts, squirting little kids on the head with a water gun?! I'd take it in a heartbeat!

To check out more details about the Reston Festival, please click the link.

There are some fabulous events coming up in August and September. I have been working on getting those two pages up on the calendar. I hope you'll come back to check them out soon!

We're Back Online!

2009-06-22T00:19:00.004-04:00

Technical difficulties have been averted for now and we're able to update our pages again. It was getting frustrating there for a bit.

As you'll see, there have been some changes. I am always working towards making the page as easy to read as possible.

I hope all the changes help.

There are two events I want to highlight for you this week.

The first is the Arts in the Park event. It is occurring throughout Fairfax County. It is a great way to introduce young children to the performing arts. Not only is this event FREE, it is also outdoors so if your little one starts screaming or can't seem to sit down, you can walk away with them and still experience the performance. There are some great performers lined up. I hope you'll check it out.

The other event is the Bluemont Summer Concert Series! Their calendar is finally up on their site. This organization does a fabulous job of putting together all kinds of performers for various communities.

Dulles Town Center is a recent addition. They have a great lineup this year.

I hope you'll get to enjoy some fabulous music this summer with your kids!

Celebrate Fairfax is this weekend!

2009-06-05T10:33:00.005-04:00

Celebrate Fairfax is this weekend featuring all kinds of live entertainment!

There are kiddy rides, music, food, and vendors. There is a $12 admission fee for adults, $8 for youth which gets you in to see all the concerts. Rides and food are a separate cost. There are four stages listed here.

I hope the weather will cooperate for this event. It sounds like it will be a fun time!

Due to technical difficulties, I have not been able to update the main website and calendar. Technical staff is working on it. Thanks for your patience.

The Herndon Festival is Here!

2009-05-26T23:06:00.006-04:00

Have you attended the Herndon Festival?

This year they promise more rides and more fun! The fair boasts entertainment, fireworks, a carnival, a 10k/5k, and a K9 2k.

Here is some important information you should know.

If you've been to downtown Herndon, you know parking there is already a bear on a regular work day. No worries, they've made it easy to attend the fair! Free Shuttle Bus service is offered from two locations in Herndon. Busses will depart every 10 minutes from the Worldgate parking garage on Worldgate Drive and from Herndon High School off Dranesville Road. Parking at both locations is free.

Shuttle Service

The shuttle bus service hours are:

Thursday, May 28th, 6pm - 10:30pm
Friday, May 29th, 5pm - 11pm
Saturday, May 30th, 9:30am - 11pm and
Sunday, May 31st, 11am - 6pm.

Rides

The rides open on Thursday, May 28th and will stay open throughout the festival.

Thursday, May 28th, 6pm - 10pm
Friday, May 29th, 5pm - 11pm
Saturday, May 30th 1oam - 11pm and
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Thursday (6-10pm) and Saturday (10am - 2pm), the carnival will offer All-You-Can-Ride wristbands. The wristbands are $15 per person.
Thursday night bands are only available through pre-sale at the Herndon Community Center at 814 Ferndale Ave., until 2pm the same day.

Saturday wristbands will only be available at the carnival.

Ticket prices for the carnival rides on the other times are:

Single Ticket - $1
Book of 30 tickets - $22
Book of 50 Tickets - $35

Other rules of the carnival are as follows:

Each person wishing to enter the carnival areas will have to purchase a minimum of $5 in ride tickets each day. There is an exception for parents who accompany paying children.

Ticket sales end one hour prior to closing.

Entertainment

The list of entertainers is too long for me to post. You can check that out here on the event website.

Check out the Children's Hands-on Art area. It will be open on Saturday from 10am - 5pm and on Sunday from noon - 5pm. It is completely free and the kids LOVE IT!!

Fireworks

Fireworks displays will be on Thursday and Saturday nights at 9:30pm.

For the full schedule of the festival, please click here.

Don't forget to check out all the sponsors! They are the reason this event is free of charge!

Safety Tips

You know I can't leave you without a few safety tips.

Always keep an eye on your children at all times. These festivals draw huge crowds and small children can be easily swept up. Bring your umbrella stroller, child backpack, or leash, but keep your children close.

Remember to keep yourself, your kids, and your dogs well hydrated.
Children become overheated very easily and won't always ask for water when they need it. I have seen too many children go to the red cross tent from heat exhaustion during these events.

Remember to wear sunblock and to dress appropriately for the weather.

Don't miss this fair! It is four days of fun for the whole family and it's FREE - well, mostly!

Free Bowling for Kids

2009-05-26T22:46:00.009-04:00

There is a really cool event I just found out about... it's called the Kids Bowl Free Program!

For the summer, at limited bowling locations, kids get to bowl two free games for free each day of the summer!

This program is setup to allow families time together. There is also a family pass which provides adults the same 2 games a day package for up to 4 adult family members for a one-time payment from $23.95. The cost for this pass may vary per center.

There are a limited number of center which currently participate in Virginia. Each center has their own beginning and end dates as well as times when the passes are valid. Please visit the participating center nearest you (found here) for the full Monty!

Parents must sign up their kids for the specified bowling center on the website.

For more information on this great program, please visit the site's FAQ and Contact pages.

What's the kicker you ask? It's fun!

If you can't find a center near you, contact your local center and ask them to join in with Kids Bowl Free!

I hope you get to participate in this great program! I'd love to hear from you if you've used this program in the past!

Enjoy bowling with your kids! Believe me, they enjoy it more than you think!

Memorial Day weekend events

2009-05-21T20:36:00.008-04:00

If you happen to be staying in town this weekend, I found something for you to attend!
It's the Virginia Renaissance Fair! I've attended this event before, but not at this winery. If you've attended the Maryland Renaissance Fare, this one is similar, only I think it's better. This fair is not as hugely attended so there is more room to roam. This fair has a different character, if you will, than the one in MD. It is much less commercial, it's more raw but in a good way! You can read more about it here.
This great event is only running until June 14th, weekends only. If you're interested in a particular theme, here is a listing of what they're offering this year. This weekend the theme is Military History. All Active, Reserve and Retired Military admitted free this weekend with Military ID, in appreciation for their service (The photo was taken at the MD Renn Fest 2002).

I highly recommend that you attend this fair. Come back and let me know what you thought of it!

Huzzah!

On Monday there are also a number of Memorial Day events around town. From a parade to more serious memorial services.

And don't forget next week is the long awaited Herndon Festival! I love carnivals and fairs! This festival is one of my favorites. I'll post more about it later in the week.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! You know the drill; be safe, don't drink and drive, and use sunblock!

May Flowers

2009-04-30T00:00:00.003-04:00

I love the month of May, not just because it's Mother's Day but because it's when the chance of frost is finally over and I can start planting our garden!

I also love May because of all the fun activities that crop up in the area. There's a festival practically every weekend, the libraries start gearing up for fun events for the summer, and best of all, the summer concert series begin.

I love to listen to various live artists throughout our communities. What's better than sitting on a blanket or a lawn chair, on a breezy evening, enjoying live music and the company of family and friends?

Starting May 1, the concert series schedules will be updated and I will have a separate page with all the links for you.

I've also started a special Memorial Day events page. It's special because all the events are not necessarily on a weekend.

If you know of any events that are not listed, please let us know. We love to keep you in the loop!

I wanted to share a silly joke I read on somebody's blog.
Sit down, are you ready for this?

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims.

Did you get it right?

Ha! Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!

It's Consignment Sale Time!

2009-04-24T18:36:00.004-04:00

*edited to add

It's time again for the long awaited, CFCMOPS consignment sale! Look at all the stuff!!

The sale this year is at Sanders Corner Elementary School in Ashburn, VA.

The sale opens to the public from 8am - 12pm. The doors then close from 12-1pm and open back up for the the half price sale until 2pm.

There will be gently-used children's seasonal clothing (size infant to size pre-teen); toys, baby and child equipment; baby and child furniture; children's books, games, videos; and maternity clothing.

This sale takes place in the spring and fall of each year at various locations. Previous locations include Potomac High School, and Christian Fellowship Church.

The CFCMOPS is a group for moms for school-aged children.

Proceeds of the sale fund leadership training, resources for MOPS moms, meeting costs, the MOPPETS children's program, and costs of running the sale. Funds also support CFC MOPS designated charities and allow MOPS moms to participate in a fall and spring service project.

Check out this sale, I guarantee you'll find something useful and well-priced.

For more information on MOPS please check out their website. If you attend the sale, please come back and leave your comments!

Have a great weekend and happy shopping!

A Rainy Day Treat

2009-04-20T23:06:00.008-04:00

Did you dare attend an Easter Egg hunt in the rain on Easter Saturday?

We did. And it was great because there was only a handful of die hard attendees and my daughter got a basket full of eggs!! She had a fabulous time wearing her rain boots and her bunny ears.

It has been beautiful weather the past few weekends. I hope you've gotten out to enjoy it.

I have a fun recipe (which a friend actually pulled off the Internet) to try out when it's rainy and the kids want to be entertained.

My daughter and I made these and she had a great time mixing all the ingredients and crushing the cookies to smithereens. Of course, by the time we were done, we were too full to eat the final result.

Pudding Dirt Cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups cold milk
1 4-serving size package instant chocolate pudding
8 oz., frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
1 1/2 cups crushed sandwich cookies (such as Oreos)
20 gummy worms

Preparation:

Whisk together milk and instant pudding for two minutes, until pudding is completely dissolved. Let stand 5 minutes to thicken.

Stir on frozen whipped topping and 1/2 cup of the crushed cookies.

Spoon into 10 cups.

Sprinkle remaining crushed cookies over the pudding mixture. Top with 2 gummy worms.

Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 10 servings.

Instead of the cups, we just did two small tins.

I hope you enjoy making this fun treat with your kids. Remember, it's just food, it washes off!

Changes!

2009-04-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

Have you seen our new and improved website??

I am very happy with how it came out.

I hope it will be easier to navigate.

Please bare with us as we work out the bugs from the new upgrade. If you see any broken links, please submit them either via the blog or our e-mail address.

Thanks and let us now what you think of the new layout!?

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter here.

It's Hunting Season

2009-03-29T14:03:00.011-04:00

"Holy Easter Eggs, Batman, it's hunting season!"

Have you seen how many Easter Egg Hunts are taking place in the next few weeks?!

Not to mention any that may be happening at your local religious establishments that are not listed here!

Will this be your little one's first attempt at hunting for Easter Eggs? Well, he or she will certainly be able to get in a lot of practice!

You can hunt for eggs at local parks, local historical societies, or at your local community center! Whichever venue you chose, they all look like they're going to be a blast.

Unfortunately, unless you already got your tickets online, the White House Egg Hunt is closed! But, never fear, there are still plenty of local events to attend and enjoy!

And if you didn't get a chance to visit the Easter Bunny at your local mall (see the listing for local mall times), you can still visit the Easter Bunny at some of these events!

Here a few things to keep in mind about local Easter Egg Hunts.

Most of them separate the kids according to age so that the toddlers aren't hunting along with the eight-year-olds. So, make sure you find out the exact time to be there for your little one's age group.

Most of these events are rain or shine, so be sure to dress your child appropriately. It will likely be muddy with all the rain we've been having, so rain boots and a play coat might be a better choice over Easter Morning garb.

Be sure to register early for the event you want to attend. Many events have walk-in registration, but some do not.

And finally, remember to take a basket (and your camera) for you child to collect eggs in. Some places will provide a bag if you don't have one, but it's best to take your own.

I hope you will enjoy attending any of the events listed. I have listed the Easter Egg Hunt events in blue! If you notice, there is also a Dinosaur Egg Hunt happening in Great Falls. That sounds like great fun!

Happy Hunting and please visit us often. If you have an event to submit, please do so here.

We've also added a new feature, The Mailing List. So, if you'd like to receive updates right to your e-mail box, please submit your e-mail address here. You can choose to unsubscribe at any time.

The Leesburg Animal Park opens this weekend!

2009-03-21T22:28:00.006-04:00

I have lived in this area long enough to say that I can't believe I didn't know about the Leesburg Animal Park!

If you haven't been there, I hope you'll check out their "official video" on their website.

What kid doesn't like animals? The park runs the gamut from standard petting zoo goats and bunnies to zebras, monkeys, and a giant tortoise. They also offer pony rides. It's an all day learning experience for kids of all ages. They even offer a coupon for $2 off on their site.

For what you get, the prices are very reasonable. Of course, to me, paying a good price at an interactive zoo helps me know that the animals are well cared for and maintained.

I hope you'll check out this fun place right in our own back yard. I certainly plan to take my kids soon.

Also, check out information on their fall event, Pumpkinville.

Have a pleasant weekend!

Improved With Search Capability

2009-03-19T00:00:00.005-04:00

Childrens-Events.com has been improved!

I was originally posting events in short paragraphs for the sake of conversation style. I wanted it to be a personal site. Tables are so impersonal. But I found that people were having problems reading the information. Sometimes, compartmentalizing is not a bad thing, I guess.

So, I've also added a search engine to the home page. In case you're looking for that special event but don't know the name of it.

I am very excited about the updates to the site. I hope you find it easier to navigate. Let me know what you think!?

For this weekend my recommendation for choice entertainment is another children's consignment sale event submitted by Cindy - thanks, Cindy!! Check it out here. I've never attended this event but it appears to be well organized and to have a good following. It's a perfect time to go shopping for your kids. Springtime means lots of playtime outdoors at the park, in the garden, or on the sidewalk with chalk and street paint! What better place to buy play clothes than a consignment sale?

Have a wonderful weekend and please update me on any events that are not already listed.

What's your favorite circus act?

2009-03-08T13:32:00.004-04:00

Do you like the circus? I do. My favorite circus acts are the trapeze act and the acrobats! I've always been awed by the grace and agility demonstrated by these performers.

What I don't enjoy about the circus? The cost! It's easy to drop $200 to go to a show. And in today's economy, that is not a cost many of us are willing to spend.

Fortunately, Jodifur is giving away a set of four tickets to the circus. The tickets apply to DC, VA, and MD - to the opening day show only.

Go sign up to win. The details are on her blog.

********************
Is your child ready to visit the circus?

Here are these easy ways to tell:

1) Circus' are often very crowded and busy places. Be sure your child can handle many things happening at once. The circus can be extremely overwhelming, even for an adult. Over stimulation is no fun for anyone.

2) Believe it or not, the fear of clowns is a very common fear. Experts believe it may be triggered during very early childhood. Small children are still trying to gauge the world around them. Clowns with static expressions render a person unable to gauge feelings properly and can lead to a phobia. Being vigilant of this phobia while attending the circus will give you and your child a safe experience.

3) And finally, at the circus there are live animals who defecate naturally. Precautions are taken so that visitors are not in direct contact with anything that may be hazardous. However, the smell can often be very pungent and is unavoidable. Children who are overly sensitive may become overwhelmed in this environment.

You are the best judge of what your child can handle. Considering their age, their tendencies, and their fears is an important part of knowing if your child is ready to attend the circus. Don't be afraid to leave in the middle of the show. You'll be grateful you did.

If you deem that your child is not ready, you can still enjoy a good circus show on television. This way, you can pause the action to explain what's happening and give them an opportunity to ask questions.

By no means is this meant to discourage you from attending. I can't wait to take my daughter this year!

Birds and Cameras

2009-03-07T19:50:00.008-05:00

We took the kids to the Meadowlark 2009 Photography Expo today. It was free for the kids and my husband and I together only paid $5/each. We didn't go for the photography exhibit as much as for the opportunity to view the birds from the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia. I thought the kids would enjoy seeing real birds of prey; something they may never have a chance to view up close otherwise.

It was a beautiful day. Perfect f0r walking through this beautiful garden that is in our own backyard!

The cost for photographing the birds was $25 for 45 minutes and four birds per time slot. The money of course went to fund the conservancy. I thought the turnout of photographers was pretty good; many of whom had cameras way better than ours. It was absolutely worth the cost, of course. This is just one of the almost 400 shots I took of these birds. It was incredible being so close to them. The kids enjoyed them too. We also got to see some owls.

I hope you will make time to attend this event, if not tomorrow, then next year. It is an annual event and it is well worth the effort to attend.

By the way, remember tomorrow is daylight savings; we lose an hour... it's Spring Forward!

Choices, Choices

2009-02-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

Have you taken a look at February's line up?! There is so much to do and not enough weekends left in the month to do them all!
What to do?
According to our weather widget (on the home page) it's looking like rain over the weekend. That sure puts a damper on the Mardi Gras event. :-( Maybe an indoor music concert is more up your alley with Robbert Bobbert or the DrumLine performance. What a tough decision that is to make!

The event I am looking forward to this month is FCMOM's consignment sale on Feb. 28th. I am a huge fan of buying gently used items for my kids; in particular toys and play clothes. Not only is that helping reduce landfill space, it also helps the wallet.
Please drop us a line about any of the events you attend to give us your opinion. Stay warm and dry!

Welcome to Children's Events of Northern Virginia

2009-02-15T00:36:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the launch of Children's Events. It's the one stop site where you can find out about local children's events happening in the Northern Virginia Area.

The more involved you become with the site, the better the site becomes. If you know of a children's event that is happening in our area that is not already listed here, simply go to our submit form page. We will post that event on this site for everyone to enjoy. Parents, caregivers, and coordinators; everyone's involvement will make this site run effectively.

Our hope is that when you come to this site, you will automatically find a fun event to attend with your family. Both free and charging events will be listed. The events must be family friendly and open to the general public. Children's Events.com reserves the right to not post any event for any reason.

Bookmark our page, tell family and friend's about our site. We hope you will come back often! Check out our blog for periodic reviews on various events around town. If you'd like to post your own review, drop us a note.