The Little Loop Newsletter by Clovie

Every Tuesday, Clovie's founder shares her top 5 picks for kids activities in Montgomery County and DC Northwest (plus the preamble you didn't ask for).

Hello!

Welcome to the 14th edition of The Little Loop Newsletter by Clovie, your weekly shortlist of the best kids activities across Montgomery County, MD and DC Northwest. Thank you for being here!

Who watched the premiere of Taylor Swift's Patient Zero music video? I forced my husband to watch the VMAs right after Sunday night Football. Worth it!!!! Luckily the cameo by Matthew Stafford (LA Rams quarterback) made it worth it for him too, kind of (still unclear how he belonged in the video though).

Before the rain came in, we all snuck out of the house to visit our favorite farm in Poolesville (check out our Instagram @clovie.kids for the full recap). Our 3 year old made it accident free, and our 11 month old took her first hayride. I love this farm because we were in and out in a little over an hour, truly no fuss. Highly recommend as a warm-up (or wind-down) into spooky season as Fall Festivals get crazy.

We are also headed to the Renaissance Festival in Annapolis this coming weekend! First timers over here. Tickets are all sold out, otherwise I would have recommended on here. There is a waitlist though if you want to try your luck. I'll do a full recap next week on the 'gram!

The Little Loop TLDR: Fall is officially here. Hayrides at the Harvest Festival in Derwood, PIKEtoberfest in North Bethesda, and the Takoma Park Street Festival stretching from Maryland into DC. Plus a free kids fun run at Cabin John and a Woody and Jessie weekend at MD Corn Maze in Gambrills.

Growing Clovie

We officially hit 350 subscribers to The Little Loop newsletter! It launched three months ago and I love getting new subscribers each week. Keep passing this along to other families you know, and let me know what else you'd like to get from this community.

Just Show Up
​No tickets, no plan. Decide that morning and just go.

​Harvest Festival (Agricultural History Farm Park, Derwood)​
​Sat Oct 3 · 11am to 4pm · $20 per car, cash only​
Hayrides, pumpkin painting, farm animals, kids crafts, historical games, and a sheepdog herding demo, with the Uncle Devin Show on stage. There's a sensory retreat tent if little ones need a break. Food and some activities cost extra. Rain or shine, no dogs.

​PIKEtoberfest (Pike & Rose, North Bethesda)​
​Sun Oct 4 · 11am to 4pm · Free​
North Bethesda's fall festival is back with live music, two DJs, a PIKEkids Zone, and 20+ local makers. Free on-site parking, or ride Metro to North Bethesda, one block away. RSVP on Eventbrite to be entered to win Pike & Rose gift cards.

​Takoma Park Street Festival (Carroll Ave, Takoma Park MD into Takoma DC)​
​Sun Oct 4 · 10am to 5pm · Free​
The 45th year brings 185+ vendor booths and 18 local bands along Carroll Avenue, running from Maryland right into DC. The Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department holds an open house all day, which is the stop for truck-loving toddlers. Takoma Metro (Red Line) is three blocks away, or park free at the TPSS Co-op lot on Ethan Allen Ave.

On the Calendar
​Book or register before leaving the house.

​Cabin John Kids Run (Cabin John Regional Park, Bethesda)​
​Sat Oct 3 · 9am start · Free, ages 17 and under · Register ahead​
I have such vivid memories of this Fun Run growing up! A quarter-mile Young Run kicks things off at 9am, followed by the half-mile and one-mile. Just for fun, and parents can run alongside without registering. Kids need a free registration by race morning. Arrive by 8:45 and skip the Westlake entrance, since that's where the kids line up.

​MD Corn Maze (Maryland Dairy Farm, Gambrills)​
​Sat Oct 3 & Sun Oct 4 · 10am to 7pm · $17.95 online, 2 and under free​
An 8-acre toy-themed corn maze plus 30+ farmyard activities: hayrides, a petting zoo, jump pad, pumpkins, and apple cider donuts. This weekend Woody and Jessie are visiting, and there are discounted tickets for military, first responders, and teachers. Buy online to save $2 per ticket. It's about an hour from most of MoCo, so plan it as a full day.

This Week's Little Loop Sponsor

​Roda Auto Repair​
I'm SO excited to have Roda sponsor The Little Loop all month! Trust me when I tell you that as a parent, I only use car maintenance services that offer free pick up and drop off. They pick up your car, take care of oil changes, maintenance, detailing, and repairs, then drop it back off, with valet free both ways (within 15 miles of their Rockville location). Get your Saturdays back. And they gave you a promo code! Use CLOVIE20 for 20% off your first service (up to $100).

New here? Subscribe and check out past issues here.

Find the best kids classes, camps, and party entertainment in Montgomery County & DC at cloviekids.com. Follow us on Instagram @clovie.kids.

P.S. Run a local kids business? List it free at cloviekids.com/join, or email hello@cloviekids.com to explore partnership opportunities.

Less Planning. More Playing.

Carole
Founder, Clovie