Weekend Best Bets: Nov. 21-22

Happy weekend before Thanksgiving everyone.

First and foremost this weekend is the Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown Silver Spring from 9:30 to noon on Saturday. The weather should be nicer than most years (a partly sunny day of 59 degrees is forecast), and the parade's always a kid-pleaser.

Farther north, the Sugarloaf Festival at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds will feature artist demonstrations, including glass blowing, copper spinning, ironforging, and pottery and furniture making. The festival, which features around 350 artists, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Heading down into D.C. on Sunday, the Great Zucchini will be opening for Rocknoceros at the Sixth and I historic synagogue. The doors open at 10 a.m. for the 10:30 show. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.

If you've been considering a Musikids class, Sunday's the day to check it out. Kids up to age 5 can try out a free class between 10 a.m. and noon. MusiKids is at 4900 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. For more information, call 301-215-7914.

Coming Soon:

Is your child a fan of Henry and Mudge? Then you won't want to miss the musical based on the books. It's at Montgomery College's Rockville campus at 11 a.m. on Nov. 28. If this date doesn't work for you, the TheatreWorks presentation of the musical will be at the Lisner Auditorium on the GW campus on February 16.

Dollar Days at the National Aquarium: I've put this information in the calendar over on the right, as well, but whenever you can get into the aquarium in Baltimore for a buck, it's worth the trip. The aquarium's Dollar Days are Dec. 5 and 6. Plan to arrive by 10, as the number of dollar tickets is limited and you can't reserve them in advance.

Friends from New York have all told me stories of watching the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall with sparkles in their eyes. Well, the Rockettes are on tour and will be at the Verizon Center from Dec. 18 through Dec. 20 for a Christmas show.

And continuing on the theme of the holiday season, the Washington Revels, which recently moved their headquarters into Silver Spring, is holding it's annual Winter Solstice celebration at the Lisner Auditorium on Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 11-13.

And a note from me: I'll be offline this coming week, spending some time with family. Besides being holiday month, December is also when all the school open houses (preschools, private and immersion programs) get into full swing. I'll have more on that once I return.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.