Labor Day weekend is the traditional end to long summer days spent poolside, but don't let summer go without a bang! On Monday, September 5, enjoy the traditional Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival. Grab an ice cream and watch the excitement! If you're in a musical mood, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert on the West lawn of the Capitol. Want another parade? Head up north to watch the Old Town Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade, including fire engines, marching bands, horses and clowns.

Anyone want to commune with nature and camp out overnight? If so, listen up! We've got lots of suggestions of places to pitch your tent. Little Bennett State Park is a local scouting favorite, and Cunningham Falls State Park offers cabins if you don't own a tent. Seneca Creek State Park was listed as one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in Maryland and the C&O Canal National Historic Campground ranked pretty high, too.  Give one of these a try in September!

Virginia is for lovers, and occasionally, it's also for winos. On September 17 and 18 you can bask in the grapes at the Virginia Wine Festival, which will offer both free and ticketed tastings from 60 area wineries. Recognized as one of the top ten wine festivals in the country, this extravaganza offers wine, food, music and even the balloon lady in the rolling hills.

Bookworms, unite! At the end of September, the Library of Congress presents a really incredible event on the Mall: the National Book Festival. Children and adults can visit more than 100 award-winning authors, poets and illustrators; you will see old favorites and get introduced to new future favorites. Visit the Family Storytelling Stage and go see if you can actually hear the Tiger Mother growl!  Sept. 24, 10:00 - 5:30; Sept. 25, 1:00 - 5:30.

This newsletter wouldn't be complete without a local theater roundup. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse starts its run on September 23 at Adventure Theatre, and Aladdin's Luck begins the same day at Imagination Stage.  You can't go wrong with an afternoon spent at either of these excellent venues.

For some family fun under those Friday Night Lights, head down the street to Walter Johnson High School. They play two home games, on September 9 and 16, and it's still true that nothing beats cheering on the home team until the pigskin rests.