In my opinion, October is the ideal time for festivals–and this weekend, there are several for every taste, whether you love cuddly critters or slasher flicks. I’ve got the scoop in my Washington Times column, available in the print edition, in PDF format, and below.

And if you haven’t yet gotten the chance to see the sharp, funny, juicy “Marie Antoinette” at the Woolly Mammoth, I highly recommend you get a ticket. I was lucky to see the flawless opening-night performance, and I’d love to see it again!

Washington Times Get Out: The Week’s Pocket Picks for October 3, 2014

By Samantha Sault

Pick of the Pack: Autumn Conservation Festival

If you like animals, you’ve probably spent time at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. But if you love animals, you’ll want to visit the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), the 3,200-acre campus where scientists have been working for decades to conserve some of the world’s most endangered species. This weekend, SCBI will let you get up close and personal with animals like the nearly extinct black-footed ferrets, which Smithsonian researchers are hoping to reintroduce into their natural habitats in the Great Plains, and red panda cubs, which were born at the zoo earlier this year and now reside at the institute to increase their chances of breeding. Throughout the day, meet the animals and the scientists who are studying their genetics and environments, and enjoy live music, children’s activities, and food and beverages. Purchase the $30 car pass online or on site, and wear clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor activities and hilly terrain. Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Rd., Front Royal, Va. 540/635-6500. Web: nationalzoo.si.edu.

Red Panda (Courtesy Smithsonian National Zoo)

Arts: Fall Arts Fair

“D.C. has such an amazing abundance of artistic offerings. It’s our honor to bring them to new audiences, right in the communities where they live,” said Jenny Bilfield, President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts, which has been bringing world-class arts education and performances to all four quadrants of the city for 40 years. This weekend, the nonprofit will host its third annual Fall Arts Fair, a full day of free performances, workshops and other artistic endeavors for all ages. Beginning Sunday at 1 p.m., the fair’s main stage will feature performances ranging from hip-hop and opera to local dance ensembles and storytellers, and a marketplace will offer handicrafts, clothing, and food by artisans from the D.C. area as well as several countries including China, India, Turkey, Indonesia, and other nations. Throughout the day, you can participate in dance workshops, get your face painted or a henna tattoo, make origami, and sample the wares of local food trucks. Sunday at Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), 1900 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202/785-9727. Web: washingtonperformingarts.org.

Pop: Lykke Li with Mapei

Sweden has given us ready-to-assemble furniture, tasty meatballs, and since the 1970s, some of the most danceable pop music with ABBA, Roxette, and Ace of Base. While “Dancing Queen” will likely be played at weddings and proms for decades to come, indie pop singer-songwriter Lykke Li is certainly the hottest Swedish recording artist right now. Called an “artist to watch” when she debuted in 2007, Lykke Li has topped international charts with singles including “I Follow Rivers,” “I’m Good, I’m Gone,” and “Little Bit.” Her album “Wounded Rhymes” earned her the Swedish Grammy Awards for Best Artist and Best Album in 2012. Lykke Li will perform at the 9:30 Club on Monday, where fellow Swedish musician Mapei, inspired by R&B and gospel, will open the show. Monday at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. 877/435-9849. Web: 930.com.

Concert: Dover Quartet

The New Yorker called them the “young American string quartet of the moment,” and if you give a listen to the Dover Quartet’s YouTube channel—full of one flawless, powerful performance after another—you’ll believe they’re the string quartet of the century. Comprised of Camden Shaw on cello, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt on viola, and Joel Link and Bryan Lee on violins, the Dover Quartet formed at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute in 2008, when the music students were just 19 years old. Last year, they swept the Banff International String Quartet Competition, winning all major prizes and worldwide critical acclaim. The Dover Quartet is on a global tour with more than 100 concerts, including a stop at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, where they will perform works by Glazunov, Mozart, and Schubert. Wednesday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. 800/444-1324. Web: kennedy-center.org. 

Film: Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival

October is the month that fans of horror films eagerly await all year—and the month that the rest of us will put up with watching Freddy and Carrie with them. This week, Silver Spring’s AFI Theatre will host the ninth annual Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival, featuring ten nights of new horror films from around the world as well as a few old favorites to get you ready for Halloween. The festival opens Thursday with “V/H/S VIRAL,” following teenagers who will chase fame until the unfortunate end, and “The Dead 2: India,” in which the hero must battle zombies in Mumbai to save his girlfriend from an epidemic. Other films range from gory slasher flicks to spooky comedies, and several screenings will include discussions with the filmmakers. The festival will close on Oct. 18 with a screening of Wes Craven’s 1977 film “The Hills Have Eyes.” Through Oct. 18 at the AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. 301/495-6700. Web: spookyfest.com.

 © Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC and Samantha Sault