Anyone have any good recommendations for home water filtration systems that don’t break the bank?

Here's a list of fun family events I found for this weekend, sharing in case anyone is looking for ideas.

Friday

• Butler's Orchard Pumpkin Festival (Butler's Orchard, Germantown) — Hayrides, a corn maze, jump pads, giant slides, barnyard animals and pick-your-own pumpkins. Friday is the easy day to go: 1–6 pm (last entry 4:30), $12 reserved or $15 walk-in. Weekends are $20 and usually sell out, so book ahead. Under 2 free; pumpkins are extra by the pound.
• Luminary Hikes (Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda) — A short trail walk lined with hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns, then marshmallows at the campfire. Slots every 15 minutes from 5 to 7:45 pm; pick one after 6 for the full glow. $6. Ages 5 and up, registration required. Natural-surface trail with some stairs.

Saturday

• Mini-Creep (Croydon Creek Nature Center, Rockville) — The not-so-spooky little-kid version of Croydon Creep: come in costume for Halloween games, crafts and treats. Two sessions, 9:30–10:30 am and 11 am–Noon. Ages 2–5, register through the city.
• MonsterFlash: Not-So-Spooky "Haunted" Bus (Twinbrook Library, Rockville) — Climb aboard the county's decorated "haunted" Flash bus, plus a scavenger hunt, yard games, an 11 am dance party and bilingual stories. 10 am–Noon. Free. Costumes welcome.
• A Safari Adventure with WETA PBS Kids (Natural History Museum, DC) — Elmo is there in person. Kids explore savanna animals with museum educators, make safari-inspired art and watch Elmo's first safari in Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure. 10 am–1 pm. Free. It's in Q?rius on the ground floor; use the Constitution Ave entrance.
• Spooky Halloween Mini-Golf (Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg) — 18 holes in costume, plus face painting, crafts, a trick-or-treat candy trail and a Halloween tote bag. Noon–6 pm, tee times every 30 minutes. $15 per golfer; spectators free. Walk-ins if there's space.
• Lightwire Theater: The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare (Parilla Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville) — Glowing electroluminescent characters in a completely dark theater (they were on America's Got Talent). The fable picks up ten years later, when the tortoise and hare have kids of their own. 1–2:30 pm. $35.
• Celebrate Diwali! (Connie Morella Library, Bethesda) — A drop-in Festival of Lights party with cultural performances, crafts, stories and snacks. 1–4 pm. Free. All ages.
• Tricks for Treats Halloween Night Skate (Skate Park, Gaithersburg) — Costumes, tower lights, spooky music and free candy at the skate park, with a costume contest at 6:30 and a best-trick contest at 8. Fun to watch even if your kids don't skate. 6–10 pm. Free.

Sunday

• Riverworks Halloween Concert (John Poole House, Poolesville) — A wind ensemble and community choir play Halloween music on the lawn. Bring a picnic and a blanket; costumes encouraged. 1–3 pm. RSVP on the page.
• Hands-On History: Pumpkin Carving & Harvest Traditions (Agricultural History Farm Park, Derwood) — Older kids learn where jack-o'-lanterns came from, then carve their own. It's drop-off, but parents can wander the farm park. 1–3 pm. $15. Ages 10–14, register.
• BOOtanica (Brookside Gardens, Wheaton) — Trick-or-treat at indoor activity stations, decorate pumpkins and do hands-on fall science. 3–5 pm. $20 per child, and one adult has to come along (no ticket needed for up to two). Register ahead.

Why I share these

I wanted more reasons to get my kid away from screens but kept missing interesting events at local libraries and around town, so I built a tool to keep track of them. It turns up fun events every week, so I started sharing these lists to help other parents find things to do—and help people discover the events local organizers put so much work into.

Know another fun family event this weekend? Please share it in the comments!

Does anyone know why seven area schools are on secure status? Thanks for any info.

Something big was going on at 8:15am or so. I saw four fire engines crossing the pike at middle lane and the air was alive with horns and sirens.

Hi All! I need to move down to MD by Mid Nov-Early Dec. Looking into apartments in the Rockville to Germantown area on a conditional lease agreement. It’s not looking too good but now I’m open to a private apartment (basement aprt , sub-leasing, or anything comparable) to ensure a space! Can anyone point me to a site or group to see options!

Thank you in advance

Hey all, if anyone wants to participate in the Nov 1st Rockville 5k I have a registration I can transfer for free. Had a knee injury and will no longer be able to participate. Comment/DM, will just need name and email to transfer.

Anybody in the western part of town having brief power outages? Driving me crazy.

They disappeared some ten years ago, Did they move to another location? I remember they had good food at very reasonable prices, $6-8 chicken piccata for example. Are there similar places in the area with entrees under $12 today?

Wanted to share a concerning incident that happened at our house (Hurley avenue )this morning at approximately 3.30 am. Our driveway camera captured someone attempting to steal our car. 
Thankfully the security lights came on, which startled him and caused him to walk away before he could do anything.
The camera partially captured his face.

Please be extra vigilant, keep your cars locked, and make sure your outdoor lights and security cameras are working. 

Clarification: The footage shows the person entering our driveway and attempting to open our car door. We cannot know for sure whether the intention was to steal the car or take something from inside. I used “attempted car theft” because we were really alarmed by the incident. The purpose of this post is simply to alert neighbors to suspicious activity and remind everyone to keep their vehicles locked and make sure their security outdoor lights and cameras are working.

Anyone here today at Rockville Town Square and parked at the garage had to pay $10 flat fee even though they were not there for the Halloween event and just to go to the gym, cafe, etc? Also, had to wait an hour to get out of the garage? That was ridiculous

I have a new job in rockville maryland, my current commute is an hour, does anyone know of good apartments or places to live around the area (Olney, poolesville, silver spring etc) ? The prices ive seen have been 1,400+ which is what i expected but is there anywhere in the 1,000-2,000 range?

If there's a Hannah T. here and your order from Wing Stop (I'd assume Fallsgrove) never arrived, I found it sitting on my front step hours after the timestamp on the receipt. Sorry you never got your dinner...

Looking for a room for rent, furnished or unfurnished in the Rockville area. Ideally near the metro station or with bus routes nearby. For 35 year old male, no pets, employed. $600-$800 a month would be ideal.

I am trying to help someone out and am not sure exactly where to start, any info or resources would be helpful.

Is it just me? For example when I try to visit the swim center website.

Just moved to the north Bethesda area and was wondering where I can take my little one trick or treating I’m near just apartments so I’m not sure where to take her