- Updated: 5/13/2026
Note: This weekly listing is full of events happening throughout the weekend for kids (ages 3+) – teens. I place a special emphasis on literacy, STEM & other educational based events as well as family fun festivities. Please click the links to review the most up-to-date information prior to heading out!
Coming Up this Weekend
Friday, May 15, 2026
Washington, DC
- Friday (5/15) at 10:00 am | Kamishibai Japanese Paper Theater and Story Time at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW ♥
- Kamishibai are traditional Japanese folktales told with paper theatre followed by a short origami workshop.
- Friday (5/15) at 11:00 am | Beyond the Book with the Washington Ballet at Deanwood Neighborhood Library in NE (Best for ages 5-9)
- Friday (5/15) at 11:00 am & 12:30 pm | Hands On: Kapa Workshop with Page Chang at National Museum of the American Indian ♥
- Participants will have the opportunity to strip a branch of wauke and pound the bast fiber with traditional tools, and to make and take home their own piece of kapa.
- Friday (5/15) at 11:30 am | SHOUT at Smithsonian’s American History Museum
- Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American.
- Friday (5/15) at 3:30 pm | TeenyBopper Cinema ~ Turning Red at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library in NW ♣
- Friday (5/15) at 5:00 pm | Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Performance at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park in SE
- Lion dancers to perform!
Maryland
- Friday (5/15) at 4:00 pm | Meet the Honeybee at Hyattsville Library ♥
- Discover the vital role honeybees play in our environment through hands-on learning and demonstrations. Learn about their different duties, how they pollinate, and why they’re crucial for local ecosystems.
- Friday (5/15) at 4:30 pm | Kids Create: Make Your Own Stickers at Spauldings Library in District Heights
- Have fun making art and crafts while learning new skills. With easy-to-follow steps, kids will learn a quick way to design and make your own stickers!
- Friday (5/15) at 5:00 pm | May’s Paint Party at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- Paint a masterpiece & enjoy a kid’s cup after. $20 includes supplies, instruction + froyo!
Northern Virginia
- Friday (5/15) at 3:00 pm | McLean Day at Lewinsville Park ($) ♥
- Enjoy carnival rides and games on the Friday before the festival!
- Friday (5/15) at 6:00 pm | Civil War Cuisine Campfire at Fort CF Smith Park in Arlington
- Join park staff for campfire fun and experience what Civil War soldiers ate and drank, and how they passed the time while stationed in the forts around Arlington. Sample campfire hardtack, coffee, and, of course, S’mores!
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Washington, DC
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | 2026 Fiesta Asia Street Fair on Pennsylvania Ave. NW ♥
- Includes live performances by musicians, vocalists, dancer, and martial artists; diverse array of Pan-Asian cuisine; many different artisans with handmade crafts for sale; kid friendly interactive activities; karaoke and cooking contests & more!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Ho’olaule’a: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua at the National Museum of the American Indian
- Bring the family to celebrate Kānepō Ka Lua with curator tours, music by The Aloha Boys, hula performances by Halau Ho’omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai’i, and hands on activities.
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Día de los Niños – Día de los Libros at Deanwood Neighborhood Library in NE ♥
- Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries. Includes a puppet workshop & book giveaway.
- Saturday (5/16) at 12:30 pm | Hands On: Kapa Workshop with Page Chang at the National Museum of American Indian ♥
- Participants will have the opportunity to strip a branch of wauke and pound the bast fiber with traditional tools, and to make and take home their own piece of kapa.
- [Virtual] Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Virtual Planetarium Show hosted by the National Air and Space Museum
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Trees of Deanwood at Deanwood Neighborhood Library in NE
- Meet at the library at 2pm to take a leisurely walk through the neighborhood, learning about the trees and nature of Deanwood. Includes a scavenger hunt!
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:30 am | Bilingual Cub Corner at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 3-6) ♥
- Bilingual (Spanish and English) reading of “Avioncito” by May Clerici. After the story, little learners can fold their own paper planes and test them out on our paper plane launcher!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | North Brentwood Community Center Open House at North Brentwood Community Center
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Celebrating Lakeland at College Park Aviation Museum ♥
- A festive community day featuring music, activities, and food!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:30 am | Story Explorers: Beginning Readers at Largo-Kettering Library (Best for ages 5-8)
- Embark on an exciting adventure with your favorite stories read aloud! Engage in fun activities and games that bring the tales to life, making reading a thrilling experience for everyone involved.
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Filipino Culture Through Arts & Crafts, Dance and Stories at Beltsville Library ♥
- Step into the vibrant world of Filipino culture! Celebrate the colorful traditions of the Flores de Mayo festival with a fun craft activity for kids and experience the lively rhythms of Filipino folk dances, from the graceful Cariñosa to the energetic Tinikling.
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Obstacle Challenge at Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover (Best for ages 6+)
- An action packed “adventure zone” designed to test agility, speed, and endurance.
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Skate to Celebrate May Fitness Month at Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington ($)
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Gymnastics & Tumbling Workshop at Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover
- Get introduced to basic tumbling and gymnastics techniques.
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Edible Art Family Workshop at miXt Food Hall ($) (Best for ages 6+) ♥
- This family-friendly workshop focuses on the importance of eating delicious fruits while also creating an edible arrangement sculpture for you to take home. Come out and learn about fruits, art, color theory, and sculpture.
Maryland
Montgomery County
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | Gaithersburg Book Festival at Bohrer Park ♥
- Includes a Children’s Village with workshops for kids!
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | Festival Flores Flamencas in Bethesda ♥
- A free, family-friendly outdoor celebration of flamenco, food, and culture!
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:30 am | STEM at the Library: Zany Ziplines! at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 4-12)
- In this hands-n workshop, learn about the forces of gravity then apply what you’ve learned by making model ziplines from different materials and testing how well they work.
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:30 am | STEM Explorers: Grow Seeds Grow at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- Read a few books and learn about planting seeds. Then decorate our pots and get our hands dirty with soil and seeds!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | KidStory Theatre Festival at Highland Elementary School in Wheaton ♥
- A theatrical celebration of stories written by kids for kids
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre’s Aesop’s Fables at Glen Echo Park ($)
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | The Magical Garden Party at Olney Library ♥
- Enjoy food, family entertainment, giveaways, and whimsical activities inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Magician Abracadabra Alex – Celebrate 75 Years of MCPL at Olney Library ♥
- This fun and interactive comedy magic show highlights the many exciting adventures kids can be part of through the magic of books, reading, and libraries, and the fun of art and creativity that are central to MCPL’S 75th Anniversary theme of Every Voice, Every Story.
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | All about Birds: STEM at Germantown Library
- Explore how bids fly and where they fly when they migrate. Also, learn different ways that birds build their nests and how they talk to each other.
- Saturday (5/16) at 3:00 pm | National Kids to Park Day at Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse in Laurel
- Any school-aged child 12 and under who completes a full lap around the Granville Gude Lake path on this date during Lakehouse operating hours will receive a one-time free boating pass to use any time during the 2026 season.
More Maryland Events
- Saturday (5/16) at 12:00 pm | Sci-Fi Day at Maryland Science Center in Baltimore ($)
- Cruise the cosmos in the planetarium and explore the unusual worlds found across the galaxy. Drop into Make to design your own model robot. Captain an interstellar vessel and put your engineering skills to the test in order to successfully navigate through cosmic chaos!
Northern Virginia
Arlington County
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | Community Book Fair at Metropolitan Park ♥
- E3: Elevate Early Education, the READ, VA campaign, Amazon and other partners are coming together to raise awareness and ignite a love of books and reading in our children during a critical time in literacy and language development.
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | World Migratory Bird Day Festival 2026 at Bluemont Park ♥
- Tiny hummingbirds and fierce osprey are some of the many birds migrating northward in spring. Come learn about these and other fabulous flyers with hands-on activities, games, crafts, bird walks and more at this bilingual event!
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:15 am | Moana Sing-Along at Westover Library (Best for ages 3-8) ♣
- Decorate a play microphone and enjoy a special showing of Moana where singing along is encouraged
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Pokémon Spelling Bee at Westover Library ♥
- In this one-of-a-kind program, the way to collect Pokémon is to spell the names of these mystical creatures correctly. But to do so, you must first register to compete, then journey to the Westover Library to pick up a copy of the Pokémon names list, along with rules of the competition.
Northern Virginia
City of Alexandria
- Saturday (5/16) at 9:00 am | Free Crafts for Kids Weekend at Made in ALX ♥
- A special event around “7 Days of Sophie,” a recently-released book about Sophie the dog and her adventures.
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm | Parent & Me: Shower of Flowers Cupcakes Studio Class at Tiny Chefs ($)
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Civil War Music Concert at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
- Celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 16, 2026 by enjoying a special outdoor concert of Civil War-era music on the lawn of Fort Ward Museum.
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Beautiful Busy Bees at Winkler Botanical Preserve ($) ♥
- Most everyone has heard of honeybees, but have you heard of solitary bees? These striped friends shoulder a lot of the work needed to pollinate the fruits and vegetables we eat. Learn about these hard workers, build them a hotel, and learn what you can do to help local pollinators, then plant some native species of flowers you can take home for your garden.
- Saturday (5/16) at 5:00 pm | Family Skate and Dance Night: Third Anniversary at Franconia Rec Center ($)
- Bring your own skates!
More Northern Virginia Events
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | 1st Stage Storytime featuring “Linden: The Story of a Tree” in Tysons
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | Peace, Music and Tie-Dye at Big Chimneys Park in Falls Church ♥
- This free event will be full of peace, music, and creativity. Enjoy hits from the 60s and 70s while getting hands-on with tie-dye, with a variety of items to choose from including shirts, scrunchies, tote bags, and more.
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | McLean Day at Lewinsville Park ($) ♥
- Live music, large and small carnival rides, gourmet food trucks, a beer and wine garden, sponsors, giveaways, 100+ exhibitors, balloon animals, games, a magician, petting zoo, characters, and much more!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Korean Bell Garden Annual Celebration at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna ♥
- This free festive celebration, presented by the Korean American Cultural Committee, will feature traditional Korean dance performances, music, a Tae Kwon Do demonstration, beautiful traditional Korean clothing, Korean games, delicious complimentary Korean food, and the ringing of the 6,000 pound Korean bell.
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Taste of Tysons Corner
- Experience our wide array of food & beverage offerings with food sampling, cooking demos, chef appearances, live music & entertainment, gift card raffles, giveaways and more!
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Washington, DC
- Sunday (5/17) at 1:30 pm | Celebrating Songs of Social Consciousness for Jewish American Heritage Month at MLK Library
- Explore the history behind iconic songs that fueled movements for civil rights, peace and equality.
- Sunday (5/17) at 2:30 pm | Cultural Choreography ~ AAPI Heritage Month Celebration of Dance at MLK Memorial Library ♥
Maryland
- Sunday (5/17) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre’s Aesop’s Fables at Glen Echo Park ($)
- Sunday (5/17) at 11:00 am & 12:30 pm | Family Workshop: Makey Makey Controller at KID Museum in Bethesda ($)
- Explore how a Makey Makey works, then experiment with conductivity as you design and build a cardboard controller. Test your creation with a Makey Makey and take your custom controller home.
- Sunday (5/17) at 12:00 pm | Langley Park Day at Langley Park Community Center in Hyattsville
- The afternoon includes music and entertainment, traditional dancers, community resources, children’s activities, games, and food vendors.
- Sunday (5/17) at 2:00 pm | KidStory Theatre Festival at Highland Elementary School in Wheaton ♥
- A theatrical celebration of stories written by kids for kids
- Sunday (5/17) at 2:30 pm | Celebrate the Cambodian New Year at Wheaton Library ♥
- Students from the Cambodian Buddhist Society School in Silver Spring will perform traditional dance and music.
- Sunday (5/17) at 4:00 pm | International Dance Experience at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville ($) ♥
- Dancers representing countries from across the globe get together to showcase their talent in this interactive and immersive dance experience. Enjoy a live DJ spinning the latest international dance tracks and learning a few new moves to celebrate diversity in our community.
- Sunday (5/17) at 5:15 pm | Wheaton Ice Spring Ice Show at Wheaton Ice Arena
- Admission is free to see talented skaters perform in this annual exhibition!
- Sunday (5/17) at 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: Minecraft Movie at National Harbor ♣
Northern Virginia
- Sunday (5/17) at 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move: Celebrating Spring Family Fun Series at Metropolitan Park in Arlington
- Artist Spotlight: Aaron Tran — Cyanotype Prints & Spring Scene Suncatchers + live music
- Sunday (5/17) at 12:00 pm | Free Crafts for Kids Weekend at Made in ALX ♥
- Customizable wooden car ornaments!
- Sunday (5/17) at 12:00 pm | Petting Zoo host Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
- Sunday (5/17) at 1:00 pm | Corn Grinding and Clay Pottery at Huntley Meadows in Alexandria ($) ♥
- Learn how the Powhatan Native Americans used the plants and animals you see every day for their medicine, grocery store and clothing. Immerse yourself in a way of life 400 years ago.
- Sunday (5/17) at 1:00 pm | Reading is Wild! at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington (Best for ages 5-9)
- A special book reading by the Wildlife Rescue League.
- Sunday (5/17) at 2:00 pm | Animal Meet & Greet at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington ♥
- Meet one of the Animal Ambassadors that live at Gulf Branch Nature Center and learn their histories and how they came to live here with us.
Sensory Friendly & Accessible
- Friday (5/15) at 4:00 pm | Special Olympics Young Athletes Playgroup at Bellevue Neighborhood Library in SW DC (Best for ages 2-7)
- This eight-week early childhood play program provides children with and without intellectual disabilities the same opportunities to advance in core developmental milestones through fun activities.
- Friday (5/15) at 4:00 pm | Braille Club at MLK Memorial Library in DC
- Low vision and blind kids in grades K-12 are invited to Braille Club! We will read together, play tactile games, make crafts and more!
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:15 am | Sensory Storytime at Central Library in Arlington (Best for ages 2-11)
- This storytime includes an environment where lighting and music are lower, movement and conversation are encouraged, and children can engage through the senses.
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:30 am | Down Syndrome and Friends Community Play Group at Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library in NE (Best for ages 0-12)
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:30 pm | Accessible Movie Screening: The Fantastic 4: First Steps at MLK Memorial Library ♣
- Shown with Open Audio Description and Open Captions
- Sunday (5/17) at 9:00 am | Sensory Sunday at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($) ♥
- Port Discovery’s Sensory Friendly Mornings provide Museum access to families who would benefit from a sensory friendly experience and quieter setting at Port Discovery two hours before opening to the general public.
- Sunday (5/17) at 11:00 am | Adventure Theatre’s Aesop’s Fables at Glen Echo Park ($) ♥
- ASL interpreted & Sensory-Friendly!
For Tweens & Teens
Washington, DC
- Friday (5/15) at 3:00 pm | Healthy Relationships for Teens at MLK Memorial Library in DC (Best for ages 13-19)
- Understanding safety, autonomy and healthy dynamics!
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:00 am | Baby Sitting & Child Safety Training at Columbia Heights Community Center in NW (Best for ages 12-17)
- Saturday (5/16) at 12:00 pm | Move Your Mood: How Emotions Live in the Body at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum in SE (Best for ages 10+) ♥
- Join Dr. Madea Allen, for a participatory workshop exploring how stress and emotions are stored in the body and how intentional movement, and breath can support emotional regulation and collective wellbeing. Blending accessible movement, rhythm, breathwork, and guided reflection, participants will experience how physical activation can release tension, improve mood, and restore balance.
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:30 pm | Teen Studio: Rest is Restorative at Hirshhorn Museum (Best for ages 13-19)
- Experience Rashid Johnson’s The Changes (2025). Then DIY your own shea butter lotion in Art School!
- Saturday (5/16) at 3:00 pm | Bellevue Saturday Cinema: AAPI Heritage Month at Bellevue Neighborhood Library in SW
- Parasite (Subtitles) : Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.
- Sunday (5/17) at 1:00 pm | Free CPR/AED Certification Class at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library in SE
Maryland
- Friday (5/15) at 3:00 pm | Unplug & Unwind: LoFi Art Relaxation for Tweens and Teens at Little Falls Library in Bethesda (Best for ages 9-16)
- Friday (5/15) at 3:30 pm | Project Launch Pad: Design, Print & Launch Your Own Brand at Bowie Library
- Project Launch Pad is a high-energy, 8-session “startup incubator” where teens don’t just learn about business—they build one from the ground up. In just four weeks, each team will transform a simple idea into a fully functional T-shirt brand, mastering everything from high-level graphic design and professional garment printing to marketing their own brand and developing business plans.
- Friday (5/15) at 6:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Mayhem in May: Community Centers Teen Competition at Berwyn Heights Community Center, Lakeland College Park Community Center, and Prince George’s Plaza Community Center ♥
- Compete in the Football Distance Toss, Scooter Race, Outdoor Obstacle Course, Egg Toss, Musical Chairs and more! Enjoy the Create & Chill Zone featuring outdoor skating, video game station, arts & crafts, a 360° Photo Booth, light refreshments, and more!
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 am | Color to Calm at White Oak Library
- All teens come and destress with our mobile coloring cart. All supplies will be provided for stress free coloring.
- Saturday (5/16) at 10:30 am | Gardening Together: Container Gardening Workshop at Upper Marlboro Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Saturday (5/16) at 11:30 am | Career Kickstart: Get Your Next Job! at Bladensburg Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Take charge of your career with practical sessions designed to sharpen your skills! Get ready to polish your resume and gain the tools you need for your next big move.
- Saturday (5/16) at 1:00 pm | Write to Right: Social Justice Writing Workshop at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 9-15) ♥
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:00 pm | Aqua Dance Party at Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover (Best for ages 13+)
- Have fun splashing around, dancing in the water, music pumping, and getting a workout without feeling like a workout!
- Saturday (5/16) at 2:30 pm | Movie: Next Goal Wins at Beltsville Library
- Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by viewing a showing of “Next Goal Wins” rated PG-13.
- Sunday (5/17) at 10:30 am | Gardening for All: Spring Salads at Mount Rainier Nature Center (Best for ages 10+)
- Connect with sustainable gardening and landscaping as you learn practical tips on backyard design, unique uses of plant materials, and seasonal maintenance while practicing hands‑on skills in our gardens to support the native ecosystem.
Northern Virginia
- Friday (5/15) at 1:30 pm | Afternoon Tea and a Movie: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at Aurora Hills Library ♣
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