- Updated: 9/17/2026
This list of events happening throughout the weekend is primarily for kids (ages 3+) & teens. I place a special emphasis on literacy, STEM & other educational based events as well as family fun festivities.
♥ = my recommendations & ♣ = free movie screening
Don’t forget to click the links to review the most up-to-date information prior to heading out!
Coming Up this Weekend
Friday, September 18, 2026
Washington, DC
- Friday (9/18) at 10:00 am | PARK(ing) Day 2026 at West End Neighborhood Library in NW
- DCPL’s Book Bike pop-up at 1706 R Street NW
- Friday (9/18) at 10:30 am | Family Movie Double Feature including Encanto and The Book of Life at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW ♣
- Friday (9/18) at 4:00 pm | NoMa in Color: Color Jam at Alethia Tanner Park in NE ♥
- Celebrate the grand finale of NoMa’s 11th Annual Mural Festival with NoMa in Color: Color Jam — a high-energy community party! Includes an artisan vendor market, coloring garden, live music free hair care service, JumpDC performance & more!
- Friday (9/18) at 4:00 pm | Preschool Art Lesson at Georgetown Neighborhood Library in NW (Best for ages 3-5)
- Bring your preschooler to learn about a new artist or art style, and then create a piece of art of your own.
- Friday (9/18) at 4:00 pm | LAYC Rita Bright Open House at the Latin American Youth Center in NW
- Enjoy an afternoon filled with games, activities, community connections, and FREE food, while meeting our amazing staff and learning about programs designed to help young people thrive. Families will also have a chance to participate in a backpack and school supply giveaway while supplies last!
Maryland
- Friday (9/18) at 10:30 am | Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs at The Puppet Co. ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories?
- Friday (9/18) at 12:00 pm | Hometown Treasures: Capital Region at Bette Carol Thompson Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center in Potomac
- Visitors are also invited to explore the Community Expo, featuring cultural, historical, and heritage organizations; participate in hands-on preservation activities and workshops; and discover resources for documenting, caring for, and sharing family and community history.
- Friday (9/18) at 1:30 pm | Put it in a Play: Homeschool Day Workshop at Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore ($) (Best for ages 5–10)
- Friday (9/18) at 2:00 pm | Family Fishing Fun! at Black Hill Discovery Center in Boyds ($) (Best for ages 3+)
- Friday (9/18) at 5:00 pm | Bottleworks Lane Park Ribbon Cutting at Bottleworks Lane Park in Silver Spring
- There will be a brief speaking program, as well as live music, food, and beer trucks.
- Friday (9/18) at 5:00 pm | Long Branch Festival at Flower Avenue Urban Park in Silver Spring ♥
- Live music. Local eats. Artisan vendors. Family fun.
- Friday (9/18) at 5:30 pm | Friends & Family Workshop: Felted Fall Garland at Greenbelt Community Center
- Have creative fun making a fall garland out of wool and felt and yarn.
- Friday (9/18) at 6:00 pm | Bailamos! at Duvall Field in College Park
- Enjoy an evening celebrating Hispanic culture, music, and flavors with the College Park community.
- Friday (9/18) at 7:30 pm | Moonlight Movies at the Mansion: Zootopia 2 at Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg ♣
Northern Virginia
- Friday (9/18) at 10:00 am | CAMP Play the Bluey Way at Tysons Corner Center ♥
- Families can help create a giant Bluey sticker mural, make crafts, play interactive games, join family dance sessions, and see Bluey and Bingo.
- Friday (9/18) at 5:30 pm | Family Movie Night: Encanto at PenFed Plaza at Tysons Corner Center ♣
- Bring a folding chair or blanket for this free outdoor screening!
- Friday (9/18) at 6:00 pm | Movies @ Met: The Princess Diaries at Metropolitan Park in Arlington ♣
- Friday (9/18) at 6:30 pm | Where You Belong – Ramsay Rec Center at William Ramsay Recreation Center in Alexandria
- Celebrate the newly refreshed recreation center with hands-on activities, refreshments, karaoke, cornhole, Bingo, giveaways, prizes, a live DJ, and a new community mural.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Washington, DC
- Saturday (9/19) at 9:00 am | Chevy Chase DC Day at Chevy Chase Community Center
- A day filled with community fun, music, family activities and more! Plus, giveaways & activities like making a blackout poetry pin or decorating your own backpack at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library beginning at 1:00 pm!
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | International Dot Day at the Hirshhorn Museum ♥
- Meet “The Dot“ author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds during a creativity celebration featuring read-alouds and book signings, dot-themed museum tours, art-making and outdoor chalk art.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | 2026 Capital Book Fest + Children’s Book & Learning Festival at Woodrow Wilson Plaza ♥
- A special children’s edition of Capital Book Fest with interactive activities and crafts from local authors and community partners, plus the Carpe Librum book sale.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Fuse Bead Keychains – Drop-in Craft at MLK Memorial Library (Best for ages 7+)
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Family Day: Celebrating 50 Years of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress ♥
- Celebrate the American Folklife Center’s 50th anniversary through creative activities, displays and explorations of foodways, work, play and place, with special guests Los Herederos and their mobile Sonicycle.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Build a Singing Puppet from Recycled Materials Workshop at Peirce Mill in NW
- Join Beech Tree Puppets for a creative, hands-on workshop that turns everyday recyclable materials into one-of-a-kind singing puppets! Participants will learn basic puppet-building techniques and discover how to bring their characters to life by manipulating the puppet’s mouth to synchronize with singing, speaking, and other vocalizations.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Story Tapestries Presents: Across the Street, A-round the World with Dunia and Friends at Southeast Neighborhood Library ♥
- Travel around the world through ska, reggae and soul with songs designed to get kids dancing, singing and making new friends.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Grano de arena PR: Where the Land Meets the Sea at Woodridge Neighborhood Library in NE ♥
- An interactive bilingual English/Spanish story transports families to a Puerto Rican beach using puppets, props, fabrics, sounds and songs, followed by a hands-on activity.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Chuseok Family Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art ♥
- Celebrate the Korean harvest festival with performances, food, an art and vendor market, traditional masks, hanji mask decorating and other family activities.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Celebrate with Stamps Family Festival at the National Postal Museum
- Celebrate the unveiling of the 2026 holiday stamps with hands-on art, music, stories and traditions, including Letters to Santa storytimes and artist demonstrations.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | The Shape of Us: A Community Collage Art Workshop at the Anacostia Community Museum
- Artist Zsudayka Nzinga leads families in creating colorful collages inspired by their favorite DC communities using the Japanese torn-paper technique Chigiri-e.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Fiesta de los Niños at La Cosecha in NE ♥
- Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with live performances, a kids’ workshop, arts and crafts, treats and other family activities. There’s also an Alebrije Painting Workshop for an additional fee.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Ward 5 Day at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in NE ♥
- Includes live music, food, WOW Wheelz, moon bounces, tree giveaway & more!
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Ward 7 Community Day at Ridge Road Community Center in SE
- There will be food, music, games, resources, tree giveaway and more!
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | 2026 H Street Festival along H Street NE ♥
- The massive neighborhood festival returns with live music, food, local vendors, art and family activities throughout the H Street corridor.
- Saturday (9/19) at 3:00 pm | Doodle Wild: Birds, Plants & the Art of Filling a Page at Langston Golf Course & Driving Range in NE
- In this playful, hands-on workshop, use birds, plants, leaves, flowers, and other elements inspired by nature to create a page packed with color, shape, pattern, and personality.
- Saturday (9/19) at 7:30 pm | WHUT 4th Anniversary Fundraiser DC United Game at Audi Field ($)
- Meet PBS Kids’ Characters for a photo op, prize giveaways & more!
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- Saturday (9/19) at 9:30 am | CPAE Art Drop-In at College Park Community Center (Best for ages 3–8)
- Kids and caregivers make a tissue-paper leaf tracing during this materials-based art program. The same program is also offered at 12:30 pm at the Old Parish House.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Walk with a Ranger at Buddy Attick Lake Park in Greenbelt
- Park Rangers lead an all-ages walk around the lake focused on spotting wildlife and learning about the animals that live there.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Fitness in the Parks – Family Zumba at Columbia Park Community Center in Landover (Best for ages 6+)
- A free family Zumba class with easy-to-follow dance moves set to upbeat music.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Festival of Cultures ~ Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect at Surratts-Clinton Library ♥
- Includes face painting, workshops, dance performances, storytime & more!
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Darnall’s Chance History Community Day at Darnall’s Chance Historic Site & Museum in Upper Marlboro ♥
- Free all-ages community day celebrating local history with activities that may include lawn games, America 250 trivia, site exploration, ice cream and community partners.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Hispanic Heritage Month Community Day at Riversdale Historic Site & Museum in Riverdale Park ♥
- Free all-ages celebration featuring open-hearth cooking demonstrations with seasonal fruits and vegetables, 19th-century techniques, hands-on history, culture and storytelling.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:15 am | Roots of Hope: Handmade Paper, Nature and Community at Hyattsville Library
- Participants can stop by anytime during the program to create handmade paper circles that will become part of a larger collaborative community artwork.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Community Con at Bowie Library
- Enjoy workshops, panels, networking, music, vendors, activities, and gaming tournament.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:00 pm | Celebrate Africa Festival at Fairwood Park in Bowie ♥
- Free, all-ages African Heritage Month celebration featuring African artisans, craftspeople, musicians and performing artists, along with cultural programming and food.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:00 pm | Kids Create: Monarch Butterfly Suncatchers at Mount Rainier Library
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Craft and Create: Salar de Uyuni at Accokeek Library
- Learn about the world’s largest salt flat located in South America’s Bolivia before trying your hand at painting it! Paint clothes are encouraged but plastic smocks will be available.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Author Visit: Rosa Romero on “Tengo mi Cabello Largo” I Wear Long Hair at Baden Library in Brandywine ♥
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Latidos del Caribe: Rhythms of the Caribbean at Hyattsville Library ♥
- Enjoy vibrant dance performances and join in as you try out some fun Caribbean rhythms and dance steps.
Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: How to Train Your Dragon at National Harbor ♣
Maryland
Montgomery County
- Saturday (9/19) at 9:30 am | Teddy Bear Clinic at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring (Best for PreK–2nd grade)
- Bring a favorite stuffed animal for hands-on activities and crafts exploring the body, physical fitness, and healthy habits.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Children’s Day at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton ♥
- Explore gardening through hands-on science, art projects, crafts, outdoor activity stations, and plant potting, with performances by Marsha and the Positrons and The Puppet Co.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Burtonsville Day at Columbia Park/Marilyn J. Praisner Library & Community Recreation Center in Burtonsville ♥
- The annual community celebration includes a parade, live music, games and family-friendly activities!
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Long Branch Festival at Flower Avenue Urban Park in Silver Spring ♥
- Enjoy live music, local eats, artisan vendors, and family fun.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:30 am & 2:30 pm | Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs at The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairy tales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories?
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Hispanic Heritage Month Unity Festival at Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton ♥
- Free family celebration featuring piñata making, face painting, family activities, food, and live music.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | STEM Club: Space Rock Sherlock at Germantown Library (Best for grades 1–5)
- Investigate rocks using microscopes, hardness tests, magnets, and other techniques to uncover clues about their identities.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Pokémon Trading Card Club at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring (Best for ages 6–12)
- Trade cards, build decks, battle other players, learn how to identify counterfeit cards, and enjoy Pokémon activities.
- Saturday (9/19) at 4:00 pm | Chess Club at Aspen Hill Library
- Free, noncompetitive chess for all ages and skill levels, including beginners. Boards and pieces are provided.
More Maryland Events
- Saturday (9/19) at 9:00 am | Bike with a Cop at Azlon Plaza in Columbia
- Bring your bike and helmet for a free ride with Howard County Police community-outreach officers.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:00 pm | Putting with the Police at Laurel Golf Center in Laurel ♥
- A family afternoon of mini golf with the Laurel Police Department featuring food trucks, raffles, prizes, and other activities.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Hand-Weaving Demonstration and Workshop at Discoveries: the Library at the Mall in Annapolis
- Members of the Chesapeake Weavers Guild demonstrate how clothing is made on a loom, and families can try a loom and create a small weaving to take home.
Northern Virginia
Arlington County
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Mr. Lilo at Aurora Hills at Aurora Hills Library ♥
- Families with young children can sing in English and Spanish, jump, and dance along with Mr. Lilo and his guitar.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Children’s Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu) at Kenmore Middle School ♥
- Celebrate the Vietnamese Children’s Festival with music, interactive activities, and traditional performances. The afternoon show includes a lion dance and áo dài contest.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Hispanic Heritage: Tin Art Craft at Glencarlyn at Glencarlyn Library ♥
- Explore Hojalata, a traditional Latin American tin-art form with strong roots in Mexico, and create embossed aluminum artwork.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Camp Casey Historical Marker Dedication at Towers Park
- Explore the history of Camp Casey, an important Civil War training center for African American soldiers, as Arlington dedicates a new historical marker.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Green Valley Day at Drew Elementary School/Charles Drew Community Center ♥
- The free annual community celebration includes kids’ activities, a health fair, live performances, a basketball tournament, food and retail vendors, giveaways, Bingo, raffles, and more.
Northern Virginia
City of Alexandria
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Classic Car Show at Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
- See Packards from the 1930s–1950s and other classic “orphan” vehicles from manufacturers that are no longer in business.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Public Safety Story Time: People in Our Neighborhood at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- A special children’s storytime featuring stories about police officers, firefighters, and other neighborhood helpers.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | 3rd Annual Chalk-A-Block at TideLock in Old Town North ♥
- This free, family-friendly art event includes chalk artists, community chalk areas where kids and adults can create their own work, and interactive community art projects.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Alexandria Library Black Family Reunion at Local History/Special Collections Branch Library on Queen St. ♥
- Celebrate Alexandria’s African American community history with food trucks, music and dancing, games for kids and adults, and opportunities to contribute photographs, memorabilia, and oral histories.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Alexandria Oktoberfest at John Carlyle Square Park ♥
- Includes traditional German music and dance performances, food, handmade crafts, entertainment, and an Oktoberfest beer garden.
- Saturday (9/19) at 12:00 pm | Gustave Oktoberfest at Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie in Del Ray
- A free, all-ages celebration with a Kiddie Triathlon and games from 1:00–2:00 pm, a petting zoo from 3:00–5:00 pm, a photo booth, prizes, food, and live music.
- Saturday (9/19) at 4:30 pm | Supporting Beginning Readers: Event with Two Authors and a Librarian at Old Town Books ($) (Best for ages 5–7)
- Beginning readers enjoy storytime while parents hear from children’s authors Erica Perl and Laura Gehl and librarian Sylvie Shaffer about choosing early-reader books and supporting children as they learn to read.
More Northern Virginia Events
- Saturday (9/19) at 9:00 am | Colonial Market & Fair at George Washington’s Mount Vernon ($)
- Explore an 18th-century marketplace with artisan demonstrations, colonial cricket, live music, magic, traditional puppet shows, and a hot-air-balloon demonstration. Youth admission is offered for ages 6–11.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | CAMP Play the Bluey Way at Tysons Corner Center ♥
- Families can create a giant Bluey sticker mural, make crafts, play interactive games, join family dance sessions, and see Bluey and Bingo.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Free Acting Class! at Traveling Players Ensemble at Tysons Corner Center (Best for grades 1–6) ♥
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Apple Picking Cake Pops Decorating Studio Class at Tiny Chefs in Franconia ($) (Best for ages 5–12)
- Kids decorate apple-inspired cake pops and make caramel apple snack mix during this drop-off cooking class.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | 50th Annual Falls Church Festival at the Falls Church Community Center ♥
- The free festival includes children’s inflatables and rides, pony rides, live entertainment, more than 85 vendors and community organizations, and the Taste of Falls Church. Food and ride tickets are optional additional purchases.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Free Kids Event: Dino Day Featuring Lakeshore Exclusives at Lakeshore Learning at Festival at Manchester Lakes (Best for ages 3+) ♥
- Make a dinosaur-inspired hat, mix slimy ooze, try dino excavation activities, and more.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:00 pm | OFC Block Party at The Old Firehouse in McLean ♥
- The free, all-ages community celebration features music, games, amusements, crafts, food, giveaways, and a Children’s Business Fair.
- Saturday (9/19) at 7:30 pm | Moongaze on International Observe the Moon Night at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
- Museum staff and members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club will help you to use our telescopes to observe a variety of things, including planets, stars, and the Moon.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Washington, DC
- Sunday (9/20) at 10:00 am | DC Family Bike Fest 2026 at Alethia Tanner Park in NE ♥
- Featuring neighborhood bike rides, Kids Bike Parade, free tuneups, library storytime, BIG raffle prizes, learn to ride class, demos, test rides, food trucks and lots more. You don’t need to bring a bike to participate.
- Sunday (9/20) at 11:00 am | Kids’ Music Time with Mr. Rob & Friends at Right Proper Taproom in NE
- Kids can sing, dance and get their wiggles out with DC educator and musician Mr. Rob & Friends.
- Sunday (9/20) at 2:00 pm | 6th Annual Chili Cook-Off at Sonny’s Pizza in NW
- Lower Georgia Avenue businesses compete while neighbors sample chili and vote for the People’s Choice Award. General admission is free, with optional VIP tickets available.
Maryland
- Sunday (9/20) at 9:00 am | Bowie Farmer’s Market Featuring Yoga at Bowie High School Parking Lot in Bowie
- Shop the farmers market and join free outdoor yoga classes at 10:00 am or 11:30 am. The City specifically frames the market as a Sunday activity for the whole family.
- Sunday (9/20) at 10:00 am | Robinson Nature Center Anniversary Open House at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ♥
- Celebrate the nature center’s 15th birthday with a community art project, live animals, an outdoor puppet show, planetarium programming, new Nature Place features, and other activities.
- Sunday (9/20) at 10:00 am | B&O Unlocked: No. 445 “Royal Blue Coach” at the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation in Baltimore ($)
- Step inside a historic passenger coach representing the B&O’s famous Royal Blue passenger train.
- Sunday (9/20) at 11:30 am & 2:30 pm | Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs at The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- The final day of this playful fairy-tale mash-up asks whether Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs have actually encountered the same misunderstood Big Bad Wolf. September 20 is the production’s closing day, which makes the recurring show more worthwhile to include this Sunday.
- Sunday (9/20) at 1:00 pm | Fiesta de la Familia – A Family Celebration at Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover ♥
- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with arts and crafts, live entertainment, kids’ activities, community resources, vendors, giveaways, and more.
Northern Virginia
- Sunday (9/20) at 8:00 am | Guided Bird Outing at Daniels Run Park in Fairfax
- Join the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance for a slow-paced guided walk through the park looking for songbirds, hawks, owls, woodpeckers and other wildlife.
- Sunday (9/20) at 9:00 am | Colonial Market & Fair at George Washington’s Mount Vernon ($)
- Explore an 18th-century-style marketplace with artisan demonstrations, colonial cricket, live music, a traditional puppet show, magic, and a hot-air-balloon demonstration. The event is included with admission; youth admission is specifically offered for ages 6–11.
- Sunday (9/20) at 11:00 am | CAMP Play the Bluey Way at Tysons Corner Center ♥
- Families can help create a giant Bluey sticker mural, visit the crafting station, play interactive games, join family dance sessions, and see Bluey and Bingo.
Sensory Friendly & Accessible
- Friday (9/18) at 4:00 pm | Braille Club at MLK Memorial Library (Best for grades K-12)
- Low vision and blind kids are invited to Braille Club at the MLK Library Center for Accessibility! No knowledge of braille is required. Play games, make art projects, and read awesome books together!
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Children’s Day at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton ♥
- The free, all-ages event includes hands-on garden science, arts and crafts, yoga, music, and a puppet show. There’s also a dedicated Sensory Retreat Area in the Anderson Pavilion for visitors who need a break from crowds and noise.
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Dinosaur Park Open House at Dinosaur Park in Laurel
- Explore the fossil site where dinosaur bones have been discovered and search the surface for fossils. ASL interpretation is offered at every open house.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:30 pm | Accessible Movie Screening: The Mandalorian and Grogu at MLK Memorial Library (Rated PG-13) ♣
- The film will be shown with open audio description (AD) and open captions. Sensory notes: loud sounds, large crowds, flashings lights.
- Saturday (9/19) at 3:30 pm | Accessible Game Meet-Up at MLK Memorial Library
- Play accessible versions of board and card games such as Uno, Bananagrams, chess, and more with the Center for Accessibility! Boards and cards are tactile and include braille labelling and other accommodations for low-vision and blind players.
- Saturday (9/19) at 6:00 pm | Sensory-Friendly Evening at the Garden: Exploring Leaf Shapes at U.S. Botanic Garden
- You can explore different leaf shapes through sight and touch and even learn about the unique leaves of carnivorous plants. Interactive activities will be offered at this program.
- Sunday (9/20) at 11:00 am | CAMP Play the Bluey Way at Tysons Corner Center ♥
- Families can help create a giant Bluey sticker mural, visit the crafting station, play interactive games, join family dance sessions, and see Bluey and Bingo. Sunday also begins with a sensory-friendly hour from 11:00 am–12:00 pm.
- Sunday (9/20) at 2:00 pm | Little Hands Signing with Kathy MacMillan at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- Celebrate Deaf Awareness Month while learning American Sign Language vocabulary through stories, songs, movement, and play.
For Tweens & Teens
Washington, DC
- Friday (9/18) at 6:00 pm | Teen Casino Night at Rosedale Recreation Center in NE
- A Teen Casino Party where youth can experience the fun and excitement of playing real casino games where the ‘casino’ is brought to you!
- Friday (9/18) at 3:30 pm | Teen Gaming at MLK Memorial Library (Best for ages 13-19)
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:00 am | Talk Like a Pirate Day at Planet Word in NW (Best for ages 8+) ♥
- Celebrate with a pirate treasure hunt, word puzzles and new kid-friendly mystery cases in Lexicon Lane. Museum activities are free; the special Lexicon Lane cases are $10 per group.
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:00 am | Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning: Preserving Textile Traditions of the Andes at GW Textile Museum in NW (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- Attendees will gain behind-the-scenes insight into the master weavers’ experiential process of learning complex, historical structures. The presentation will highlight a variety of masterfully revived techniques, including knotted four-cornered hats, cross-knit looping, advanced finishing techniques, discontinuous warp and weft, and pre-Columbian resist dyeing.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:00 pm | Gallery Talk – Artist George A. Morton on John Singer Sargent at National Gallery of Art (Best for teens & adults)
- Join award-winning artist George A. Morton in our newly reimagined American galleries for a talk about the influence of John Singer Sargent on his creative practice. He will be in conversation with Sarah Cash, associate curator and acting head of American and British paintings.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Black Georgetown Community Study Day at Georgetown Neighborhood Library (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- During this community study day led by The Black Georgetown Foundation’s Lisa M. Fager, help expand the archive of Black Georgetown history through library database research. In the final hour of the event, attendees will be able to share and network with other participants. Please bring a laptop.
Maryland
- Saturday (9/19) at 11:30 am | Welcoming Week Discussion: Immigrant Journeys at Bladensburg Library (Best for teens & adults)
- A Welcoming Week discussion about immigrant life in the U.S., inviting participants to share stories of challenges, accomplishments, and belonging.
- Saturday (9/19) at 1:30 pm | Welcoming Week: Bridging the Gap – The Rites of Passage Experience at Oxon Hill Library (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- Presented by Wanuku Rites of Passage, Inc., this free program explores rites of passage, how different cultures approach them, and their role in personal and community development.
- Saturday (9/19) at 3:00 pm | STEM Focused College Information Session at Glen Burnie Library (Best for ages 11+) ♥
- Hear from 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar and Towson Ambassador Tyler Hannesson about undergraduate STEM programs, scholarships, research and lab life, and master’s and PhD pathways.
- Saturday (9/19) at 4:00 pm | SAT Strategies from a 1600-Scorer with Grace Shao at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- Learn about SAT structure, study planning, reading strategies, and test-day approaches from SAT Reading Reframedauthor Grace Shao.
- Sunday (9/20) at 10:30 am | Gardening for All: Migrating Pollinator Habitats at Mount Rainier Nature Center (Best for ages 10+)
- A free hands-on workshop exploring sustainable gardening, with this week’s program focused specifically on creating habitat for migrating pollinators.
Northern Virginia
- Saturday (9/19) at 10:45 am & 11:30 am | Free Acting Class! at Traveling Players Ensemble at Tysons Corner Center (Best for grades 6-12)
- Students can take a free acting class, meet faculty, and learn about Traveling Players.
- Saturday (9/19) at 2:00 pm | Fall Colors at Winkler Botanical Preserve in Alexandria ($) (Best for ages 12+)
- Explore watercolor techniques while painting the changing colors of autumn leaves. This program is $10 per participant, and participants under 18 must attend with an adult.
- Sunday (9/20) at 6:00 pm | Flowers, Identity & Art: A Frida Kahlo–Inspired Headband at Del Ray Artisans Gallery in Alexandria ($) (Best for ages 10+)
- Create a colorful floral headband while exploring Frida Kahlo’s influence on art, identity, self-expression, and culture.
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