- Updated: 11/4/2026
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, November 6, 2026
Washington, DC
- Friday (11/6) at 10:00 am | Storytime: “My Heart Fills with Happiness” at National Gallery of Art
- Read in both English and Spanish!
- [Virtual] Friday (11/6) at 1:00 pm | Artful Movement | SEL Webinar for Students on Zoom via the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for grades K – 3)
- Get ready to observe, chat, and move with art! In these webinars, students will look carefully at a work of art through facilitated exploration. Then, they will breathe, stretch, and flow through a guided mindful movement. This month’s theme is “Mountain Strong: Steady and Grounded.”
- Friday (11/6) at 2:00 pm | Family Program: Sorting and Shaping Seeds at U.S. Botanic Garden
- Take a close look at a variety of seeds to learn about different strategies that plants have evolved for seed dispersal. Sort seeds into categories based on their shapes and structures to predict their primary mode of dispersal, then engineer your own seed that can conquer the challenges of dispersal via water and/or animal.
- Friday (11/6) at 5:00 pm | Asia After Dark | Diwali Festival at National Museum of Asian Art ♥
- Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with an evening of food, music, dance, and activities! Learn how different regions celebrate this Hindu holiday, create crafts to take home, and see the museum lit up once the sun goes down.
Maryland
- Friday (11/6) at 11:00 am | Little Scientist Storytime at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 18 months – 5)
- Friday (11/6) at 1:00 pm | Farm Education – Horse Equipment at Old Maryland Farm in Kettering ($) (Best for ages 7+) ♥
- Explore essential horse-handling and riding equipment, discovering how each piece plays a vital role in horse care and riding safely.
- Friday (11/6) at 4:00 pm | Active: Yoga for Families at Laurel Library (Best for ages 6-10)
- Friday (11/6) at 6:00 pm | Tanger Outlets Tree Lighting Celebration in Oxon Hill
Northern Virginia
- Friday (11/6) at 11:00 am | Intergenerational Storytime at Aurora Hills Library in Arlington
- Friday (11/6) at 6:00 pm | Family Night at Charles Drew Community Center in Arlington
- You and your family can enjoy inflatables, pool, foosball, creative crafts, and a chance to win a prize at bingo.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Washington, DC
- Saturday (11/7) at 9:00 am | Grand Re-opening of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in NW ♥
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | First Saturday Festival at National Gallery of Art
- Includes face painting, drop-in art making, storytime, yoga, pop-up library & more!
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | Celebrating Veterans Festival de Servicio y Conmemoración at the National Museum of American History
- Visitors will also experience the music of military and civic life, exploring how marching bands, patriotic music and other musical traditions have become part of the American soundscape. A special story booth will invite veterans to record their own recollections of military service and reflect on why they served.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | The World and Me: National Bison Day at National Museum of Natural History ♥
- Discover different bison adaptations and learn how the bison almost went extinct but are now rising in numbers. Families with learners of all ages will be invited to explore different stations, make observations of museum specimens up close, and explore bisons through play and art.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Service and Sacrifice: Veteran’s Day 2026 at National Museum of the American Indian
- Visitors of all ages can learn more about Native military service and honor veterans through presentations, a short film, hands-on activities, various information tables, and more.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Spirit Toonz: DC Soccer in Art at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum ♥
- Participants will choose from a selection of featured Washington Spirit players and create one large collectible sports card using a playful, cartoon-inspired interpretation of their chosen player. With illustration, color, and imagination, families can add their own creative style to a one-of-a-kind card to take home.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:30 am | Family Workshop: Collecting Your Story at Folger Shakespeare Library (Best for ages 5-7) ♥
- Inspired by the Folger’s exhibition, To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare, families will learn about the importance of collecting to telling their story. There’s also a session for older kids at 1:00 pm!
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- Saturday (11/7) at 9:00 am | 30th Annual Jug Bay Run/Walk for Wildlife at Patuxent River Park
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Festival of Lights: A Community Diwali Celebration at Hyattsville Library ♥
- Community members are invited to learn about the traditions and meaning behind Diwali through reading a children’s book together, create a colorful rangoli design to take home, and enjoy chai and Indian snacks.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | From Wright “B” to F-4 Phantom II at College Park Aviation Museum ($)
- Walk in the footsteps of combat pilots who flew from 1909 to 1970. Explore the first military use of aviation and the evolution of flight with a military historian clad in authentic Vietnam-era flight gear. Learn how the Tuskegee Airmen opened the doors to a desegregated military.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Maryland Emancipation Day at Concord Historic Site in Capitol Heights ♥
- An afternoon of living history, music, storytelling, food, family, and community to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Maryland. Includes a craft demo area, community glass project, lie performances, storytelling & more!
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Animal Encounters at Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton ($)
- Get up close with reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and more in this exciting, hands-on animal experience!
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | An Afternoon of Ballet at Hyattsville Library ♥
- The Performing Arts Repertory Company presents an afternoon of beautiful dance featuring student dancers from the local Ballet Academy.
- Saturday (11/7) at 7:00 pm | Stargazing at Piscataway Park in Accokeek
- Bring a telescope and a blanket and join us for a program under the stars!
Maryland
Montgomery County
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Fiber Optic Friends at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 7-12)
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEAM: Salty Glue Art at Kensington Park Library
- Craft some fancy artwork using salt and glue.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Diwali Celebration at Potomac Library (Best for ages 5-12) ♥
- The program will include a Diwali storytime and fun facts about the festival, followed by activities such as diya decoration and diya painting.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Día de los Muertos Art Pop-up Celebration at Locals Farm Market in Poolesville ♥
- Día de los Muerto will come alive for a pop-up art gathering celebrating Mexican culture, community, and artistic heritage. Anchored by breathtaking life-sized papier-mâché Las Catrinas and set to Mexican music, the one-day event transformed the space into a colorful homage to memory and tradition.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:30 pm | STEM Fest Extravaganza! presented by FTC team 47 Beavers at Gaithersburg Library ♥
- Come experience engineering challenges with hands on science stations and meet people who work in different STEM fields. Activities include building a balloon powered car, designing a mini catapult, constructing a marshmallow tower & more!
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Bead and Explore: Learn Peyote Stitch with Pony Beads at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville (Best for ages 6+) ♥
- Meet Rolande of the Mvskoke Creek Nation, who will be your guide in making a small pouch with significant Indigenous patterns.
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Endangered Animals – Tiger Craft at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 5-10)
- Saturday (11/7) at 4:00 pm | Crafts at the Library: Leaf-Stamping Canvas at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
- Explore different leaves, paint them with colors, and stamp them onto a canvas to create unique artwork. Using patterns, textures, and colors found in nature, participants will design their own one-of-a-kind leaf print painting to take home.
More Maryland Events
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | STEM-Fest: Signaling the Future at National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction ♥
- The day will be packed with hands-on activities that dive into the amazing worlds of security, cyber, engineering, math, and computer science.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:15 am | Toddler & Me: Cooking Helpers at Maryland Science Center in Baltimore ($)
- Play and learn about one of your toddler’s favorite topics: food! Explore how to engage young helpers during meal preparations.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | November’s Finger-Paint Party at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- Each $10 ticket covers all art supplies, step-by-step instruction, and a kid’s cup of sweetFrog to celebrate your masterpiece!
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Howard County Native American Heritage Month Celebration at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia ♥
- This celebration will highlight traditional and contemporary artistic, historical, and cultural contributions of native communities in Maryland and beyond.
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Frederick STEM Carnival at Carroll Creek Amphitheater ♥
- This event offers a unique opportunity to engage in STEM-related activities with plenty of giveaways. At 2:30, there will be a magic show, and a juggler will walk around the event.
- Saturday (11/7) at 4:30 pm | Drone Show at Columbia Lakefront
- Celebrate the 250th year of the USA!
Northern Virginia
Arlington County
- Saturday (11/7) at 9:30 am, 10:45 am & 12:30 pm | Open Bounce at Lubber Run Community Center ($) (Best for ages 3-9)
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:30 am | Turkey Vulture vs. Black Vulture at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- Meet Earl, the new resident turkey vulture, and learn how he differs from black vultures.
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Family Class: Handmade Pasta at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8+) ♥
- Families will learn how to make Fresh Handmade Fettuccine from scratch, then prepare delicious Smothered Chicken Parmesan with savory flavors and plenty of cheesy goodness. Finish with a comforting Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding for dessert.
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Raptors of the Potomac at Potomac Overlook Regional Park ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- Learn about native birds of prey and the amazing adaptations they use to hunt, meet the resident raptors that are cared for at the park, and watch a Naturalist feed a live bird of prey!
- Saturday (11/7) at 5:00 pm | Bilingual Campfire Stories at Long Branch Nature Center ($) ♥
- Includes stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores!
Northern Virginia
City of Alexandria
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | Autumn Sweets & Treats: Acorn Truffles at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 5-12) ♥
- Young chefs will create two festive favorites as they decorate adorable acorn cake truffles and craft delicious haystack candy nests. From dipping and decorating truffles to mixing and shaping sweet candy nests, each child will have the opportunity to explore creativity while building confidence in the kitchen.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Free Kids Event: Imagination Builders at Lakeshore Learning (Best for ages 3+) ♥
- Use Peel & Stick Foam Cubes to design and build 2-D and 3-D creations to take home!
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Parent & Child Crochet at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (Best for ages 8+)
- Learn the crochet basics and work towards a simple project.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Carlyle House Family Fun Day: It’s Fall Y’all ♥
- Sit in on story time and participate in crafts and other activities that relate to the theme of the month.
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Fall Community Cookout at 2425 Mill Road
- Come out to enjoy free food, games, activities, giveaways, and an opportunity to connect and learn more about the wide variety of services and programs available through the City of Alexandria agencies.
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Kids and Family Yoga with ARISE Educational Services at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (Best for ages 3-8)
- Yoga, literacy, and family fun! Registration required.
More Northern Virginia Events
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | Autumn Leaf Animals at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale ($) (Best for ages 5-12) ♥
- Stretch your creativity as you create animal masterpieces out of natural materials gathered around the park.
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Fall Celebration at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield ($) (Best for ages 3+)
- Take a hike to enjoy the fall foliage and observe waterways. Make a craft to take home to remember to be thankful for nature.
- Saturday (11/7) at 7:30 pm | Exploring the Inner Planets at Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls ($) (Best for ages 8+) ♥
- Examine handheld globes of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and the moon to explore their similarities, differences and conditions for life. View planets and the night sky through telescopes, weather permitting.
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Washington, DC
- Sunday (11/8) at 11:00 am | Family Day: Focus on Photography at Capital Jewish Museum in NW (Best for ages 5-15) ♥
- Join local Jewish photographer Aryeh Schwartz in a photography workshop, going beyond the Camera app to learn about the artistry behind Bubley’s portfolio!
- Sunday (11/8) at 10:00 am | Sunday Storytime at Planet Word
Maryland
- Sunday (11/8) at 8:00 am | Long Branch 5K Fun Run & Walk in Silver Spring ($)
- A family-friendly community event that brings together runners, walkers, neighbors, families, and local businesses for a morning of fun, fitness, and community spirit.
- Sunday (11/8) at 10:00 am | Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at KID in Bethesda ($) ♥
- Meet a maker & complete cyanotype prints at 10:30 am + create corn husk dolls & code at 1:30 pm!
- Sunday (11/8) at 2:00 pm | Holiday Movies on the Potomac: Elf at National Harbor ♣
Northern Virginia
- Sunday (11/8) at 10:00 am | Mommy/Daddy & Me: Breakfast Treats at Cookology in Arlington ($) (Best for ages 4-7)
- Together, you’ll make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, a naturally sweet treat perfect for tiny hands to mix and scoop. Then, create Mini Veggie Frittatas, colorful, bite-sized egg cups packed with healthy goodness.
- Sunday (11/8) at 11:00 am | STEM Day at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly ♥
- Meet local STEM experts, discover career paths and take part in interactive activities at the Woodlands Stewardship Education Center.
- Sunday (11/8) at 12:00 pm | The Beaufort Bonnet Company: Sunday Storytime at Mosaic in Fairfax
- Sunday (11/8) at 1:00 pm | Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Open House in Alexandria ♥
- The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is hosting an open house with free, stationed tours to celebrate 20 years as a City-owned museum.
- Sunday (11/8) at 3:00 pm | Virginia’s State Snake at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington ($)
- Learn about the Virginia’s official State snake, the eastern garter snake and other local snake neighbors. Meet a snake that lives at the nature center closeup!
Sensory Friendly & Accessible
- Friday (11/6) at 4:00 pm | Braille Club at MLK Memorial Library in DC (Best for grades K-12)
- Low vision and blind kids are invited to Braille Club! Play games, make art projects, and read awesome books together.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Family Story Time with ASL Interpreter at Northeast Neighborhood Library in DC
- Sunday (11/8) at 11:00 am | Sensory Storytelling with ReadAbility at Germantown Library in MD (Best for ages 3+)
- Multisensory book and storytelling session for all children who learn best through sensory play.
For Tweens & Teens (Ages 9+)
Washington, DC
- Friday (11/6) – Sunday (11/8) | Mamma Mia at The National Theatre ($) (Best for ages 10+) ♥
- Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Southeast Library Celebrates Game Store Day with Labyrinth Games & Puzzles (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- To celebrate the American Library Association’s International Games Month, join Labyrinth Games & Puzzles for Game Store Day! Try exciting games new and old and participate in demonstrations of new games from local game designers.
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Adventuring Party at Woodridge Neighborhood Library in NE (Best for ages 8-11)
- Dungeons and Dragons is a Table Top Role Playing Game where players will play characters, using improve, math, strategy, and negotiation skills to accomplish a goal.
- Saturday (11/7) at 1:00 pm | Family Workshop: Collecting Your Story at Folger Shakespeare Library (Best for ages 8-11) ♥
- Inspired by the Folger’s exhibition, To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare, families will learn about the importance of collecting to telling their story. There’s also an earlier session for younger kids at 11:30 am!
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:30 pm | Teen Studio: The Art of Existing at Hirshhorn Museum (Best for ages 13-19)
- Explore Monumental Head (1960), an existentialist sculpture by Alberto Giacometti. Then morph clay and aluminum wire into sculptures that reflect what it truly means to exist as a human being.
- Sunday (11/8) at 2:00 pm | Challenging Books: A Live Theatre Experience at MLK Memorial Library in NW (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- Across the country, books are being challenged and removed from shelves. This performance explores what those challenges mean for readers, libraries, and our communities.
Maryland
- Friday (11/6) at 3:30 pm | Sew it Seams: Learn the Basics at Bowie Library (Best for teens)
- Friday (11/6) at 7:00 pm | Sisters in Sports: Tennis at North Brentwood Community Center (Best for ages 10-14)
- This unique program for girls ages ten to 14 combines basic athletic instruction and fun. Adopt a healthy lifestyle, experience growth, and form friendships!
- Saturday (11/7) at 9:00 am | Basic Birding 101 at Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton ($) (Best for ages 14+)
- Grab your binoculars, or borrow a pair from us, and join a naturalist for a birdwatching adventure during the spring migration season.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Graphic Novel Creation at Wheaton Library (Best for ages 15-18) ♥
- Write and illustrate your own graphic novel page, using all the conventions of graphic novel storytelling: narration, dialogue, character design, dynamic page layouts and cinematic techniques.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Sew It Seams: Intermediate Open Sewing Lab at Oxon Hill Library
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Library Open House with Bladensburg High School’s Mad Hatter’s Club at Bladensburg Library
- Discover library resources, services, and programs. Join a student-led tour. Check out a book and earn community service hours!
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Storytelling After Crisis: Film, Youth Trauma, and Community Safety at Fairmount Heights Library
- This free educational program is led by Maryland filmmaker Tanecia Britt, creator of ‘The Buffer’. Using the film as a case study, the program explores youth trauma, school safety, media literacy, and responsible storytelling through a community-centered discussion.
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Crochet4Change at Germantown Library
- Learn to crochet with recycled plastic bags.
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Film: Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round at Little Falls Library in Bethesda ♣
- Five Howard University students rode a segregated carousel in 1960, inspiring one of the earliest organized civil rights protests in US history.
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Teens Night Out – DC United Soccer Game at Audi Field – Leaving from Long Branch CRC in Silver Spring
- Enjoy a fun night of professional soccer and great energy with friends.
- Sunday (11/8) at 4:00 pm | First Aid Workshop for teens at Rockville Memorial Library ♥
- This workshop provides hands-on training in CPR, AED use, opioid overdose response with naloxone, and bleeding control techniques.
Northern Virginia
- [For Adults] Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Veterans Day Run & RX at Cowo & Crèche in Alexandria ($)
- Along the route, participants will experience a Mentally Shredded RX workout that integrates physical movement with mental wellness.
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Who’s Howling? Getting to Know Our Neighborhood Coyotes at Cherrydale Library in Arlington (Best for ages 10+) ♥
- Learn how coyotes live, what they eat, how they communicate, and the important role they play in local ecosystems.
- Sunday (11/8) at 1:15 pm | Tween Craft and Snack at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library in Alexandria (Best for ages 9-12)
- Design with Perler beads, create a collage for your room, or just hang out and scribble in a coloring book – the choice is yours!
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