Daily Activities for Kids in the DMV

Liv in front of the Anacostia Community Museum
Art Making at Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum

You know those random out-of-school days, in between camp days or just a good day to play hooky… what is there to do? I hope to answer that question with this running list of recurring kid-friendly things-to-do around DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia!

Links will either navigate to the host’s calendar of events or directly to the registration page for the particular event/activity. Times listed are start and/or opening time.

These events will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis; however, things can change at any moment. Please make sure to click the links and confirm that the event/activity is in fact happening prior to heading out!

New Adventures

Free-to-Visit Play or Art Spaces

Washington, DC

  • Wegmans Wonderplace at the National American History Museum (Best for ages 0-6)
    • Open Wednesday – Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Draper Spark!Lab at the National American History Museum (Best for ages 6-12)
    • Open Wednesday – Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Moonshot Studio at the Kennedy Center (Best for ages 5+) 
    • Art Space open most Saturdays & Sundays from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm  
  • Explore! Space at the National Portrait Gallery (Best for ages 18 months – 8) 
    • Open daily from 11:30 am – 7:00 pm 
collection of photos from the building stories exhibit at the National Building
We recently joined the Building Readers Club of The National Building Museum in downtown DC, which fits nicely with their ongoing exhibit, Building Stories located on the main level of the museum.

Storytimes & Book Clubs in the DMV

Washington, DC

  • Daily | DC Public Library hosts story times for preschoolers and families throughout DC!
    • Some Saturdays you’ll find Story Time for the Spectrum as well as Pajama Story Time on Thursday afternoons. 
  • 10:15 am on Tuesdays & Thursdays | Little Artists, Big Stories at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (Best for 18 months – age 7)
    • Through September 25th!
  • 10:00 am on Wednesdays | Storytime Studio at The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 
  • 2:30 pm on Wednesdays | STEAM story time at the National Children’s Museum (Best for ages 1 – 4) 
  • 10:00 am on second Thursdays | Story Time at the Capital Jewish Museum 
  • 10:00 am on Fridays | Story Time at the National Postal Museum 
  • Select Saturday or Sunday bi-monthly | Building Readers Club at The National Building Museum (Best for grades K-6th)
    • Although this program is for grades up to 6th, I recommend it most for the youngest of readers.

Maryland

Prince George’s County

Montgomery County

Virginia

  • 11:00 am & 11:30 am on Thursdays | Story Time at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly 
  • First Thursday of the Month | Keeping it Real Book Club at Old Town Books Junior in Alexandria (Best for ages 9-13) 
  • 10:00 am on second Saturdays | ETC Beginnings at R.E.A.D. Booknook at Ballston Quarter in Arlington 
  • Monthly | Once Upon a Book Club at Old Town Books Junior in Alexandria (Best for ages 8-12) 
  • Monthly | Eras Book Club at Old Town Books Junior in Alexandria (Best for teens 12+ who love Taylor Swift) 

Virtual

  • 11:00 am bi-weekly on Mondays | Virtual Storytime with the National Postal Museum (Best for ages 4-7) 
  • Once a Month | Story Time with the National Air & Space Museum 

Find more storytimes through our Where to Find the Best Children’s Storytimes in the DMV blog. 

Daily & Monthly Activities (Free & Paid)

Sundays

Washington, DC

  • 10:00 am every first Sunday | Free Community Day at the National Museum of Women in Fine Arts 
  • 11:00 am | Nous Bloomons at BloomBars in NW
    • French Language Music Program for Kids & Families
  • 1:00 pm | Game Day at Capitol View Neighborhood Library 
  • 1:00 pm | Art Studio at the National Portrait Gallery 
    • Drop-in art making program

Maryland

  • 10:00 am | Open Explore at KID Museum in Bethesda ($)
    • This museum is only on Sundays! 
  • 12:00 pm | Family Chess at Takoma Park Maryland Library 
  • 1:00 pm | Sunday Funday at Lanham Skate Center ($)

Virginia

Mondays

Washington, DC

Virginia

Tuesdays

Washington, DC

Maryland

Virginia

Virtual

  • 11:00 am 2x a month | Young Portrait Explorers via the National Portrait Gallery (Best for ages 3-6) 
    • Free virtual workshop that incorporates close looking at art, movement, and art-making!
  • 5:00 pm once a month | Sketchbook Club hosted by the National Gallery of Art

Wednesdays

 Washington, DC

Maryland

Virginia

Virtual

Thursdays

Washington, DC

Maryland

Fridays

Washington, DC

  • 10:30 am | Sensory Playtime at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5) 
  • 10:30 am | Lego Hour at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5)
  • 11:00 am | Craft Fridays at Georgetown Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 5+)
  • 1:00 pm | Art Studio at the National Portrait Gallery 
    • Drop-in art making program

Maryland

Prince George’s County

Montgomery County

Virginia

Saturdays

  • First Saturday | Kids Workshop at Home Depot Stores around the DMV 
  • Second or Third Saturday | DIY Kids Workshop at Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores around the DMV 

Washington, DC

Maryland

Montgomery County

  • 10:00 am & 11:00 am | PIKEkids at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda ($)

Virginia

  • 2:00 pm | Board Game Cafe at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library in Alexandria (Best for ages 5-18)
Stay tuned for updates to this blog!

Related Blogs

DC Museums to Explore

There are SOO many museums in DC and many of them are open daily with activities for kids of all ages! Click the link below to read up on 20+ museums to add to your list of explorations.
Click Here to see 20+ Museums in DC
More info
Scroll to Top