Family-Friendly Activities in the DMV this Weekend (1/23 – 1/25)

Liv and a dog at the Subaru Loves Pets event
It's Auto Show Time!
The Washington, DC Auto Show opens this weekend at the Washington Convention Center! This year's show includes a few new additional activations for families including a hands-on STEAM experience and the Stellantis Action Zone with driving experiences for all ages. Oldies but goodies include WOW Wheelz (if you visit, tell them 4DMV Kids sent you), Krazy Bounce and our favorite, Subaru loves Pets event featuring adoptable dogs. Note that some of the activations have an additional cost. Tickets to the Auto Show range from $16 - $21 per adult depending on whether you go during the week or weekend. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $8 per person each day. The Auto Show closes February 1, 2026 so you have time even after the snow! Stay tuned for event cancellations & postponements if there are any. Happy Planning!
Sarah in a hot pink dress
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Tap here for auto show info

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!

Upcoming Events

Snow this Weekend

There are calls for a wintry mix on Sunday (1/25)! Stay tuned for cancellations & postponements.

Friday (1/23) + Saturday (1/24) | Cupid's Kids at Takoma Park

On Friday (1/23) & Saturday (1/24), help spread some love and cheer by creating handmade Valentine’s Day cards for DC seniors at Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. This drop-in craft is available all day.
Tap here to see V-day Card details

Friday, January 23, 2026

Washington, DC

  • Friday (1/23) at 3:30 pm | Fireside Fridays at Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library in SE
    • Winter and Basketball Stencil Art
  • Friday (1/23) at 3:00 pm | Doodle Time at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW
    • If parents remember the Etch-a-sketch, these doodle boards are the next level.  Thanks to the stylus pen, one can have a try with creating a message or a cute doodle! 

Maryland

a birthday boy high fives a staff member at the museum
Kick-off America's 250th at the National Postal Museum this Saturday (1/24). This free event includes hands-on fun, including the “Mailbox to the Future” where attendees can share their wishes for our nation, special Story Time sessions, a “Future Inventors” Tinker Station, trivia challenges, and more.
Tap here to get the party Started at National Postal Museum

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Washington, DC

  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:00 am | Just Drop In! at National Building Museum ($)
    • Explore the basics of geodesic domes and the innovative ways architects and engineers use forces to create self-supporting structures. In partnership with the Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington (SEA-MW), participants will learn the basic principles of how architects and engineers create geodesic domes before having the opportunity to build their own using craft materials.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:00 am | Open Studio: Layered Experiments at Hirshhorn Museum
    • Take inspiration from Anni Albers and her practice of experimenting with materials and textures. Work with fabric scraps, ribbon, and string to create your own textile collages.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:30 am | Patricia Tanumihardja for “Monkey’s Sweet Surprise” at Politics and Prose on Connecticut Ave in NW (Best for ages 2-5) ♥
    • Each animal of the Chinese zodiac prepares their finest festive dish for the Jade Empress’s grand banquet. Determined to redeem himself after a catastrophe last year, Monkey sets out to make the Empress’s favorite dessert: pineapple tarts. But along the way, he discovers that the sweetest surprises come from helping friends and working together.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | Art Enables Saturday Workshop Meditative Rock Painting in NE
    • Smooth river stones become your canvas as you explore rippling lines, waves of color, gentle symbols, and tranquil imagery inspired by the idea of peace in motion.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | Get the USA 250th Party Started! at National Postal Museum ♥
    • Hands-on fun, including the “Mailbox to the Future” where attendees can share their wishes for our nation, special Story Time sessions, a “Future Inventors” Tinker Station, trivia challenges, and more.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 2:30 pm | Kids’ Galette des Rois Party in the AFDC Library in NW ($) ♥
    • Who wants to become King or Queen for the day? Learn more about this quintessential French pastry!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 4:00 pm | Create Watercolor Winter Hats at Southwest Neighborhood Library 
MLK Memorial
There's a Poetry Extravaganza in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s honor on Saturday (1/24) at 1:00 pm at Surratts-Clinton Library.
Tap here for Poetry Extravaganza Info

Maryland

Prince George’s County 
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:00 am | Tiny Travelers Safety Car Seat Check at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center in Laurel
    • Certified car seat technicians will be available to answer questions and share helpful information about children’s car seats
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | Ready 2 Read Storytime – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at New Carrollton Library (Best for ages 3-5)
    • Bring your preschooler for a fun-filled half-hour of stories, songs, and fingerplays!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | STEM Lab: The Hidden Life of Spices at South Bowie Library (Best for ages 7+) ♥
    • Hands-on program on the chemistry of spices!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 1:00 pm | STEM Fun: Cubelets at Mount Rainier Library
      • Explore cube robots through interactive challenges that spark curiosity and creativity.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 1:00 pm | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry Extravaganza at Surratts-Clinton Library ♥
    • Through poetry and uplifting messages, this event promotes service to the community while honoring Dr. King’s vision.

Maryland

Montgomery County

Maryland

Other Maryland Events 
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:00 am | Howard County Child Care Fair 2026 at East Columbia 50+ Center
    • Connecting families to early childhood programs: care centers, infant programs, summer camps, pre-schools, co-op nursery schools and more!

Northern Virginia

Arlington County
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:30 am | Build a Story Fort at Shirlington Library
    • Build some cozy reading forts in the meeting room, then relax with a snack and a story inside. Feel free to bring a blanket and pillow to relax inside your fort.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 2:00 pm | Skulls and Bones at Potomac Overlook Regional Park ($) (Best for ages 8+)
    • Dissect an owl pellet to uncover and construct the skeleton inside, explore the features of different skulls and learn how to identify their species, measure the bite and grip forces these animals can exert, and discover plenty more fascinating facts about wildlife.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 3:00 pm | Math Pals at Central Library (Best for grades 2nd – 5th)
    • Have questions about your math homework? Need extra math practice?
  • Saturday (1/24) at 4:30 pm | Wolf Campfire at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington ($)
    • This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities that may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 6:00 pm | Unseen Earth Planetarium Show at Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium ($)

Northern Virginia

City of Alexandria  
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | Free Kids Event: Storytime Adventures at Lakeshore Learning (Best for ages 3+)
    • Make a reading rocks! bookmark + storytime 
  • Saturday (1/24) at 2:00 pm | Create Winter Flowers at Winkler Botanical Preserve ($) (Best for ages 5+) 
  • Saturday (1/24) at 2:00 pm | Crafty Kid Series at Burke Branch Library
    • Paper Plate Snowman (putting together craft requires painting, cutting, and gluing) 

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Washington, DC 

  • Sunday (1/25) at 10:00 am | Word Worlds Discovery Day at Planet Word ♥
    • Be among the first to unlock twelve new descriptive words through motion-tracking technology and see your gestures illuminate the meaning of words like kaleidoscopic, turbulent, and roseate through vivid landscapes. Includes scavenger hunt, vocabulary activities & more!
  • Sunday (1/25) at 12:00 pm | Try Hockey for Free Day at The Wharf Ice Rink (Best for ages 5-14)  
    • Try hockey at absolutely no cost!

Maryland

  • Sunday (1/25) at 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Balloonacy at Imagination Stage ($)
  • Sunday (1/25) at 11:00 am | Sunday Workshop: Intro to Textiles: Hand Sewing at KID Museum in Bethesda ($) (Best for grades 2nd – 5th)
    • Learn hand-sewing techniques and then apply those skills to create a hand-sewn puppet or stuffed figure.
  • Sunday (1/25) at 2:00 pm | STEAM Explorers at Wheaton Library (Best for grades 3-5) 

Northern Virginia

Arlington County 
  • Sunday (1/25) at 1:30 pm | Learn to Finger-Knit at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington ($) 
  • Sunday (1/25) at 1:30 pm | One World, One Sky Planetarium Show at Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
    • Elmo and Big Bird live in the United States and Hu Hu Zhu lives far away in China, but they discover that they see the same stars at night! Join Big Bird and his friends as they learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon.
  • Sunday (1/25) at 3:00 pm | We Are Stars Planetarium Show at Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
    • This show explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry and our explosive origins. Connect life on Earth to the evolution of the universe by following the formation of hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of carbon, and the molecules for life.

Northern Virginia

City of Alexandria  

Monday, January 26, 2026

1/26 | $10 Community Day at Port Discovery in Bmore

On Monday (1/26) there's a $10 community day at Port Discovery in Baltimore, MD
Tap here to get tickets to Port Discovery

1/26 | DPR Multi-Sport Experience at Kennedy Rec in DC

During this time the community will have the opportunity to try out a variety of sports, meet our incredible coaches, and experience firsthand what makes DPR's youth programs so special. Whether you're dribbling, kicking , spiking, tumbling, or cheering there's something for everyone to enjoy. Meet at Kennedy Recreation Center in NW at 10:00 am.
Tap here for more info on the Multi-Sport day

1/26 | Out of School Camp with iGEN

There's an out of school camp at iGen Educational Academy's Eastern Market & Capitol Hill locations. The cost is $85!
Tap here for camp info!

Sensory Friendly & Accessible

  • Friday (1/23) at 4:00 pm | Braille Club at MLK Memorial Library in DC (Best for grades K-12)
    • Read together, play tactile games, make crafts and more!
  • Friday (1/23) at 6:30 pm | Therapeutic Recreation presents: Parents’ Night Out at Lake Arbor Community Center ($)
    • Register and leave your kids with us for a fun-filled evening, activities include a movie, popcorn, pizza, and fun!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:30 am | ASL Story Time at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library in NW DC (Best for ages 2-5)
    • Stories and songs will be signed and vocalized. No prior knowledge of ASL is required!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 10:30 am | Down Syndrome and Friends Play Group at Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library in NE DC
    • Families of kids with disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and developmental disabilities, are invited to play, read, and create art together at the library!
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:30 am | Balloonacy at Imagination Stage ($)
    • ASL Community Day!
woman smiles at a crafting table
There's a free Day of Community in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday (1/24) at 11:30 am.
Tap here for Day of Community Info

For Tweens & Teens

Washington, DC

  • Friday (1/23) & Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | ¡Carritos! A Learning Activity Cart Program at the National Museum of American History (For 8th grade – reading level) ♥
    • These 10-minute hands-on mobile-cart activity experiences will allow visitors of all ages to create and connect with items in the Latino Museum collection and themes from past and future exhibitions, as well as items from other Smithsonian collections or content. 
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:00 am | Collage Postcards at Palisades Neighborhood Library in NW (Best for teens & adults)
    • Join local artist Anjelika Deogirikar Grossman and create collage post cards using found paper.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 11:30 am | A Day of Community at National Portrait Gallery
    • Designed for teens and young adults but welcome to all, this event reminds us to tend to ourselves and our communities.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 12:30 pm | Textiles 101 Pop-Up: Fabric Scrap Coasters at The Textile Museum
    • a hands-on program inspired by the exhibition Source Material: Lessons in Responsible Fashion.
  • Saturday (1/24) at 2:30 pm | Teen Studio: Weaving Creativity at Hirshhorn Museum
    • Take inspiration from artist Anni Albers, a fiber artist who experimented with various weaving techniques and allowed her materials to guide her work. Then head back to Art School and use unconventional materials to make something totally unique!

Maryland

Northern Virginia

This Week's Book Recommendation

Prepare for Black History Month with "The ABCs of Black History! Purchase this book from Laces & Pages for $17.99. Tap the image above to view it.
Tap here to shop the laces & Pages Online Boutique

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Create Your Your Cultural Bucket List

Check out this list of recurring kid-friendly things-to-do for each day of the week. Most activities are free or low cost! This list is reviewed & updated frequently so make sure to bookmark it for future reference.
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