Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (11/1 - 11/3)
Happy November! It's hard to believe the year is almost over and the holiday season is upon us. This past weekend's trip to Leesburg also reminded me that winter is near! The Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is an outdoor trail with festive lights, plenty of photo ops and scenes from the movie series. The warmest part is the fire pit for roasted marshmallows, lol. We froze but had a decent time! Being a fan of the movies I think I expected a little more in terms of seeing the characters. However, if you love the books/movies or love the outdoors/a good light show, I recommend checking it out. Click the image above to see more tips for visiting through Instagram. And don't forget to use code 4DMVKIDS10 for 10% off tickets! It's open through December 8th. Now on to this weekend's events...

Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events

Friday, November 1, 2024
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muskogee People Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian
- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation celebrates its tribal history, heritage, and culture with two days of music, performances, a fashion show, and other cultural demonstrations. The festival includes Stomp dancing, veterans presentations, and hands-on activities for children and families, along with a showcase of jewelry, traditional recipes, and more.
- 10:00 am | Storytime: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis at National Gallery of Art
- Bilingual storytime
- 11:00 am | JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience Exhibit Opening at the Capital Jewish Museum ($)
- 3:00 pm | Crafternoon at Woodridge Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 8-14)
- 3:00 pm | Chevy Chase First Fridays
- 4:00 pm | Día de los muertos fiesta at Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- 5:00 pm | Día de los Muertos Block Party at Bryant St. NE Market
- 5:00 pm | Asia After Dark | Diwali Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art
- Includes crafts & coloring, live music and performances + food vendors
- 7:00 pm | Día de los Muertos hosted by the National Museum of the American Latino at La Cosecha in NE
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:30 am | Early Dismissal Camp Day! at Driskell Park in Hyattsville ($)
- 11:00 am | Teen Exploration Program Session at Driskell Park Recreation Center in Hyattsville ($) (Best for grades 6-12)
- [For the adults] 11:45 am | Talk Health with the University of Maryland School of Nursing ~ Stop those Germs at Greenbelt Library
- 1:00 pm | Nature Knowledge at Clearwater Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 9-14)
- Home-School Science Club
- 3:30 pm | Family Movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem at Accokeek Library (Rated PG)
- [Last Chance] 8:00 pm | Sister Act at The Bowie Playhouse ($)
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Kids Club ~ Thanksgiving with My Gym Potomac
- 10:00 am (all day) | Teen Writing Contest at Davis Library
- 10:30 am | Little Explorers at Brookside Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 18 months – 2)
- 10:30 am | The Puppet Co. presents Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 11:00 am | Little Scientist Storytime at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 18 months – 5)
- 4:00 pm | Family Movie: Minions: The Rise of Gru at Kensington Park Library
- 4:00 pm | Candy & Costumes at White Oak Skate Park in Silver Spring
More Maryland Events
- 6:00 pm | Harvest Moon Hayride at Riverfront Park in Laurel ($)
- 6:30 pm | Family Friday Planetarium Program & Movie at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 9:00 am | School’s Out – Halloween Fun! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
- 11:00 am | Intergenerational Storytime at Aurora Hills Library
- 1:00 pm | School’s Out – Munchkin Halloween Fun! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 5-8)
- 5:00 pm | Día de los Muertos Celebration at Museum of Contemporary Arts Arlington
- 6:00 pm | Family Night at Carver Community Center
- 6:00 pm | Nocturnal Animal Hike at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
City of Alexandria
- 6:00 pm | Día de los Muertos Community Alter in Del Ray
More Virginia Events
- 9:00 am | Volunteer Fest 2024 at The PARC at Tysons
- 9:30 am | Piano Express Mini Camp at Potomac Music in Lorton ($)
- 10:00 am | Drew Blue Shoes at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon ($) (Best for ages 2+)
- Prepare for a morning full of magic tricks and fun.
Virtual
- 2:00 pm | Reader’s Advisory: Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month
- Learn about recent books to celebrate Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month. Books for children and tweens will be shared!
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Washington, DC
- All Day | Annual Bookmark Design Contest at Southwest Neighborhood Library
- [For Adults] 10:00 am | Eyes on Reading: Julie Washington with Emily Hanford – Supporting African American Children’s Reading Success at Planet Word ($)
- 10:00 am | First Saturday: November at National Gallery of Art
- Includes:
- 10:00 am | Storytime
- 11:00 am | Sketching Lab
- 11:00 am | Drop-In Artmaking
- 11:00 am | Kids’ Play Space
- 11:00 am | Pop-Up Library
- Includes:
- 10:00 am | Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muskogee People Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian
- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation celebrates its tribal history, heritage, and culture with two days of music, performances, a fashion show, and other cultural demonstrations. The festival includes Stomp dancing, veterans presentations, and hands-on activities for children and families, along with a showcase of jewelry, traditional recipes, and more.
- 10:00 am | Family Activity: Autumn Flowers at DAR Museum
- 10:00 am | STEM Budding Builders at Palisades Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Sailing on String at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 0-3)
- All performances are sensory friendly.
- 10:15 am | Crafty Tales: El Anatsui at Merry Pins (Best for ages 3-8)
- Free craft based on artist/book
- 10:30 am, 11:45 am & 1:00 pm | Dance Sanctuaries Curated by Soka Tribe at The Kennedy Center
- Tap into the power of soca music and the freedom, expression, and joy of Caribbean carnival with Soka Tribe! Free dance classes
- 11:00 am | The Harambee Experience with Baba Ras D. at Bloom Bars in NW
- 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at the Kennedy Center ($)
- 12:00 pm | Roving Leaders Wheels Up Hay Down at Alethia Tanner Park
- 1:00 pm | The Negro Motorist Green Book ~ Opening Weekend Celebration at the MLK Memorial Library
- Includes a children’s sock hop, food, music, film screening and more!
- 1:30 pm | Accessible Screening of Coco at MLK Memorial Library
- ASL and open captions!
- 4:00 pm | Día de los Muertos hosted by the National Museum of the American Latino at La Cosecha in NE
- 4:00 pm | Día de los Muertos at The Wharf
- Includes cultural performances, face painting, sugar skull decorating & more!
- 5:00 pm | El Día de los Muertos at the National Portrait Gallery
- Live music, Mexican folk-dance performances, workshops, and a variety of activities for all ages.
- 6:00 pm | Grupo Fénix at the Kennedy Center
- Free celebration of the Day of the Dead
- 7:00 pm | DC One “Fun” Pickleball Fiesta at the SE Tennis & Learning Center
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 9:00 am | 28th Annual Jug Bay Run/Walk for Wildlife at Patuxent River Park ($)
- 10:00 am | Farm Education – Cattle Breeds at Old Maryland Farm ($) (Best for ages 7+)
- 10:00 am | Adventure Seekers at Mount Rainier Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
- 12:00 pm | Dinosaur Park Open House in Laurel
- 12:00 pm | Family Art Time at Laurel Library
- For children who have autism or other exceptional needs and their families!
- 1:00 pm | Teen Leadership Program at Glenarden Library (Best for ages 13-18)
- 2:00 pm | Legos: Creative Club at Upper Marlboro Library
- 2:00 pm | Celebrate the Day of the Kite Together at Hyattsville Library
- Fun family event where you can learn to make a traditional kite from Guatemala, enjoy incredible stories told by a skilled storyteller, sign up for the First Guatemalan Fiambre Contest and purchase delicious desserts and traditional sweets that celebrate the season.
- 5:00 pm | Día de los Muertos con Arte Para Todos! at Joe’s Movement Emporium
- 6:00 pm | A Magical Night of Wizardry at Watkins Park ($)
- Enjoy a costume contest, movie screening, a mythical bird show, customized wands, and much more!
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Maryland Emancipation Day at Josiah Henson Museum and Park
- Stop by the Sankofa Pop-Up while there
- 10:30 am | A Bear-y Cozy Morning: Storytime All about Bears! at Aspen Hill Library
- 10:30 am | Teddy Bear Wellness Clinic at Potomac Library (Best for ages up to 12)
- Bring a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to the Potomac library for a wellness check with Dr. Mary Ann “McStuffins” Glassic. Kids can make an ID collar for their furry friend, take them to the Stuffies Salon for some special pampering, and make a teddy bear-themed craft, along with getting a check-up from the Doc.
- 10:30 am | STEM at Little Falls Library in Bethesda
- 11:00 am | DIY Mancala Set Workshop at the NatureLab in Takoma Park ($)
- 11:00 am | Oakley Cabin – Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration in Olney
- Includes live music, folk tales, candle dipping, crafts and historic games!
- 11:00 am | College Park Aviation Museum presents: Storybook Adventure at White Oak Library
- 11:30 am and 1:00 pm | The Puppet Co. presents Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 1:00 pm | West African Rhythm and Melodies Class: a Manding Fusion Experience in Takoma Park ($) (Best for ages 10+)
- 1:00 pm | LGBTQ+ Teens Clothing Swap at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring
- 1:00 pm | Maydale Nature Classroom Community Celebration in Colesville
- Includes live music, campfires, s’mores, apple cider making, fall crafts & more!
- 2:00 pm | Egg Drop Engineering at Twinbrook Library in Rockville
- 2:00 pm | Andrew Auseon for “Spellbinders: Break the Game” at People’s Book Takoma
- Author meet & greet + costume contest
- 2:30 pm | Rock and Rhyme with Mr. Jon & Friends at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville (Best for ages 1-6)
- 3:00 pm | Teen STEM: Make a DIY Fidget Toy at Aspen Hill Library
- 3:00 pm | Teen Movie Time: Free Birds! at Wheaton Library
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Saturdays in the Children’s Garden at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia
- 10:00 am & 10:30 am | Annie’s Outdoor Puppet Show at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia
- 11:00 am | Chemistry in the Library: Picture Perfect Chemistry at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City (Best for ages 7+)
- 12:00 pm | 2024 Native American Heritage Month Celebration at Color Burst Park in Columbia
- 1:00 pm | Planetarium Movie Showings at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($)
- 3:00 pm | Author Event featuring Meg Eden Kuyatt of “Good Different” at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City (Best for grades 3rd – 8th)
- 3:30 pm | Thank You Veterans! at Savage Branch Library
- Create and decorate thank you cards for our military Veterans. Cards will be delivered on or before November 11.
- 6:00 pm | HoCo HaHa’s Circus/Magic Variety Show at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia ($) (Best for ages 7+)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Family Art Lab: Fall Center Pieces at Arlington Mill Community Center ($)
- 10:00 am | Grand Opening: The Gardner School of Arlington
- Includes children’s magic show, face painting, fall crafts & more!
- 1:00 pm | Kids Baking Fun! at Cookology ($)
- 2:00 pm | Kiddough (Doughnut) Decorating Party at National Landing ($)
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($)
City of Alexandria
- 11:00 am | Alexandria Fall-o-Ween at John Carlyle Square
More Virginia Events
- 9:30 am | Archaeology Family Day at Mount Vernon Estate ($)
- 10:00 am | Children’s Book Sale at City of Fairfax Regional Library
- 2:00 pm | Family Author Talk with Therapy Dogs at Park Central Library in Manassas Park

Sunday, November 3, 2024
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Free Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
- 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Sailing on String at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 0-3)
- All performances are sensory friendly.
- 1:00 pm | The Negro Motorist Green Book ~ Opening Weekend Celebration at the MLK Memorial Library
- Includes a vintage car show and dance party
- 1:30 pm | Godzilla’s 70th Birthday at Benning Neighborhood Library
- Screening of Godzilla, King of the Monsters
- 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm | Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at the Kennedy Center ($)
- 2:00 pm | Piñatas, Poems and Pampering for the Soul at La Cosecha in NE ($)
- 2:00 pm | Soda Sip & Paint at Northeast Neighborhood Library (Best for teens & adults)
- 3:00 pm | Extraordinary Cinema: Origin at The Kennedy Center (rated PG-13)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 12:00 pm | Riversdale Kitchen Guild: Emancipation Day at Riversdale House Museum Historic Site
- 12:30 pm | Disability Services 50th Anniversary Family Ice Skating Event at Tucker Road Ice Rink ($)
- 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm | Artful Afternoon Leaf Prints at Greenbelt Community Center
- 2:00 pm | Beatbox Dads at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse ($)
Montgomery County
- 8:00 am | Long Branch 5K Fun Run! 2024
- 9:30 am | Storytime with Emily Ettlinger, Author of Skeleanor the Decomposer at People’s Book Takoma
- 10:00 am | Native American Heritage Month Celebration at KID Museum ($)
- 10:00 am | Making Fire at Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda ($)
- Learn a variety of outdoor skills in any of our workshops.
- 10:30 am | Little Dragon Story Hour at Germantown Library (Best for ages 6 months – 4)
- Immersive Mandarin language story hour
- 11:30 am | The Puppet Co. presents Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 1:00 pm | Harper Cabin – Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration at Brookside Nature Center
- 1:00 pm | Tribal Voices: A Native American Heritage Celebration at Glen Echo Park
- Includes performances, storytelling and art activities!
- 2:00 pm | Story Hour featuring Disney’s Frozen at the Olney Library
- To celebrate the production of Disney’s Frozen, the Olney Theatre Center is sponsoring an afternoon of stories at the library, hosted by guest storyteller Liz Osborn.
More Maryland Events
- 1:00 pm | Storytime & Puppet Show with Danny Joe at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 11:00 am | All About Brunch: Family Breakfast at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- 5:00 pm | Sunset Saver 2-Pack at Climb UPton ($)
- $19.95 off regular pricing when you book for two Climb Up Passports (child tickets excluded)
City of Alexandria
- 11:00 am | 2024 Alexandria Fall Fest at River Farm ($)
More Virginia Events
- 9:30 am | Archaeology Family Day at Mount Vernon Estate ($)
- 10:00 am | Children’s Book Sale at City of Fairfax Regional Library
- 11:00 am | Holiday Pottery Painting at Cafe Pottery in Manassas Mall
- 12:00 pm | Kids and Family Festivals: Kiddo Rave at Shipgarten in McLean

Bonus | Monday, November 3 & Tuesday, November 4
Washington, DC
- 11/4 & 11/5 at 9:00 am (All Day) | Native American Heritage Month: Scavenger Hunt at Shepherd Park Library in NW
- 11/4 & 11/5 at 10:30 am | Sailing on a String at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 0-3)
- Sensory friendly
- 11/4 at 11:30 am | Portrait Gallery Kids at the National Portrait Gallery
- 11/4 at 4:00 pm | Retro Club at MLK Memorial Library (Best for ages 13-19)
- 11/5 at 9:30 am | Little Critter: Nature Play (Animal Patterns) at the National Zoo (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11/5 at 4:00 pm | Voting Fun at Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library in SE
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 11/4 at 2:00 pm | Teen Zone at Bowie Library
- 11/4 at 3:30 pm | Makerspace Monday: 3D Doodlers at Laurel Library (Best for teens)
- 11/4 at 4:30 pm | Crafternoon: Cornhusk Dragonfly at Surratts-Clinton Library
- Create your own dragonfly using cornhusk.
- 11/5 at 1:00 pm | Wiggle and Giggle Power Hour Fitness Program at City of Bowie Gymnasium (Best for ages 1-6)
- 11/5 at 3:30 pm | Nature Craft Tuesday at Mount Rainier Nature Center (Best for ages 2-11)
- 11/5 at 5:00 pm | Movie Matinee: Twitches at Oxon Hill Library
Montgomery County
- 11/4 at 9:00 am | School’s Out, KID’s Open at KID Museum ($) (Best for grades 2nd – 8th)
- 11/4 at 9:00 am | School’s Out for Teens at Brookside Gardens ($) (Best for ages 11-14)
- 11/4 at 9:00 am | Teen High Adventure Excursions: Hiking at Great Falls ($) (Meet in Colesville, MD) (Best for ages 12-15)
- 11/4 at 9:00 am | School’s Out Nature’s In! at Brookside Gardens ($) (Best for ages 6-11)
- [Last Chance] 11/4 & 11/5 at 10:30 am | The Puppet Co. presents Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 11/4 at 2:00 pm | Family Movie Day featuring Inside Out 2 at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville
- 11/4 at 2:00 pm | Bug Hunt at Black Hill Discovery Center ($)
- 11/4 at 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Paper Circuits at Olney Library (Best for ages 8+)
- 11/4 at 4:00 pm | Teen DIY: Water Color Snails at Gaithersburg Library (Best for grades 5th – 12th)
- 11/5 at 9:00 am | School’s Outside for Teens at Brookside Gardens ($) (Best for ages 11-14)
- 11/5 at 11:00 am | Cherokee Tales with Bright Star Touring Theatre at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring (Best for grades Pre-K – 6th)
- 11/5 at 2:00 pm | Crafts at Twinbrook Library: Marble Mazes in Rockville
More Maryland Events
- 11/5 at 10:00 am | $10 Community Day at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($)
- 11/5 at 10:00 am | Character Election 2024 at Glenwood Branch Library in Cooksville (Best for ages 5-12)
- Participate in a scavenger hunt for children’s book characters then cast your vote for your favorites.
- 11/5 at 11:00 am | Get Out the Vote! at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City (Best for ages 4-6)
- Mock election with storybook characters!
- Also at 2:00 pm
- 11/5 at 2:00 pm | Hogwarts Slime at Central Branch Library in Columbia (Best for ages 7-11)
- 11/5 at 2:00 pm | STEM Fun: Snap Circuits at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for ages 6-10)
- 11/5 at 6:00 pm | Spanish Conversation and Vocabulary at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for ages 8-12)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 11/4 at 9:00 am | School’s Out! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
- 11/4 at 1:30 pm | School’s Out! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
- 11/5 at 9:00 am | School’s Out! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
- 11/5 at 10:00 am | Young Explorers @MoCA Arlington’s Innovation Studio + Store
- Drop-in art activities
- 11/5 at 1:30 pm | School’s Out Sushi! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
City of Alexandria
- 11/4 | Garden Sprouts – Nature Playgroup at Green Spring Gardens Park ($) (Best for ages 3-5)
- 11/4 & 11/5 All Day | Dinovember at Barrett Branch Library
- 11/5 at 3:00 pm | Teacher Work Day Crafting! Family Friendly Workshop at AR Workshop Alexandria ($)
More Virginia Events
- 11/4 & 11/5 at 9:30 am | Piano Express Mini Camp at Potomac Music in Lorton ($)
- 11/4 at 10:30 am | Funday Monday – Music Together Sing and Groove at Old Town Hall in Fairfax (Best for preschoolers but all ages are welcome)
- 11/4 at 11:00 am | School Day Out Fun Day at Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
- 11/4 at 2:00 pm | Shakespeare in the Park at Fairfax Robinson Woodson Theatre
Virtual
- 11/4 at 11:00 am | Virtual Storytime with the National Postal Museum
DC Museums
New Blog Alert! We have a new listing of 20+ DC museum recommendations for kids & teens. Did I mention that most are free-to-visit? This blog includes travel information, our experiences & food details for each museum. We'll update this one as we visit more museums and gather additional details.
New