Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (4/4 - 4/6)
It's AwesomeCON weekend in DC this weekend + many spring-themed things are on the horizon. We visited AwesomeCON for the first time last year and it was AWESOME! So many things to do including the AwesomeCON Jr. section that features daily activities & kid-friendly booths with lots of goodies to buy. Our good friends at Upbounders by Little Likes Kids will partner with this year's festivities, so if you stop by their booth please mention us! There's a movement zone with featured events like The Pumpkin King and Queen Musical Storytime with Jack and Sally and Q&A with the hosts of Blue’s Clues (yes, including Steve!). There are also drawing workshops, featured author guests and a free play area for the littlest of kids that may need a break or two while exploring. DC Public Library will host a couple of gatherings as well including a magic show on Saturday that I highlighted in the Saturday in DC events below. Tap the image above for more info on AwesomeCON Jr. and to purchase last minute tickets! Kids passes are $25 per person while adult tickets are $65 - $75 per person depending on the day you visit. 3-day passes are $120! Now on to even more activities happening this weekend...
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events
Top picks in this list have the heart symbol ♥ at the end of the listing!
This Weekend through April 20, 2025
EARTH TO SPACE FESTIVAL CONTINUES AT THE KENNEDY CENTER
For three weeks, EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky will fill the Center with musicians and astronauts, poets and researchers, visual artists and engineers, actors and environmentalists, architects and astronomers, dancers and scientists, filmmakers and space designers. There are plenty of kid-friendly events with this festival including a family concert, dance group, movie screenings and more. Tap the title above for more info!
Friday, April 4, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Storytime: Love the World at the National Gallery of Art
- 10:00 am | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 10:30 am | Heure Du Conte at Shaw Library
- Bilingual fun in French and English!
- 11:30 am | Mother Earth and Me at Discovery Theater ($) (Best for grades K-2nd)
- 1:00 pm | AwesomeCon at the Washington Convention Center ♥
- DC Public Library Storytime at 5:30 pm
- 3:00 pm, 4:05 pm, 5:10 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:20 pm & 8:25 pm | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 3:30 pm | LEGO Social at Takoma Park Library
- 4:00 pm | Crafternoon at Woodridge Library in NE (Best for ages 8-14)
- 4:00 pm | Games & Activities at Bellevue Library in SW (Best for ages 5+)
- 7:00 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 8:00 pm | Mark Morris Dance Group: MOON at the Kennedy Center ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 1:00 pm | Nature Knowledge at Clearwater Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 9-14)
- A home-school science club where children will experience nature through multimedia presentations, discussion, stories, hikes, and/or hands-on activities.
Montgomery County
- 11:00 am | Earth Day Storytime at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 4:30 pm | Read to a Dog at White Oak Library
- Each reader will have ten minutes to read one-on-one with Yoda, the certified therapy dog!
More Maryland Events
- 4:00 pm | Securing the Money Bag: Budgeting for Your Wants and Needs at Savage Branch Library in Laurel
- 6:30 pm | Family Friday Planetarium Program & Movie ~ Meeting the Moon, ‘Earth, Moon, and Sun’ at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 5:30 pm | Family Art PAUSE at Studio PAUSE Pike
- make your own section of “The Poetry Fence” to take home
- 6:00 pm | Frog Story & Chorus Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- 6:00 pm | Family Night at Carver Community Center
City of Alexandria
- 9:00 am | First Friday Bird Count at Buddie Ford Nature Center
- 10:00 am | Poetry Month Activity Area at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 0-12) ♥
- Create poems on the poetry board using magnetic words and pictures & pick up a poetry packet to learn how to write haiku, acrostics, and more! Pick up the teen take and make too.
- 10:00 am | Pick Up a Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library
- 6:30 pm | Family Bingo Night at Chick Armstrong Recreation Center
- 7:15 pm | Symphony of Frogs at Huntley Meadows Park ($)
- Join a naturalist for a discussion and a guided walk to listen for serenading frogs and toads. Learn the calls of a bull frog, southern leopard frog, green frog, tree frog and American toad.
More Virginia Events
- 5:00 pm | 3 Point Contest at Manassas Mall
- 7:00 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($)
- 8:00 pm | Stargazing at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
- 8:00 pm | Amphibian Adventures After Dark at Burke Lake Park ($)
Saturday (4/5) in Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- 9:30 am & 11:00 am | Saturday Morning Live! Presents: Paper Dreams at The National Theatre
- 10:00 am | AwesomeCon at the Washington Convention Center ♥
- Stop by room 208 for the Beyond the Magic presentation presented by DC Public Library featuring a hands-on workshop where you’ll craft your own Studio Ghibli-inspired bookmark, or make a Ghibli-themed keychain using Pearler beads.
- 10:00 am | Weaving Family Threads at the National Museum of the American Indian ♥
- Hands-on interactive demonstrations to share some of the processes involved with weaving, including carding (combing) wool and spinning wool into thread.
- 10:00 am | First Saturday: April at the National Gallery of Art
- This month’s festival includes children’s yoga and a pop-up library featuring the work of Elizabeth Catlett.
- 10:00 am | Open Studio: Love, Queen at the Hirshhorn Museum
- Experiment with painting, drawing, and photography to create a unique work of art.
- 10:00 am | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 10:00 am | Friends of the National Arboretum Volunteer Open House at the Washington Youth Garden
- 10:15 am | Crafty Tales: Salvador Dali at Merry Pin in NW (Best for ages 3-8)
- Free craft based on artist/book
- 10:30 am | April Family Day: Japanese Culture Day at The Library of Congress ♥
- Watch performances and join in fun activities inspired by Japanese culture as part of Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
- 10:30 am | The Sky Tonight: Live Planetarium Show at the National Air and Space Museum
- 10:30 am | NASA Activities for Kids: Clouds & Heliophysics Edition at The Kennedy Center ♥
- There will also be art activities beginning at 11:00 am in Moonshot Studio & also a design your own space suit activity at 2:00 pm.
- 10:30 am – 8:15 pm (every hour or so) | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 11:00 am | Discovering Earth from the Stars: Aneeshwar at NASA Documentary and Q&A at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 11:00 am | WILD Nature Play Club at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
- [Limited Seats Left] 11:00 am | A Minecraft Movie Family Party at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
- 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 11:15 am | “Goat in the Rug” Puppet Theater at the National Museum of the American Indian in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center (Best for ages 0-10) ♥
- 11:30 am | Slow Looking for Families at the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for ages 7+)
- Guided slow looking in the Japanese screen room
- 12:00 pm | Supreme Teens “In My Bag” Financial Literacy Seminar at Bald Eagle Recreation Center
- 1:00 pm | Forest Bathing for Families at the National Museum of Asian Art
- “Shinrin-yoku,” or taking in the forest atmosphere with all of your senses, is a way to slow down, unwind, and connect to the natural world. Through a series of simple sensory exercises, experience the wonders of nature with this relaxing mindfulness practice in the courtyard, rain or shine.
- 1:00 pm | National Cherry Blossom Festival: Petalpalooza at The Yards in SE ♥
- Includes family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers & a fireworks show!
- 2:00 pm | Family Improv at Tenley-Friendship Library ♥
- 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm | Mark Morris Dance Group: MOON at the Kennedy Center ($)
- 3:00 pm | Teen Studio: Animated Imaginations, Part 2 at the Hirshhorn Museum (Best for ages 13-18)
- Inspired by the mesmerizing zoetrope of twin artists OSGEMEOS, we’ll dive into the magic of motion. In Part 2, we will build off of Part 1 and animate our character designs. Explore dynamic techniques such as the spinning zoetrope and the art of stop motion. To register, email [email protected].
- 4:00 pm | Cherry Blossom Craft at Southwest Library (Best for ages 3-12)
Saturday (4/5) in Maryland & Northern Virginia
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:00 am | Town of Riverdale Park Egg Hunt at Riversdale House Museum Historic Site
- 10:00 am & 11:00 am | Egg Hunt EGG-STRAVAGANZA! at Calvert Park in College Park
- 10:00 am | Adventure Seekers – National Arboretum starting at Mount Rainier Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
- 10:30 am | Telling Our Greenbelt Stories! at Greenbelt Library (Best for ages 9-14)
- Attendees will create and reflect on their personal stories while connecting them to the stories of past Greenbelt residents in the Tugwell Collection.
- 11:00 am | Nature Community Day at Clearwater Nature Center ♥
- Includes Animal Ambassador meet & greets, DIY gemstone crafts, nature arts & craft activities, family campfire & free-flight bird show!
- 11:00 am | Nature Community Day at Watkins Nature Center ♥
- 11:00 am | Women Airfare Service Pilots Tour at the College Park Aviation Museum in College Park ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- 11:00 am | Social Justice Themes in African Poetry: Writing Your Own Poetry at South Bowie Library
- Hear poems from 12 countries in ten languages, from Ancient Egypt to today’s diaspora in Maryland. Learn how to express your own voice for social justice by writing poems using words, shapes, and sounds.
- 11:30 am | STEM for Families: Maryland Wildlife at Baden Library in Brandywine (Best for ages 5-12)
- 12:00 pm | Teen Arts Summit at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex
- 12:00 pm | Dinosaur Park Open House in Laurel
- 12:00 pm | Family Art Time at Beltsville Library
- For children who have autism or other exceptional needs and their families!
- 1:00 pm | Crafternoon: Potted Plants at Mount Rainier Library
- 4:00 pm | Sneaker Wonderland at Potomac Landing Community Center in Fort Washington ($) (Best for ages 12-18)
- 7:30 pm | 5K Glow Walk/Run for Autism at Watkins Regional Park ($)
Montgomery County
- 9:00 am | Breakfast with the Bunny at Dave & Busters Gaithersburg ($)
- 1:00 pm | Egg Decorating for Tweens & Teens at Potomac Library (Best for ages 10-17)
- 2:00 pm | Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance at Chevy Chase Library
- 2:00 pm | Recycled Bottle Cap Flowers: Earth Day Craft at Germantown Library
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Summer Camp & Activity Fair at Davis Middle School in Waldorf
- 10:00 am | 2025 Children’s Discovery Fair: Wiggle, Learn & Grow at East Columbia 50+ Center ♥
- Bring your child(ren) ages 3 to 5 on the path to kindergarten readiness to explore the wonders of learning while engaging in free hands-on, education- themed activities, interactive games, crafts, stories and movement exercises together.
- 11:00 am | April’s Finger Paint Party at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- 11:00 am | Chemistry in the Library: Chemists Celebrate Earth Week at East Columbia Branch Library (Best for ages 7+)
- 11:30 am | Project Wild: Animal Tracks Identification at Savage Branch Library in Laurel
- Through stories, activities, and special animal track identification guides learn about Maryland wildlife and how you can identify up to 20 different animal tracks. Then make and compare tracks of your own.
- 2:00 pm | The Humane Society Presents: Egg-citement at La Plata Branch Library
- Learn about the life cycle of chickens, the importance of eggs in our ecosystem & meet live chickens up close.
- 3:00 pm | Teen Live! Fun & Games at Central Branch Library in Columbia (Best for ages 11-17)
- Dusk | Public Star Party at Alpha Ridge Park in Mariottsville
Virginia
Arlington County
- 8:00 am | “Hand Lettering a Family Tree” at Lubber Run Farmers Market Opening Day
- Choose one of the template family trees drawn by Arlington artists Melanie Kehoss and Christiann MacAuley and fill in the names in your own writing style or use our basic introduction guide to calligraphy.
- 9:00 am | Red Cross Babysitting Class at Walter Reed Center ($) (Best for ages 11-17)
- 10:00 am | Make Spring Wreaths at Arlington Mill Community Center ($)
- 10:15 am | Saturday Play Day at Central Library (Best for ages 1-3)
- 10:30 am | Poetry Party at Shirlington Library
- Make a poetry bookmark, play our acrostic poem bean bag toss and enjoy snacks in this celebration of poetry month.
- [Limited Seats Left] 11:00 am | A Minecraft Movie Family Party at Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City ($)
- 11:00 am | Kids Sushi Class at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- 11:00 am | Spring Crafts for Kids at Gulf Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 6-10)
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($)
- 6:30 pm | APS Weekend featuring Habitat Earth at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- 8:00 pm | APS Weekend featuring Expedition Chesapeake, A Journey of Discovery at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
City of Alexandria
- 7:00 am | ALX Dog Walk Alexandria ($)
- 10:00 am | Pick Up a Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library
- 10:00 am | Girl Scout “Art and Design” Brownie Badge Workshop at Del Ray Artisans ($)
- 10:00 am | Garden Artists – Spring Wildflowers at Green Spring Gardens Park ($)
- 10:00 am | Poetry Month Activity Area at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 0-12) ♥
- Create poems on the poetry board using magnetic words and pictures & pick up a poetry packet to learn how to write haiku, acrostics, and more! Pick up the teen take and make too.
- 12:00 pm | Family Fun Day featuring Poetry Palooza at Carlyle House Historic Park
- 1:00 pm | Cake Decorating 101 at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 2:00 pm | All Alexandria Reads: Brixalot LEGO at Barrett Branch Library (Best for ages 6+)
- Create adventures with Brixalot’s Superhero Legos.
- 3:00 pm | Spring Fling Concert at DelRay United Methodist Church
- 3:00 pm | Make Your Own Bath Bombs at Made in ALX ($)
- Kids attend free with a registered adult.
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Bluebells at the Bend at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($) ♥
- Enjoy wildflower walks, live animals, exhibitors, live music, kids crafts and food.
- 10:00 am | Spring Fest at McLean Community Center
- Includes spring-themed arts and crafts, entertainment and the opportunity for your child to take a photo with our costumed bunny.
- 10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($)
- 11:00 am | Summer Camp Fair at Manassas Mall
- 11:00 am | Art Blooms at Mosaic in Fairfax ♥
- Includes live music, kids obstacle course, dog rescue, selfie stations & more!
- 12:00 pm | Fun-filled Easter Celebration at Leesburg Premium Outlets
- Includes live music by Rocknoceros, Easter Show, face paint, balloons & more!
- 12:00 pm | Providence Earth Day Celebration at Graham Road Community Building in Falls Church
- 2:00 pm | Natures Colorful Eggs at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield ($)
- Nature creates lots of colorful eggs this time of year. Learn who will be laying eggs this spring and what they look like. Make an egg-themed craft to take home.
- 3:00 pm | Spring EGG-stravaganza at Lake Fairfax Park ($) (Best for ages 3+)
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | AwesomeCon at the Washington Convention Center ♥
- Stop by the DC Public Library booth for arts & crafts
- 10:00 am | Free Community Day at the National Museum of Women in Fine Arts
- 10:00 am | Weaving Family Threads at the National Museum of the American Indian
- Hands-on interactive demonstrations to share some of the processes involved with weaving, including carding (combing) wool and spinning wool into thread.
- 10:00 am | Wave: From Space to Ocean Exhibit at The Kennedy Center
- Wave: From Space to Ocean is a world premiere immersive artwork that invites viewers to interact with data from NASA’s new PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—satellite through their own physical gestures.
- 10:30 am | NASA Activities for Kids: LandSat Edition at The Kennedy Center ♥
- There will also be art activities beginning at 11:00 am in Moonshot Studio & also a design your own space suit activity at 2:00 pm.
- 10:30 am – 8:15 pm (every hour or so) | The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Through voiceover, Tom Hanks narrates an immersive experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon. Projected in 360 degrees on the walls and the floor, The Moonwalkers is full of space-age wonder, perfect for families and visitors of all ages.
- 11:00 am | Girl Scouts – Gardens and Green Roofs at The National Building Museum ($)
- 11:00 am | Union Station Spring Fling
- Includes flower arranging workshops ($), face paint, musical performances, origami crafting station, Photo Booth & more!
- 11:00 am | MTP Block Fest at Lamont Plaza in NW
- Includes skate demo & photo contest and free performances
- 12:00 pm | Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly at Oxon Run Park in SE
- 12:00 pm | Jazz and Blossoms 2025 at Franklin Park in NW ♥
- Includes face paint, roller skating, video games, caricature drawings, double dutch, creative writing & other workshop!
- [Last Chance] 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm | Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 2:00 pm | Spring Sip & Paint! Flower Pots & Tote Bags at Made with Love DC in NE ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm | Painting and Uke Jam at Greenbelt Community Center
- The Greenbelt Museum will also host a FREE spring open house!
- 2:00 pm | Anime Movie Day at National Harbor: A Silent Voice
Montgomery County
- 10:30 am | 2025 Teen Poetry Contest at Davis Library in Bethesda
- 1:00 pm | Valerie Tripp Tea Party & Craft Afternoon at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- Meet Valerie Tripp, writer of numerous American Girl books, enjoy afternoon tea, and participate in a themed craft facilitated by Babbity Kate.
- 2:00 pm | Therapeutic Recreation Family Egg-Sessible Sunday at Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center
- Free event for individuals with disabilities and their families.
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Sensory Sundays at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($)
- Flower Power theme includes flower craft, sensory exploration table, spring games and an exhibit tour
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | All About Brunch: Cajun – Morning Family Class at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move: Celebrating Spring Family Fun Series at Metropolitan Park
- Make mixed media prints & listen to live music!
- 1:30 pm | APS Weekend featuring Expedition Chesapeake, A Journey of Discovery at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- 3:00 pm | APS Weekend featuring One World, One Sky at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Kids Crafts: Science Sunday with Cyanotype Paper + Titan Robotics at Made in ALX ♥
- Learn how cyanotype paper works with the sun to create images + learn about robotics with a special appearance by the Titan Robotics team from Alexandria City High School (from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) with one of their robots and their new children’s book!
- 11:00 am | Del Ray Dog Fest 2025 at George Washington Middle School Parking Lot ($)
- 1:00 pm | Cake Decorating 101 at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 9-14)
- 1:00 pm | Poetry Month Activity Area at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 0-12) ♥
- Create poems on the poetry board using magnetic words and pictures & pick up a poetry packet to learn how to write haiku, acrostics, and more! Pick up the teen take and make too.
- 1:00 pm | Pick Up a Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library
- [For Adults] 4:00 pm | Author Event: Dr. Krupa Playforth, Baby Leads the Way at Old Town Books
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | NVA Thai Street Food & Culture Festival in Manassas
- 11:00 am | Art Blooms at Mosaic in Fairfax ♥
- Includes live music, kids obstacle course, dog rescue, selfie stations & more!
- 12:00 pm | Magic Show at Manassas Mall
- 12:00 pm | Snow White and Minecraft Steve Host Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
- 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show on Earth at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($)
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Need Daily Things-to-do?
Just updated! Check out story times, book clubs and other daily/monthly happenings around town in this continuously updated collection. You'll find all-ages activities for free and paid admission. Click the link below to check it out!
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