Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (1/24 - 1/26)

Top picks in this list have the heart symbol ♥ at the end of the listing!
Events

Friday, January 24, 2025
Washington, DC
- 4:00 pm | Art Attack Art Program at Georgetown University (Best for ages 6-12)
- Inspired by the work of Norval Morrisseau
- 5:00 pm | Fort Stevens Family Line Dance at Fort Stevens Recreation Center
- 7:00 pm | Monster Jam at Capital One Arena ($) ♥
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 4:00 pm | Cartoon Fan Club at Accokeek Library
Montgomery County
- [Just Added] 10:15 am | Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 1+)
- 10:30 am | Beale Street Puppets presents Snowflakes at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 5:30 pm | Middle School Maker Night at KID Museum ($) (Best for grades 6th – 8th) ♥
- 7:30 pm | Relic Ensemble Shares “The Dawn of Time” Chamber Music Concert at Takoma Park Community Center
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Downtown Discovery Day at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore
- $2 off general admission
- 7:00 pm | Free Friday Indoor Movie ~ Paw Patrol (2023) in Laurel
Virginia
Arlington County
- 6:00 pm | Flying Squirrel Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- 6:00 pm | Parent’s Night Out at Walter Reed Community Center ($)
City of Alexandria
- 3:30 pm | Fun Friday at Burke Branch Library (Best for grades K-5)
- 3:30 pm | Chrysalis Teen Science Café at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility
- The AI Revolution: Pathways to Future Careers in a Changing World
- 6:30 pm | Family Movie Night at Chick Armstrong Recreation Center ($)
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Musical Storytime: “The Snowy Day” at Potomac Music in Lorton ($) (Best for ages 0-7)
- 12:00 pm | Jurassic Quest at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly ($)

Saturday, January 25, 2025
Washington, DC
- 9:30 am | Little Critters: Nature Play (Animal Diets) at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
- [Good for educators & parents] 10:00 am | Eyes on Reading: Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright in Conversation with Emily Hanford at Planet Word ($)
- 10:00 am | Residency Workshop: “Postcards from Summer” – Yewande Kotun Davis at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop in SE
- Interactive workshop for all ages where participants will create their own “postcards” from an imagined or remembered location that brings them peace or joy.
- 10:00 am | Winter Blast: A Family Day of Native Games at National Museum of the American Indian
- This family-friendly event celebrates Indigenous games from the Arctic to Argentina. Learn to play Native games from across the hemisphere in celebration of winter.
- 10:15 am | Crafty Tales: Maria Merian at Merry Pin in NW
- Free art activity based on a book/artist
- 10:30 am | Open Studio: Make a Statement at Hirshhorn Museum
- 10:30 am | Heure du Conte at Alliance Française de Washington DC in NW (Best for ages 3-7)
- French reading program
- 11:00 am | Spoonful of Style: Transform Wooden Spoons into Artful Treasures at Art Enables in NE ♥
- 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Art & Me Family Workshop: The Peacock Room at the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for ages 3-8)
- 12:00 pm | Super Friends Saturday at Anacostia Park Skate Pavilion
- Free skate rentals, activities & hot cocoa
- 1:00 pm | Books, Bonding & Beyond at Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center
- Storytime & activity with Terry “Goofy” Jones
- 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Monster Jam at Capital One Arena ($) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Kiddough Decorating Party at Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe in SW ($)
- 3:00 pm | Kids’ Galette des Rois Party in the AFDC Library in NW ($)
- 4:00 pm | Fork Painting Abominable Snowmen at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 3+)
- 6:00 pm | THEARC Orchestra Concert in SE
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:00 am | Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Buddy Attick Park
- [Waitlist] 10:30 am | Space for Me: Sensory-Friendly Hour at NASA Goddard Visitor Center
- 11:00 am | Family Winter Sip & Paint at Bowie Community Center ($)
- 11:00 am | Seed Swap Festival at Mount Rainier Nature Center
- Includes story time, crafts & seed starting workshop
- 1:00 pm | Afternoon Aviators: Engineering at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
- [Just Added] 1:00 pm | District 2 Annual Barbie Event: Girls Defying Gravity at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier (Best for ages 13-17) ♥
- [Limited Tickets Left] 1:00 pm | Stories on Stage! presented by Heart of Art Studio at Bowie Library (Best for ages 5-10)
- Unlock the magic of storytelling through dynamic, engaging performances as we bring beloved stories to life! From reading aloud to acting on stage, children will build reading skills while expressing their creativity.
- 3:30 pm | All Ages Show at Bobby McKeys National Harbor ($)
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | MLK Cleanup at Northwest Branch Trail
- [Just Added] 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 1+)
- 10:30 am | Bundle Up! A Wintry Family Storytime at Aspen Hill Library
- 10:30 am | STEM at the Little Falls Library in Bethesda
- 10:30 am | Lunar New Year 2025 at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- 11:00 am | Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks at Robert E Parilla Performing Arts Center in Rockville ($) (Best for ages 10+) ♥
- Written by New York Times Best-selling Author Jason Reynolds.
- 11:00 am | 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Westfield Montgomery
- 11:00 am | Drag Story Hour at Potomac Library
- 11:00 am | DC Transit Day at National Capital Trolley Museum ($)
- 11:30 am | Celebrate Lunar New Year at White Oak Library
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | Beale Street Puppets presents Snowflakes at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 1:00 pm | Dog Man Party! at Gaithersburg Library (Best for grades K-5th) ♥
- Includes games & crafts
- 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage ($)
- Meet the actors at the 4:00 pm show!
- 1:30 pm | Make it & Take it: Snowflakes at Black Hill Discovery Center in Boyds ($)
- 2:00 pm | Secret Messages with Invisible Ink: STEAM at Germantown Library (Best for ages 5+)
- 2:00 pm | Celebrate Lunar New Year with Li-Ming Chinese Academy at Wheaton Library
- 2:00 pm | Celebrate the Year of the Snake with Jenn’s Uncommon Critters at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Cardboard Shape Building at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
- [Few Seats Left] 4:00 pm | Marshmallow Towers at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Howard County Child Care Fair 2025 in Columbia
- Includes camps & day cares!
- 10:00 am | Stuffies Day Out at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($) ♥
- 10:00 am | Downtown Discovery Day at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore
- $2 off general admission
- 10:00 am & 2:00 pm | Paw Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” at Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center ($)
- 11:00 am | Free Kids Event: Cool Creations featuring Wikki Stix at Lakeshore Learning Towson
- 11:00 am | Picture Bingo at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- 1:00 pm | Howard County Recreation & Parks Camp Fair at North Laurel Community Center (Best for ages 2-14)
- 1:00 pm | Waste Warriors: Eco Education at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for teens)
- 1:00 pm | Ice Princess Party at Elite Gymnastics in Waldorf ($) (Best for ages 5-17)
- 2:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration at Crofton Library
- 2:30 pm | Origami Fidgets at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 7-11)
- 3:00 pm | Game On! at Mt. Pleasant in Woodstock
- Friendly afternoon of nature-themed board and card games, such as Wingspan, Arboretum and more.
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | “Artsy Party” – the MoCA Arlington Innovation Studio + Store 1st Anniversary
- 11:00 am | Japanese New Year’s Festival at George Mason ($)
- 2:00 pm | Ready, Set, Game! at Columbia Pike Library: Mario Kart Racing (Best for ages 13-18)
- 4:30 pm | Winter Bird Campfire at Gulf Branch Nature Center ($)
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($)
- 6:30 pm | Friends of Arlington Planetarium Show – Moon Shot: The Rocket Pioneers ($) ♥
- In Moon Shot: The Rocket Pioneers you get to see the history of rocket development – how space travel was transformed from the dreams of science fiction to real world science. Learn about the some of the pioneering individuals who worked hard to make rockets and spaceflight a reality.
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Free Kids Crafts at Made in ALX
- 10:30 am | Grand Gaming Melee at Charles Beatley Central Library
- 11:00 am | Family Friendly Wood & Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop ($)
- 11:00 am | Free Kids Event: Cool Creations featuring Wikki Stix at Lakeshore Learning
- 11:00 am & 1:45 pm | 2024 Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run ($)
- 3:00 pm | The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents Gold Rush: An American Musical Adventure at Alexandria City High School ($) (Best for ages 4-12)
- Musical adventure celebrating great American composers, including Copland, Sousa, Grofé, E. Bernstein and more!
More Virginia Events
- 9:00 am | Jurassic Quest at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly ($)
- 10:00 am | Truth in Voice, Truth in Service at Jim Scott Community Center in Fairfax (Best for grades 7th – 12th) ♥
- Youth engagement and community service activities
- 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Winter Wonder Lab at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($)
- [Just Added] 11:00 am | Mon Chouchou Grand Opening in Leesburg
- 12:00 pm | ICE-travaganza at Reston Town Center
- Family-fun winter themed event featuring ice sculptures including a live sculpting demonstration, FREE hot chocolate (while supplies last), and more!
- 12:00 pm | 2025 Polar Plunge at Mosaic in Fairfax
- Gather your friends (and your nerves) and Go All In for Special Olympics Virginia. Every penny raised supports 23,000 athletes of all abilities.
- 2:00 pm | Herndon Community Center Open House
- Explore all of the center’s amenities including swimming, craft time, Zumba, basketball & more!
- 5:00 pm | Campfire Night Hike – Predators at Night at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax ($)
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate and Dance Night: Sport Jersey Night at Franconia Recreation Center ($)
- 6:30 pm | Mysterious Space at Hidden Oaks Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 7+)
- Chase away winter boredom by going on an interactive space adventure that includes an activity, puzzles, and a craft.


Sunday, January 26, 2025
Washington, DC
- 8:15 am | Teen Volunteer Project: DC Central Kitchen (Best for ages 12-17)
- 10:00 am | Building Readers Club January Meeting at the National Building Museum (Best for ages 10 & under) ♥
- 10:30 am | Read Aloud & Craft for Zamzam at Politics and Prose Connecticut Ave. (Best for ages 5-8)
- 11:00 am | Community Day: The People’s Holiday: A Love of Literacy at the National Museum of African American History
- 1:00 pm | Monster Jam at Capital One Arena ($) ♥
- 1:00 pm | School of Rock Alexandria performs at Hard Rock Café DC
- 1:00 pm | A Day of Action at the National Portrait Gallery (Best for teens & adults)
- [Just Added] 2:00 pm | Commanders vs. Eagles Watch Party at Deanwood Community Center
- 3:00 pm | AYPO Prelude Strings & Concert Orchestra at MLK Memorial Library
- 5:00 pm | Annie Costia Beat Ya Feet Go-Go-Musical at THEARC Theater
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 6:00 pm | Lion Dance at MGM National Harbor
Montgomery County
- 9:30 am | Debra Shumaker for “Wind is a Dance” Storytime at People’s Book Takoma
- [Just Added] 10:00 am & 11:30 am | Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 1+)
- 11:00 am | Intro to Cardboard Construction: Scroll Saw Workshop at KID Museum ($) (Best for grades 2nd – 5th)
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | Beale Street Puppets presents Snowflakes at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 12:00 pm | MLK Cleanup at Matthew Henson Trail in Silver Spring
- 1:30 pm | Year of the Snake at Croydon Creek Nature Center in Rockville ($)
- 2:00 pm | Teens and Entrepreneurship at Connie Morella Library
- 2:00 pm | Get Ready for College: Financial Aid at Davis Library in Bethesda
- 2:30 pm | STEM at the Library: Air in Motion – The Windy Day at Damascus Library
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Downtown Discovery Day at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore
- $2 off general admission
- 11:00 am & 3:00 pm | Paw Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” at Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center ($)
- 1:00 pm | Puzzle & Board Game Swap at Central Branch Library in Columbia
Virginia
Arlington County
- 1:00 pm | Tiny Tot: Volcano Experiment at Long Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 18 months – 3)
- 3:00 pm | Friends of Arlington Planetarium Show – Moon Shot: The Rocket Pioneers ($) ♥
- In Moon Shot: The Rocket Pioneers you get to see the history of rocket development – how space travel was transformed from the dreams of science fiction to real world science. Learn about the some of the pioneering individuals who worked hard to make rockets and spaceflight a reality.
City of Alexandria
- 11:00 am & 1:45 pm | 2024 Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run ($)
More Virginia Events
- 9:00 am | Jurassic Quest at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly ($)
- 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Winter Wonder Lab at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($)
- 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm | Maple Syrup Boil Down at Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls ($)
- Watch and learn as sap is boiled down into delicious, sweet syrup over an open fire. Sample the delicious combination of maple syrup over cornbread, made from Colvin Run cornmeal.
- 12:00 pm | Petting Zoo hosts Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
- 1:00 pm & 2:30 pm | Dino Puppet Show & Activities at Hidden Oaks Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 2:00 pm | Making Ice & Ice Cream at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly ($)
- 5:30 pm | Owl Walk and Talk at Lake Fairfax Park ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- During a story reading, learn to identify local owl calls, discover why owls are nicknamed flying tigers of the night and enjoy a woodland stroll.
Virtual
- 11:00 am | Art & Me Virtual Family Workshop: The Peacock Room hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for ages 3-8)
Monday, January 27, 2025

NEW KID with Imagination Stage
Monday, January 27th is a no school day for some kids! Spend the morning at Planet Word with a special presentation of NEW KID by Imagination Stage. We saw this play last year, which touches on elements of immigration, friendship and tough times. This mini play is best suited for 3rd - 5th graders. Tickets are $10 each. Tap the image above for more info!

Winter Dome Workshop
Stop by the National Building Museum on Monday, January 27th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for their Winter Dome Workshop. Explore the basics of geodesic domes and the innovative ways architects and engineers use forces to create self-supporting structures. After learning how to create strong structures, participants will have the opportunity to build their own special mini Winter Dome. This activity is free with museum admission, which is $7/youth & $10/adult. Tap the image above for more info!