Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (12/20 - 12/22)

Washington, DC

• 9:30 am | Little Critters: Nature Play (Winter Animals) at the National Zoo (Best for ages 0-8) 
• 9:30 am & 11:00 am | Holiday Jewelry Making with the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens ($) 
• 10:00 am | STEM Budding Builders at Palisades Neighborhood Library 
• 10:00 am | Community Christmas Extravaganza at Rosedale Recreation Center 
• 10:00 am | Grinchmas at Kenilworth Recreation Center  
• 10:00 am | Winter Craft Workshop: Danish Hygge at the National Building Museum ($) 
• 10:30 am | Story Time for the Spectrum at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library
  • All children and their families are invited to this fun story time, packed with sensory-friendly activities designed to be enjoyed by children of all abilities, including those on the autism spectrum.
• 10:30 am | Open Studio: Artistic Reflections at Hirshhorn Museum
  • Use LED lights and circuits to play with reflections of light and color! 
• [Limited Seats Left] 10:40 am | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Family Party at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
• 11:00 am | The Polar Express Pajama Party at the Miracle Theatre in SE ($) 
• 11:00 am | Toy Giveaway & Winter Sale Kickoff at the 365 Couture in NW
  • Includes a free toy giveaway for children, hot chocolate & Santa meet & greet 
• 11:00 am | Clothing Swap at Shaw Neighborhood Library (Best for teens & adults) 
• 11:00 am | Breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Cafe DC ($) 
• 11:45 am & 1:00 pm | Dance Sanctuaries curated by DC Bhangra Crew at The Kennedy Center 
• 12:00 pm | Tara Hoot’s Free Family Fun Holiday Story Time at Shakers in NW
  • This story time event isn’t just stories. It’s songs, dancing, puppets, bubbles and more.
• 12:00 pm | Ugly Sweater Party & Holiday Market at City-State Brewery in NE
  • Includes crafts for kids! 
• 12:00 pm | Winter Wonderland at Anacostia Park
  • End of year holiday skate party! Make holiday gifts, cards & more. 
• [Waitlist] 12:00 pm | Shape of Soap Workshop at the Anacostia Community Museum
  • Learn to craft beautiful, colorful, and scented glycerin soaps using a variety of molds. 
• 1:00 pm | In-Gallery Art Studio at the National Portrait Gallery
  • Drop-in art making!
• 1:00 pm | Lion Dance Performance at Union Market
  • Traditional lion dance from Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe, a Northern Virginia-based dance group dedicated to promoting the treasure of tradition and Chinese culture through dance.
• 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | A Candlelight Christmas at The Kennedy Center ($) 
• 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm | Finn at The Kennedy Center ($)
• [Just Added] 2:00 pm | Holiday Hype at MLK Memorial Library 
• 2:00 pm | Holiday Movie Matinees: Elf at U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza in NW
• 2:00 pm | Ugly Sweater Decorating Party & Fashion Show at Shaw Neighborhood Library 
• 2:00 pm | SpyKids Mission Training at Volta Park Pool in NW ($) 
• 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm | The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker at Warner Theatre ($)
• [This Weekend Only] 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | The Hip-Hop Nutcracker at The National Theatre ($)
• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre ($)
• 3:00 pm | Carlos Rosario Holiday Market at La Cosecha in NE
  • Enjoy food, crafts & more! 
• 5:00 pm | ZooLights at Smithsonian National Zoo ($) 

Maryland

Prince George’s County

• 10:30 am | Cub Corner: All Aboard! at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 3-6) 
• 11:00 am, 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm | Class Act Performing Arts presents: Holiday Classics at Bowie Center for the Performing Arts ($) 
• 12:00 pm | Dinosaur Park Open House in Laurel 
• 12:00 pm | Magic Elf Hunt! at Belair Mansion 
• 12:00 pm | In the Water Basketball at Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena ($)
  • Family, friends, and prospective college coaches will watch highly competitive matchups over a two-day showcase.
• 1:00 pm | Lunch with Santa and Friends at South Bowie Community Center ($) 
• 1:00 pm | Tail Waggin’ Tutors at New Carrolton Library
  • Build your child’s confidence as they read to specially trained therapy dogs. Bring a book or choose one from the library. Each child will read for 10 minutes.
• 2:00 pm | Kids Paint + Glow Party at Oblivion Art House in College Park ($) 
• 2:00 pm | Let’s Get Ornamental at Brentwood Arts Exchange
  • Enjoy a family-friendly workshop and create handmade ornaments from a variety of materials. 
• 2:30 pm | Family Movie: Disney Pixar’s Wish at Accokeek Library 
• 3:00 pm | The Metropolitan Follies: A Holiday Revue! Performance at National Harbor 
• 4:00 pm | Holiday Movie Night featuring The Santa Clause & The Grinch at Bowie Playhouse ($)

Montgomery County

• 10:30 am | STEM Adventures: Create Your Own Gingerbread House at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 4+) 
• 10:30 am | Parachute Party Family Storytime at Aspen Hill Library 
• 10:30 am | Read to a Dog at Kensington Park Library 
• 11:00 am | Greeting Card Crafting at Potomac Library (Best for ages 3-13) 
• 11:00 am | Read to a Dog at Aspen Hill Library 
• 11:00 am | Nature Ornaments at Maydale Nature Classroom in Colesville ($) 
• 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park ($)
  • The 2:00 pm show is sensory friendly, ASL interpreted & includes a free hot cocoa bar! 
• 11:30 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm | The Puppet Co. presents the 36th Annual Nutcracker at Glen Echo Park ($)
• 1:00 pm | Fun with Furs at Black Hill Discovery Center in Boyds
  • See and feel animal furs up close with a naturalist. Learn the anatomy of deer and other wildlife up close with hands-on examples.
• 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 5+)
  • The 1:00 pm show will be ASL interpreted & there’s an actor meet & greet too. 
• 1:30 pm | Creature Feature at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton
  • An up-close encounter with one of our animal ambassadors
• 2:00 pm | Mr. Jon Performance! at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 2-12)
  • Join multiple Parents’ Choice Award winning musician Mr. Jon & Friends for a fun interactive show for the whole family.
• 2:00 pm | Snowflake Salt Painting: Winter-themed Art at Germantown Library  (Best for ages 5+) 
• 2:00 pm | Music at the Library – NIH Chamber Singers at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg 
• 3:30 pm | New Orchestra of Washington presents “La Música De Las Américas” at Wheaton Library 
• 4:00 pm | Winter Solstice Campfire at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton ($) 
• 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Snow! Snow! Snow! at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
  • Come learn how to make faux snow with baking soda and shaving cream! You can even make your own snowman with your snow.
• 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Take, Make & Meet at Long Branch Library in Silver Spring
  • Show off your creations!

More Maryland Events

• 10:00 am | The Polar Express Train Ride at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($)
• [Just Added] 10:00 am | Holiday Family Sip & Paint in Waldorf ($)
• 10:00 am & 11:00 am | Lil’ Stars – Colors in Space: Black & White at Robinson Nature Center ($)
  • Let your little one discover outer space through views of the stars and planets, stories, crafts and song. Call to book tickets!
• 11:00 am | How to Wrap (Almost) Anything at Glenwood Branch Library in Cooksville (Best for ages 10+) 
• 11:00 am | Holidays at The Lewis Museum
  • Includes  a Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony with African dancing and drumming with Sankofa Dance Theater, choral singing by the Singing Sensations Youth Choir, a presentation on Center Stage’s Black Nativity and an author’s reading of Hair Like Obama’s, Hands Like Lebron’s by children’s author Carole Boston Weatherford.   
• 11:30 am | Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 4-11) 
• 2:00 pm | Winter Solstice Slow Down at Discoveries: The library at Westfield Annapolis (Best for ages 6-10)
  • Learn more about which critters slow down and rest during the colder months of the year and practice ways to slow down with them.
• [Just Added] 2:00 pm | 2nd Annual Winter Wonderland Extravaganza on the Farm in La Plata ($) 
• 2:00 pm | Winter Solstice – Story, Hike and Campfire at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel (Best for ages 5+) 
• 2:00 pm | Christmas Paint Party at Joyful Studio in La Plata ($)
• 3:00 pm | Saturday Family Crafternoon: Homemade Seasonal Decor at Potomac Branch Library in Indian Head 
• 4:00 pm | STEAM Makers: Holiday Hand-Sewing at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 8-11) 
• 4:00 pm | Santa is Coming to Town at sweetFrog Laurel 

Virginia

Arlington County 

• 11:00 am | Search for Santa’s Critters at Potomac Overlook Regional Park ($)
  • Scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats for the holidays!
• 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | Little Comedies at Theatre on the Run ($)
  • Expressed through body and facial masks, pantomime, and dazzling choreography, this reinvention of a Synetic classic, “The Music Box,” treats audiences of all ages to a series of enchanting, wordless vignettes set to mesmerizing music.
• [Limited Seats Left] 11:15 am | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Family Party at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
• 1:00 pm | Nailed it! Gingerbread House Cake at Cookology ($)
  • Note the class is priced per cake not by person!
• 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($)

City of Alexandria

• 10:00 am | Upcycled Wrapping at Barrett Branch Library
  • Free gift wrapping kits 
• 10:00 am | Wrap it Green at Beatley Central Library
  • Free gift wrapping kits!
• 10:00 am & 1:00 pm | Festive Frosting Creative Cookie Art Class ($) (Best for ages 6-12) 
• 11:00 am | Brunch with Santa at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town ($) 
• 12:00 pm | Ice & Lights The Winter Village at Cameron Run ($)
• 7:30 pm | The Gift of Music: ASO’s Holiday Concert featuring Chelsea Green at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center ($)

More Virginia Events

• 9:00 am | Holiday Entertainments at Mount Vernon Estate ($) 
• 10:00 am | Holiday Bricktacular at Lego Discovery Center DC in Springfield ($)
• 12:00 pm | Drop-in & Drop-off Brick Building at Bricks & Minifigs Herndon (Best for ages 6-12) 
• 5:30 pm | Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon Estate ($)
  • An evening of festive lights and spectacular fireworks over the Potomac River. Chat with soldiers at an 18th-century winter encampment, and meet their holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel.
• 6:00 pm | Family Skate and Dance Night – Holiday Ugly Sweater Skate and Dance Night at Franconia Rec Center ($) 
• 6:15 pm | Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon ($)
• 7:00 pm | “Christmas in Fairfax” performed by The City of Fairfax Band at Fairfax High School ($)

Virtual

• 1:00 pm | Virtual Planetarium Show hosted by the National Air & Space Museum