Kid-friendly Activities in DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia this Weekend (2/28 - 3/2)

Washington, DC

• 10:00 am | First Saturday: March at the National Gallery of Art ♥
  • Includes a Fashion Showcase, Haitian Dance & Drums, crafts, face painting, etc.   
• [Best for Adults] 10:00 am | Eyes on Reading: What’s Next in the Science of Reading at Planet Word ($)
  • Explore crucial questions about the future of reading science and its implications for education, policy, and beyond.
• 10:30 am | Heure du Conte at Alliance Française de Washington DC in NW (Best for ages 3-7)
  • French stories
• 10:30 am | Language Science Station at Planet Word
  • Contribute to language research through games and activities; have conversations about language with language scientists.
• 10:30 am, 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
• 11:00 am | WILD Nature Play Club at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
  • Live family concert with our “Get a Head Start with the Smithsonian” friends Nick the Music Man and Pinky Jackalope! Includes short hike, story and nature activity.
• 11:00 am | Adventuring Party ~ Dungeons & Dragons for Kids at Woodridge Library (Best for ages 8-11)
• 11:15 am & 1:00 pm | Story Time with the Author: “The Gift of the Great Buffalo” at the National Museum of the American Indian (Best for ages 3-9) ♥
  • Second reading at 1:00 pm!
• 12:00 pm | Family Story Time: Opening the Road with Keila Dawson at the MLK Memorial Library 
• 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm | The Other Children of the Sun at The Kennedy Center ($) (Best for ages 7+)
  • This whimsical superhero adventure, based on Navajo creation legend, follows the journey of celestial siblings.
• 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm | 2025 Shen Yun at The Kennedy Center ($) 
• 2:00 pm | Barracks Row Main Street’s Mardi Gras Celebration on 8th St SE
• 2:00 pm | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at The Miracle Theatre ($)
• 3:00 pm | Art À La Cart at MLK Memorial Library
  • Doodle like Da Vinci and collage like Kahlo with art from our cart!
• 3:00 pm | Mardi Gras at The Wharf ♥
  • Includes crafts & a spirited parade featuring stilt walkers, jugglers, the Mardi Gras king and queen, and fantastic floats.

Maryland

Prince George’s County

• 10:00 am | Adventure Seekers at Old Maryland Farm ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
  • Pick up/drop off at Mount Rainier Nature Center 
• 10:00 am | Youth Aviators: Pilot Module at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 12-18) ♥
  • Student participants will get introductory lectures into topic areas covered on the Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Exam. They will be tested on content learned for retention and they will interact with pilots, use flight simulators, and explore a fully functioning airport.
• 11:00 am | Beginner/Intermediate Sewing Lab at Oxon Hill Library (Best for teens & adults) 
• 12:00 pm | Build Your Own Potato Battery! at Beltsville Library (Best for grades 3-5) ♥
  • Explore basic biomedical engineering concepts by creating their own potato battery that can power an LED light bulb!
• 1:00 pm | Game Day: Mario Cart on Switch at Upper Marlboro Library 
• 2:00 pm | Notable Local Women Roundtable at Hyattsville Library (Best for teens & adults)  
• 5:00 pm | A Taste of the Caribbean at Arts’tination National Harbor ($)
  • Celebrate Caribbean culture, cuisine, and history through an art workshop, food tastings and entertainment.
• 6:30 pm | West African Musical Journey with Ni Dembaya at Creative Suitland ($) 
• 7:00 pm | Greenbelt Youth Musical ~ Secret Circus at Greenbelt Community Center ($) 

Montgomery County

• 10:00 am | Takoma Park Middle School Book Sale
• 11:00 am | Art Studio for Kids celebrates Irish American Heritage Month at White Oak Library 
• 11:00 am | Crafts at the Library: Superhero Painted Rocks at Kensington Park Library (Best for ages 6-12) 
• 11:30 am | MoCo Black History 365 Knowledge Bowl at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library
• 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | Peter and the Wolf presented by The Puppet Co. at the Glen Echo Park ($) 
• 12:00 pm | Teens Matinee: Wicked at Twinbrook Library in Rockville 
• 1:00 pm | History Alive presents: Clara Barton at White Oak Library 
• [Last Chance] 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage + Mardi Gras Party ($) (Best for ages 4+) ♥
• 2:00 pm | Let’s DIY: March Craft – Woven Basket Hearts at Germantown Library (Best for ages 13+) 
• 3:00 pm | Dancing to the Beat at Aspen Hill Library (Best for teens and adults)
  • Intro to hand dance workshop 
• 4:00 pm | Youth Democracy Fest at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring ♥
  • Students in our community will share their inspiring civic songs, poems and art pieces about the seven “steps to democracy” at the heart of our program.

More Maryland Events

• 10:00 am | Games with Trains at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($) 
• 10:00 am | LiteraSea Weekend at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($)
  • Enjoy themed storytimes, hands-on activities, and play experiences designed to inspire a love for reading.
• 12:00 pm | African American Read-In Community Read-A-Thon at East Columbia Branch Library ♥
  • Participants can listen to stories shared by community partners and students, then engage in arts and crafts. Delicious soul food small plates served.
  • There’s another read-in at the Glenwood Branch Library in Cooksville beginning at 1:00 pm. 
• 2:00 pm | The Humane Society presents: Wild Birds in Our Backyard at Potomac Library in Indian Head 
• 5:00 pm | Mommy & Me | Daddy & Me Paint Night at Joyful Studio in La Plata ($) 
• 5:30 pm | Sweetheart Family Dance at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center ($) (Best for ages 4-11) 

Virginia

Arlington County 

• 11:00 am & 3:00 pm | Flip the Script: Jamila’s Table presented by Encore Stage & Studio at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre ($)
  • The play follows Jamila, a young African American restaurant owner, as she strives to evolve her family’s restaurant into a community hub on Columbia Pike in Arlington, Virginia. She embraces the diverse cultures of the area including Vietnamese, Latinx and African American through their food and traditions, aiming to unite the community for her restaurant’s future.
  • ASL interpretation is provided for the 11:00 am performance!
• 2:00 pm | Frog Frenzy at Potomac Overlook Regional Park ($) (Best for ages 5+)
  • Learn about frogs!
• 2:00 pm | Hot Chocolate Party with Arlington Library ~ Cool games and hot chocolate to celebrate your participation in Winter Reading.
  • Central Library 
  • Columbia Pike Library 
  • Courthouse Library 
  • Glencarlyn Library 
  • Shirlington Library 
  • Westover Library 
• 6:00 pm | Family Skate Night at Thomas Jefferson Community Center ($) 
• 6:30 pm | APS Weekends ~ Astronaut Planetarium Show at Arlington Planetarium ($)
• 8:00 pm | APS Weekends ~ Explore Planetarium Show at Arlington Planetarium ($)

City of Alexandria

• 10:00 am | Tiny Art Show Take and Make at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 5+) 
• 12:00 pm | 42nd Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade ♥
• 1:00 pm | Edible Cookie Dough + Pineapple Dessert Class at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 4-8)

More Virginia Events

• 11:00 am | Spellbinders – Tales of Tails at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale
  • Enjoy oral storytelling from countries around the world.
• 11:00 am | Slithering Tales at Reservoir Park in Ashburn
  • Enjoy a fun children’s story featuring snakes, create a crafty snake-themed project, and get up close with a real snake at the Critter Corner for observation.
• 1:00 pm | Bird Bingo at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax ($)
• 1:00 pm | Mardi Gras Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
  • Includes Kids Corner with Face Painting, Moon Bounce, Crafts and more!
• 2:00 pm | Wonderful Winter Wildlife at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($)
  • Read a story book about animals and their unique adaptations that help them survive the cold winters. Then bundle up and take a hike to look for signs of winter wildlife or play an outdoor game based on the theme of the story.
• 2:00 pm | Craft & Create: Pom Pom Shamrocks at Manassas Park City Library