Kid-friendly Events this weekend in DC, Maryland & Virginia (7/19 - 7/21)
Welcome to the best week of the year!! It's my birthday week and the kick-off to Liv's birthday week as well. Nate and I spent this past weekend in New Orleans chasing gators on a swamp tour and eating GOODT. The last time we were in NOLA was January of 2019 when I was pregnant with Jack. Liv had the time of her life at the Louisiana Children's Museum. Although they say it isn't a great place to bring children (maybe Bourbon St.), there are definitely kid-friendly gems in the city of New Orleans! We rode a horse drawn carriage through the French Quarter; Liv tried fried alligator for the first time. We need to plan another trip ASAP! But don't mind the rambling, on to these events for the best week of the yearrrrr...
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Friday, July 19, 2024
Washington, DC
- 9:00 am | Dig Deep: Archaeological Discoveries Family Fun Day at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- 10:30 am | Music and Movement at Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11:00 am | Music and Movement at Northeast Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | Jr. Ranger Angler Program (8-week series) at Anacostia Park
- 6 – 15 year olds will receive a free fishing pole, tackle box, booklet, and badge and children 16+ will receive a free DC fishing license.
- 11:30 am | Kids Camp featuring Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse at Alamo Drafthouse ($)
- 6:00 pm | Open Mic with Raise Your Voice DC and Write to Right at Politics & Prose (Best for teens)
- 7:00 pm | Late Night Hype at Turkey Thicket Pool & Recreation Center
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 7:00 am | Southern Maryland Quarter Horse Association – Suntan Circuit Show at Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena
- 10:30 am | Baby Water Play at City of Laurel Splash Pad
- 12:00 pm | Play and Grow at Accokeek Library (Best for ages 0-3)
- 2:00 pm | Playday at the Accokeek Library: Sensory Fun (Best for ages 0-5)
- 5:30 pm | Summer Jam: Independent Retailer’s Celebration at 4310 Gallatin St
Hyattsville, MD- Celebrate Independent Retailers Month with a Summer Jam and market featuring local small businesses! Live music, food, adult beverages, and kids activities will also be available.
- 6:30 pm | DIY Ultimate Candle Making Experience at FSC Workshop in District Heights ($)
- I recommend this activity for older kids.
- 7:00 pm | Summer Art Share at Greenbelt Community Center (Best for teens and adults)
- Artists: meet up with fellow creatives for an informal discussion of everyone’s work. Bring 1-3 pieces in any medium to share.
- 7:30 pm | Movies in the Park (Kung Fu Panda 4) at Watkins Regional Park
- 9:30 pm | Next Level Gaming at Seat Pleasant Community Center (Best for teens)
Montgomery County
- 10:30 am & 11:30 am | Toddler Storytime at Potomac Library
- 10:30 am | Miss Nelson is Missing! at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- 10:30 am | Family Storytime at Wheaton Library
- Also at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville
- 10:30 am | Play Date at Olney Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11:00 am | Read across Generations at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for readers in Kindergarten – 3rd grade)
- 2:00 pm | LEGO Afternoon at Gaithersburg Library
- 2:30 pm | LEGO STEM Challenge at Damascus Library (Best for ages 6-12)
- 3:30 pm | Lego Construction Crew & Duplo too! at Olney Library
- 3:30 pm | Preschool Play and Learn at Twinbrook Library (Best for ages 3-5)
- 4:00 pm | Anime Club at Aspen Hill Library (Best for teens)
- 5:00 pm | Teen Flix ~ The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes at Gaithersburg Library (Best for teens)
More Maryland Events
- All Day | Find Where’s Waldo at participating stores in Columbia, MD
- 10:00 am | The Official Who Was? Ultimate Fan Experience with Snug Books at Port Discovery in Baltimore
- 11:00 am | East Columbia Summer Celebration: Summer Reading Carnival at East Columbia Branch Library
- 2:30 pm | Arts & Crafts: Create Egg Carton Turtles at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 8-11)
- 5:30 pm | Community Line Dance Party at Pisgah Park in La Plata
- 5:30 pm | Silly Slime Company at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($)
- 6:00 pm | Meet a Bird, Paint a Bird at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area in Owings Mills ($) (Best for ages 10 & up)
- 6:30 pm | After-Hours Teen Lock-in at Central Branch Library (Best for ages 11-14)
- 7:00 pm | Disney Night at Elk Run Vineyards in Mount Airy, MD ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Bounce in the Park at Jennie Dean Park (Best for ages 3-9)
- 11:30 am | Kids Camp featuring Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse at Alamo Drafthouse ($)
- 7:30 pm | Encore Stage presents The Sound of Music at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre ($)
- 8:00 pm | Columbia Pike Movie Night ~ Vivo at Arlington Mill
City of Alexandria
- 10:30 am | Ms. Niki at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 0-8)
- Join Ms. Niki as she sings upbeat original songs and classics with a twist you’ve never heard before.
- 2:30 pm | Screening of Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space at Beatley Central Library
More Virginia Events
- 10:30 am | Kiddle Karoo’s Monster Puppet Playhouse at Wolf Trap ($) (Best for ages 2-8)
- 11:00 am | Dairy Days – Ice Cream Making & Butter at Sully Historic Site ($)
- 3:00 pm | Ice Cream Social at Manassas Mall
- 7:30 pm | Yellow Dubmarine at Royal Lake Park in Fairfax
- Tribute to the greatest Beatles songs of all time, performing the music from the “1” album in a tightly rehearsed reggae style
- 7:30 pm | Shenandoah Run at Lake Accotink
- Songs and sounds of American folk music, from the 1960s to today
Saturday, July 20, 2024
Washington, DC
- 9:00 am | Cultural Literacy through Puppets featuring Callaloo Kids at Folger Shakespeare Library
- 9:30 am | Little Critters: Nature Play (Animal Movement) at the National Zoo (Best for ages 0-5)
- 10:00 am | July Family Day: The Olympic Games at the Library of Congress
- 10:00 am | STAR Day at Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library
- Families are invited to explore playful early learning activities, pick up fun prizes, enjoy a show by Ms. Niki’s Music Class, and get great ideas for ways to sing, talk, and read at home!
- 10:00 am | Art Cart: Cubist Creations at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- 10:00 am | Olympics Scavenger Hunt at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- 10:00 am | Family Activity: Patriotic Fabric Flowers at DAR Museum (Best for ages 7+)
- 10:00 am | Crafty Tales: Henri Matisse at Merry Pin (Best for ages 3-8)
- 10:00 am | #STEAMtheBlock Swagliga STEAM Club at Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library
- 10:30 am | Story Time for the Spectrum at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11:00 am | art Enables Saturday Workshop ~ Art of Assemblage
- 11:00 am | Camp Cardozo at Harrison Recreation Center
- A NEW health-centered/family-friendly festival coming to the U Street Corridor!
- 11:00 am | Art in the Garden at Lederer Gardens
- 11:30 am | Stay and Play at Shaw Neighborhood Library
- Open play time for tots ages 0-5
- 12:00 pm | Roving Leaders’ Day at Langdon Park
- 12:00 pm | Live on the Hill – Mad Science (Marvels of Motion) at Eastern Market Playground at 9th & Penn (900 D St SE)
- 12:00 pm | Fundamentals of Cartooning at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
- 1:00 pm | Maker Talk: Games are for Everybody at MLK Memorial Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Game designer Kristen Marcinek will break down the basics of video game creation and how gaming can help create a better world.
- 2:00 pm | Food Science: Watermelon 3 Ways at Mt. Pleasant Library
- 7:30 pm | DC United v. Celtic FC at Audi Field ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 7:00 am | Southern Maryland Quarter Horse Association – Suntan Circuit Show at Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena
- 10:00 am | Eco Vida: Green Fair & Pet Fest at Edmonston Recreation Center
- 10:30 am | Cub Corner: Maryland Aviation at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 5 & under)
- 11:30 am | Touch a Truck with PGPD & PGFD at Largo-Kettering Library
- 12:00 pm | Dinosaur Park Open House
- 12:00 pm | Family Art Time at Spaulding’s Library in District Heights
- For children who have autism or other exceptional needs and their families
- 12:00 pm | Doormat Painting at FSC Workshop in District Heights ($)
- I recommend this activity for older kids, teens & adults.
- 1:00 pm | Teen Leadership Program at Glenarden Library
- In this program, teens will use creative writing to learn about leadership skills, build confidence, and develop real-world readiness. They will explore vision leading, job readiness, finance, journaling, and manners.
- 3:00 pm | Board Game Fun at Glenarden Library
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Beginning Miniaturists at Damascus Library (Best for ages 10+)
- Learn the craft of miniatures by completing a group project. Supplies provided.
- Stick around for the Miniaturists Club at 12 pm!
- 10:30 am | Read to a Dog at Kensington Park Library
- 10:30 am | Read across Generations at Gaithersburg Library
- 10:30 am | Cantaré ~ Sings and Rhythms of Latin America at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- 10:30 am | Found in the Stars presented by Captain Curiosity Theatre at Rockville Memorial Library
- 10:30 am | Parachute Party Family Storytime at Aspen Hill Library
- 10:30 am | Read to a Dog at Potomac Library
- For readers in Kindergarten – 5th grade
- 11:00 am | Chalk our Walks! at Olney Library
- 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEM (Paint Canister Fireworks) at Noyes Library for Young Children in Kensington
- 11:00 am | Read to a Dog at Aspen Hill Library
- 11:00 am & 11:40 am | Family Storytime at Germantown Library
- 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Miss Nelson is Missing! at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- Pride Day & meet the actors at the 4:00 pm show!
- 2:00 pm | Science Heroes: “Adventures of the Lost Treasure” at Wheaton Library
- 2:00 pm | Germantown Construction Crew: LEGO/Duplo Drop-in at Germantown Library
- 2:30 pm | Cantaré: Songs and Rhythms of Latin America at Gaithersburg Library
- 3:00 pm | Chess Club at Aspen Hill Library
- 4:00 pm | Found in the Stars presented by Captain Curiosity Theatre at Kensington Park Library
- 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Flower Dyeing at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
More Maryland Events
- All Day | Find Where’s Waldo at participating stores in Columbia, MD
- 9:00 am | Christmas in July at Howard County Fairgrounds ($)
- Kids admission is free. Activities include visit from Santa, petting zoo, moon bounce, face painting, fairy hair and sand art.
- 9:00 am | Family Fun Saturday at Mary’s Land Farm ($)
- 10:00 am | Good Kid-izen (City in the Garden Guardians) at Color Burst Park in Columbia
- 10:00 am | African American Cultural Expo & Children’s Book Fair at Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf
- 11:00 am | Savage Summer Reading Celebration: Summer Safari at Savage Branch Library
- Activities include face painting, balloon animal making, salsa dancing, math games & more.
- 12:00 pm | Christmas in July at B&O Railroad ($)
- Purchase The Polar Express Train Ride tickets at the lowest price with frozen hot chocolate, visits from Santa, ornament making &. more!
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Pre-K: Carnivorous Plants at Long Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 3-5)
- 10:30 am | Family STEAM Saturday at Shirlington Library
- 12:00 pm | Family Sushi at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 6 & up)
- 1:00 pm | Wizards & Wands: Kids Dance Party at Courthouse Library
- 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | Encore Stage presents The Sound of Music at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre ($)
- Blooms & Ballads Pre-show at 1pm ($) includes Make Your Own Bouquet experience, inspired by the timeless lyrics of “A Few of My Favorite Things.”
- 8:00 pm | Columbia Pike Movie Night ~ Coco at Penrose Square
City of Alexandria
- 10:15 am | Saturday Pop In Pop Up Story Time at Duncan Branch Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 10:30 am | Saturday Stories: Meghana Narayan at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 4-8)
- 7:30 pm | Outdoor Movie Night ~ Moana at 1800 Limerick St.
More Virginia Events
- 8:00 am | Sheriff’s FREE Safety Seat Inspections in Fairfax
- 8:00 am | Beginning Birdwatching at Hidden Oaks Nature Center ($)
- 9:00 am | Bird Bingo at Burke Lake Park ($)
- 10:00 am | Mad Science of Washington at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
- 10:00 am | The YOJO Show at Westfield Park in Annandale
- 10:00 am | Groovy Nate at Reston Town Square Park
- 11:00 am | The Strange Shape of Sundials at Turner Farm Park ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- 11:30 am | Summer Daze Comedy Show at Manassas Mall
- The Fantastical Character Company is hosting a comedy show/kid friendly skit.
- 2:00 pm | Making Ice & Ice Cream at Walney in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park ($)
- 5:30 pm | Sunset Polo at Great Meadow in The Plains ($)
- Disney Plus Party Night!
- 6:00 pm | Marsha and the Positrons & Saved by the 90s at Mosaic Live! in Fairfax
- 7:30 pm | West African Cultural Heritage Night ‘Soul in Motion’ at Ossian Hall Park in Annandale
- 7:30 pm | Fast Eddie & The Slowpokes at Workhouse Arts Center at Lorton
- Playlist is inspired by classic blues material from Chicago to West Coast Swing, Motown to Muscle Shoals, and all the rock n’ roll in between
- 8:00 pm | Campfire Saturdays at Burke Lake Park ($)
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Washington, DC
- 12:00 pm | National Ice Cream Day at metrobar DC
- Variety of delicious ice cream flavors and toppings, storytime, arts and crafts, and facepainting.
- 1:35 pm | Family Funday at Nationals Park – Nationals v. Cincinnati Reds ($)
- Use code 4DMVKIDS for 30% off all home games!
- 3:00 pm | DCPL and the District of Raga Present Imam Hamdani & Manik Khan in Concert at MLK Memorial Library
- Experience the captivating interplay between the guitar and sarod.
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 7:00 am | Southern Maryland Quarter Horse Association – Suntan Circuit Show at Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena
- 11:00 am | Cold Process Soap Making Workshop at FSC Workshop in District Heights ($)
- I recommend this activity for older kids, teens & adults.
- 12:00 pm | Olympic Field Day at Le Fantome in Riverdale
- 12:00 pm | Brushes & Beats: A Go-Go Themed Youth Paint & Sip at Arts’tination, National Harbor
- 1:00 pm | Alcohol Ink Painting at FSC Workshop in District Heights ($)
- I recommend this activity for older kids.
- 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: Wonka at National Harbor
Montgomery County
- 9:30 am | Debra Kempf Shumaker for “Freaky, Funky Fish” Storytime at People’s Book Takoma
- 10:00 am | Sunday Open Explore at KID Museum in Bethesda, MD ($) (Best for ages 4 – 14)
- Use code SUNFUN24 for 20% tickets!
- 10:30 am | Family Storytime at Rockville Memorial Library
- Also at Davis Library in Bethesda
- 12:00 pm | Kids Crafts! Fingerprint Watermelons at Aspen Hill Library
- 1:00 pm | Chess Club at Rockville Memorial Library
- 2:00 pm | Sunday LEGO Challenge at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- 2:00 pm | Family Storytime at Olney Library
More Maryland Events
- All Day | Find Where’s Waldo at participating stores in Columbia, MD
- 9:00 am | Christmas in July at Howard County Fairgrounds ($)
- Kids admission is free. Activities include visit from Santa, petting zoo, moon bounce, face painting, fairy hair and sand art.
- 12:00 pm | Christmas in July at B&O Railroad ($)
- Purchase The Polar Express Train Ride tickets at the lowest price with frozen hot chocolate, visits from Santa, ornament making &. more!
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Summer Fun Family Series at Metropolitan Park
- Make your own Masterpiece with The Block Print Bike.
- 10:00 am | Storybooks with Snakes at Potomac Overlook Regional Park (waitlist)
- 11:00 am | Lubber Run Summer Concert Series – Mr. Jon & Friends at Lubber Run Amphitheater
- 2:00 pm | Encore Stage presents The Sound of Music at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre ($)
City of Alexandria
- 1:00 pm | Dungeons & Dragons at the Barrett Branch Library (Best for ages 13-18)
- 2:00 pm | Family Day with Young Historians at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum ($)
- 2:30 pm | Preschool STEAM Sundays at Duncan Branch Library (Best for ages 3-6)
More Virginia Events
- 12:00 pm | Petting Zoo – Shipgarten’s 2 Year Anniversary in McLean
- 7:30 pm | The NOVA Symphony Orchestra at Mason District Park in Annandale
Need Daily Things-to-do?
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