Kid-friendly Weekend Activities in DC, Maryland & Virginia (8/16 – 8/18)
Have your visited the Children's Experience at the Museum of the Bible yet? There's plenty to do including a small jungle gym and carnival style games featuring stories about young characters from the Bible. You could honestly spend the majority of your day there but there are 5 other levels to explore too. I was pleasantly surprised by how much the museum caters to children even outside of the Children's Experience. From scavenger hunts by age group to educational carts and their kid-friendly menu at the cafe, it's definitely one to add to your list if you haven't visited. Admission can get pricey so check out Groupon for discounts and Fever for early admission tickets usually only offered to members! There's also a Family Day event going on this Friday (8/16), which kicks-off this week's listing of fun things to do...
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events
Friday, August 16, 2024
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Dig Deep: Archaeological Discoveries Family Fun Day at the Museum of the Bible
- See the recap of our visit to the museum of the Bible on Instagram
- 11:30 am | Kids Camp featuring The Neverending Story at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
- 3:00 pm | Back to School Boogie & Book Bags at Douglass Community Center
- 7:30 pm | MJ the Musical at The National Theatre ($)
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 4:30 pm | With Pen in Hand: Spotlight on Poetry at Oxon Hill Library (Best for teens & adults)
- 5:30 pm | Summer Jam: International Celebration at Heurich Park in Hyattsville
- 6:30 pm | Teens on the Lawn at Prince George’s Ballroom in Hyattsville
- 7:00 pm | Summer Movie Night featuring Kung Fu Panda 4 at Cosca Regional Park in Clinton
Montgomery County
- [Opening Week] 10:30 am | DinoRock: Dinosaur Babies presented by The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 3:00 pm | Teen Flix – Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse at Gaithersburg Library
- 4:00 pm | Anime Club at Aspen Hill Library (Best for teens)
- 4:00 pm | Make Your Own Collages at Kensington Park Library
- 7:00 pm | Mean Girls High School Edition at Glen Echo Park ($)
More Maryland Events
- 2:30 pm | Arts & Crafts: Make Pom-Pom Characters at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 8-11)
Virginia
Arlington County
- [Last Chance] 10:00 am | Bounce in the Park at Jennie Dean Park (Best for ages 3-9)
- 11:00 am | Kindergarten Kick-off at Shirlington Library
- 11:15 am | Kids Camp featuring The Neverending Story at Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City ($)
- 12:00 pm | 2024 Met Park Scavenger Hunt
- Ends Sunday, August 18th
- 2:00 pm | Arlington County Fair
- 7:30 pm | Sturgeon Moon Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities which may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores.
- 8:30 pm | Columbia Pike Movie Night featuring Hair Spray at Arlington Mill
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Back to School Event at Gum Springs Community Center
- 10:30 am | Latin Ballet of Virginia Presents: Fiesta del Sol at Charles Beatley Branch Library
- 7:00 pm | Back to School Supply Drive & Community Concert at Redeemed Church of Christ
More Virginia Events
- 7:00 pm | Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at Wolf Trap ($)
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Alma’s Way: Explore Your City with PBS Kids at The Yards
- Bring your lawn chair and a blanket and prepare for an exciting opportunity to visit with local community organizations, hear from local transit professionals, enjoy performances and Explore Your City.
- 10:30 am | A Weekend Trip: Meet Author and Illustrator Cynthia Cliff at Petworth Library
- Includes book!
- 11:00 am | Family Program: Exploring Leaf Shapes at the US Botanic Garden
- 11:00 am | The National Theatre Live! “Dance with Me! An Introduction to Ballet” at Capitol View Library
- Children and families are invited to watch selections from famous ballets and learn some steps of your own with a short class presented by artists from Virginia Ballet Company.
- 12:00 pm | We’re Headed Back to School at Benning Stoddert Recreation Center
- 12:00 pm | Sneaker Con Washington DC at the Washington Convention Center ($)
- 12:00 pm | Zip & Paint at the Anacostia Community Museum
- Transform ordinary jeans and jean jackets into unique, personalized pieces of art!
- 1:00 pm | 10th Annual Chuck Brown Day at Fort Dupont Park
- 2:00 pm | East of the River Fall Fest at Sycamore & Oak
- 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | MJ the Musical at The National Theatre ($)
- 5:00 pm | Parents Night Out at iGen Educational Academy ($)
Maryland
Reminder: Maryland tax-free Week ends Saturday, August 17th!
Prince George’s County
- 9:00 am | PGCPS Back to School Drive and Dash at 3 schools
- High Point High School – North
- Charles H. Flowers High School – Central
- Oxon Hill High School – South
- 11:00 am | Bibliobop Dance Party at Greenbelt Library (Best for ages 0-5)
- 11:00 am | Children’s Hour with Yoruba Language at Marietta House Museum (Best for ages 4-12)
- 11:00 am | Bike Rodeo at Heurich Park in Hyattsville
- 11:00 am | New Design for a New World presented by STEAM Forward at Upper Marlboro Library (Best for ages 8-15)
- Build a model space station using structural engineering, Green Design, and Restorative Design practices. Learn about circuits and solar energy while using the engineering process to redesign a room for a school.
- 1:00 pm | Teen Leadership Program at Glenarden Library
- 2:00 pm | Amazing Austen at Hyattsville Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Don some Regency finery and join PGCMLS in celebrating Jane Austen with games, food, and other fun.
- 5:00 pm | Hot Joe’s Summer at Joe’s Movement Emporium featuring UCB
- 6:00 pm | Summer Teen Wrap Up at Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex (SAARC) (Best for ages 13 – 17)
Montgomery County
- [For Educators] 9:00 am | K-12 Appreciation Day at People’s Book Takoma
- 10:00 am | Air Dry Clay Succulent Planter Make & Take at Creative Outlets Arts Center in Burtonsville
- [For New Moms] 10:00 am | Celebrate “Moms Way, Everyday” with buybuy Baby Rockville
- In celebration of breastfeeding awareness month
- 10:25 am | Dance Party at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for walkers – age 8)
- 10:30 am | Try Ball Hockey at Ridge Road Recreation Center in Germantown (Best for ages 5-17)
- Also check out Learn to In-line Skate happening at 12:00 pm.
- 11:00 am | Echoes of Nature ~ Superhero Animals at Rockville Memorial Library
- Learn the natural history of specific animals and some fun facts.
- 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEAM ~ Magic Journals at Noyes Library for Young Children
- 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | DinoRock: Dinosaur Babies presented by The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 12:00 pm | Saturday Storytime: Rocks Rock! at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville (Best for ages 6-10)
- 2:00 pm | Craft at the Library: Ping Pong Planets at Twinbrook Library in Rockville
- 2:00 pm | Beginning LEGO Robotics Class at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 9-12)
- 3:00 pm | Painting Craft at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville (Best for ages 5+)
- 4:00 pm | Mean Girls High School Edition at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 7:30 pm | Dive-in Movie featuring Migration at Upper County Outdoor Pool in Gaithersburg ($)
More Maryland Events
- All Day | Back to School Brick Week at B&O Railroad ($)
- See link for list of events going on all week!
- [Opening Day] 9:00 am | Clarksville Sunflower Festival in Ellicott City ($)
- Runs through September 8th!
- 10:00 am | Good Kid-izen ~ Let’s Get Moving! Fun with Fitness at Color Burst Park in Columbia
- 11:00 am | Picnic & Paint at Nanjemoy Community Center (Southern MD)
- 2:00 pm | National Radio Day at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 8-11)
- Write and record a legal ID or an “on-air” announcement for your theoretical one hour of radio programming.
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Arlington County Fair
- Sensory friendly hours are 10am – 1pm
- 10:00 am | Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Thomas Jefferson Community Center
- 5:00 pm | “Let It FLOW” by Baltimore Artist Scott Pennington ~ Carnival Style game as part of the Fair at Thomas Jefferson Community Center
- 10:00 am | Fruits, Leaves & Roots, Oh My! at Fort CF Smith Park ($) (Best for ages 6-9)
- 11:30 am | For ages 10-12
- Talk about the different parts of plants that humans and other animals eat, using examples & possibly harvest & taste vegetables.
- 10:30 am | Spellbinders Story Fest at Long Branch Nature Center (Best for ages 4+)
- 11:00 am | Kindergarten Kick-off at Shirlington Library
- 5:00 pm | Maps and Compasses at Long Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
- 8:00 pm | Summer Owl Prowl for Families at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
- 8:30 pm | Columbia Pike Movie Night featuring The Little Mermaid at Penrose Square
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Family Fun Aquatic Adventures at Green Spring Gardens Park in ($)
- 10:30 am | Animal Encounters: Dog Days of Summer Pet Show at Charles Beatley Branch Library
- 11:00 am | Family Friendly Wood + Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop ($)
- 5:00 pm | STEAM-tastic: Satellites in Outer Space – Antenna Pointing (Best for ages 10 – 15)
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Mr. Gabe and Friends at Mason District Park Amphitheater in Annandale
- 10:00 am | Mr. Lilo at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly
- 10:00 am | Ms. Niki at Burke Lake Park Amphitheater in Fairfax Station
- 10:00 am | the grandsons, jr. at Wakefield Park in Annandale
- [Last Chance] 10:30 am | Kidz Korner ~ Music with Marsha! of Marsha and the Positrons inside Old Town Hall in Fairfax
- 11:00 am | Sully Community Day and Back to School Day in Herndon
- 3:45 pm | Farm Skills – Animal Caretaker at Frying Pan Park in Herndon ($) (Best for ages 7-14)
- 5:30 pm | Sunset Polo at Great Meadow in The Plains ($)
- Denim & Diamonds Night
- 6:00 pm | Starlight Cinema featuring Wish & Mr. Gabe & Friends at Sully Historic Site in Herndon
- 6:00 pm | Family Skate and Dance Night – Back to School Flashback to the 90’s & 00’s at Franconia Recreation Center ($)
- Bring your own skates!
- [Last Chance] 6:00 pm | Mosaic Live Summer Concert Series featuring School of Rock Vienna & Ocho de Bastos in Fairfax
Featured Event | Happening at Springfield Town Center on Saturday (12pm – 7pm) & Sunday (12pm – 6pm), party with Marty The Party Cat at Gabby’s Dollhouse for FREE! Fans are encouraged to RSVP though standbys are welcome and encouraged. Here’s the link for more info!
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Washington, DC
- 10:30 am | Meet & Greet with Author Eleanor Spicer Rice and Illustrator Rob Wilson of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives” at Politics & Prose at The Wharf (Best for ages 8-11)
- The author will read from her book and there will be an interactive drawing demonstration with a limited supply of drawing pads for attendees.
- 12:00 pm | Sneaker Con Washington DC at the Washington Convention Center ($)
- 2:00 pm | Space Jam Screening at The Miracle Theatre ($)
- 2:00 pm | Washington Spirit v. Arsenal FC at Audi Field ($)
- 2:00 pm | Kiddough Doughnut Decorating Party at Good Company Doughnuts in SW ($)
- 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm | MJ the Musical at The National Theatre ($)
- 7:30 pm | Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance by Rajesh Sai Babu and Group at the Kennedy Center ($)
- Program presented by the Indian Performing Arts Promotion (IPAP) in partnership with the Embassy of India for India’s 77th independence celebration.
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 12:00 pm | Brushes & Beats: A Go-Go Themed Youth Paint & Sip at National Harbor (Best for ages 5-17)
- 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac featuring Migration at National Harbor
Montgomery County
- 9:30 am | ASL Storytime with Motion Light Lab at People’s Book Takoma
- 11:00 am | Back to School Fair at Upper County Community Recreation Center (Best for ages 4-18)
- [Last Chance] 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 11:30 am & 1:00 pm | DinoRock: Dinosaur Babies presented by The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- 2:00 pm | Story Hour featuring BEAUTIFUL: the Carole King Musical at Olney Library
More Maryland Events
- All Day | Back to School Brick Week at B&O Railroad ($)
- See link for list of events going on all week!
- 12:00 pm | Mermaid Hair at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar in Ellicott City ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Summer Fun Family Series
- DIY Pinwheels
- 11:00 am | Arlington County Fair
- Sensory friendly hours are 11am – 1pm
- 4:00 pm | The Virginia State Insect Nature Photo Walk at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | STEAM-tastic: Satellites in Outer Space – Antenna Pointing (Best for ages 6 – 10)
More Virginia Events
- 12:00 pm | Tay Sway hosts Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
Need Daily Things-to-do?
Check out this list of 100+ recurring kid-friendly things-to-do for each day of the week. Most activities are free or low cost! This list is reviewed & updated weekly, so peep in frequently.
ICYMI