Top Family-Friendly Activities in the DMV Juneteenth Weekend (6/19 – 6/21)

Sarah at the Frederick Douglass House
It's a great weekend to visit the Frederick Douglass House & Visitor Center in SE DC
  • Updated: 6/17/2026

Note: This weekly listing is full of events happening throughout the weekend for kids (ages 3+) – teens. I place a special emphasis on literacy, STEM & other educational based events as well as family fun festivities. Please click the links to review the most up-to-date information prior to heading out!

Symbol Key

♥: Our favorite that you may have seen in this week’s reel or in our newsletter!

♣: Free movie screening

Coming Up this Weekend

Celebrate Juneteenth Freedom
Friday (6/19) is Juneteenth! "Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas." Read more about the history of Juneteenth via NMAAHC below.
Tap here for more info on Juneteenth

Friday, June 19, 2026

Washington, DC

  • Friday (6/19) | Smithsonian Summer Solstice ♥
    • Museums are open late both Friday (6/19) & Saturday (6/20) 
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Ward 7 Juneteenth Parade at East Washington Heights Baptist Church in SE
    • Includes live music, performances, free food, educational exhibits & Kids Zone! 
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Story Time: Delivering Democracy at National Postal Museum
    • A special Civic Season Story Time designed for learners of all ages to explore the power of the mail in shaping civic life.
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum ♥
    • Includes live entertainment, workshops, recipe exchange & more! 
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Garden Break at the East Terrace of the Enid A. Haupt Garden
    • Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults.
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Juneteenth Freedom Bike Ride from Reservoir Park Community Center in NW
    • Ride to the National Museum of African American History and Culture!
  • Friday (6/19) at 11:00 am | Juneteenth 2026 Celebration at Olney Theatre Center 
  • Friday (6/19) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Hands On: Quillwork Designs at the National Museum of the American Indian 
  • Friday (6/19) at 4:00 pm | Juneteenth Festival at The Square Rockville 
  • Friday (6/19) at 4:00 pm | Indepen’Dance at the National Museum of American History ♥
    • Learn how to “beat ya feet” to a live go-go band with The Go-Go Museum or dance on over to the National Museum of the American Latino’s Molina Family Latino Gallery for salsa inspired activities and instruction!
  • Friday (6/19) at 5:00 pm | African American Music Appreciation Month Performance at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park in SE
    • Featuring The “Original” Moonlighters
  • Friday (6/19) at 7:00 pm | Black Panther at The Miracle Theatre in SE ($) 

Maryland

Northern Virginia

  • Friday (6/19) at 9:00 am | Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day for Juneteenth at Mount Vernon Estate ($)
    • Learn about Ona Judge, Peter Hardiman, Hercules Posey, and Mount Vernon’s many enslaved people who resisted enslavement and sought freedom before the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Friday (6/19) at 10:00 am | Juneteenth Celebration at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly ♥
    • Features powerful storytelling, interactive family activities, delicious food and guided historic tours.
  • Friday (6/19) at 12:00 pm | Juneteenth: Celebrate Freedom at Tinner Hill Historic Site in Falls Church ♥
    • Enjoy live music, historical reenactments, educational presentations, traditional foods, vendors, and activities for all ages. Highlights include performances by Carly Harvey and the DC Retro Jumpers, Frederick Douglass reenactor Darius Wallace, living history demonstrations, games, a bounce house, and more.
  • Friday (6/19) at 1:00 pm | Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria
    • An afternoon of traditional African American spirituals, poetry, ring shouts, banjo tunes, stories, and lively audience participation.
  • Friday (6/19) at 4:00 pm | Juneteenth Celebration at Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria
    • Enjoy food, exhibitors, and live music!
  • Friday (6/19) at 4:00 pm | 3rd Annual Juneteenth Community Day at Wakefield High School in Arlington ♥
    • Includes live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, children’s activities & more!
It's Smithsonian Solstice week on the National Mall and throughout the city! Museums are open late & there's plenty of activities from Thursday (6/18) - Sunday (6/21) with a bunch of kid-friendly activities set for Saturday (6/20) & Sunday (6/21). See highlights below!
Tap here for Smithsonian Solstice info

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Washington, DC

  • Saturday (6/20) | Smithsonian Summer Solstice ♥
    • Museums are open late both Friday (6/19) & Saturday (6/20) 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 am | Pride Family Fun Festival at Stead Park in NW ♥
    • Enjoy crafts, games, entertainment, and activities for all ages.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am | Pollinator Party at Smithsonian Gardens
    • Have fun with hands-on activities. Discover why pollination matters and learn what you can do to help pollinators in your community.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am | The World & Me: WETA PBS KIDS and NMNH’s Solstice Celebration with Alma at the National Museum of Natural History ♥
    • Special guest Alma from the PBS Kids animated series “Alma’s Way” will be present and an episode about her family’s trip to a museum will also be shown throughout the event. Families with learners of all ages will be invited to explore different stations, make observations of specimens from our collection, and explore play and art.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am | 4th Annual Juneteenth Literary Jubilee & Black Author Book Fest at Planet Word in NW ♥
    • Award-winning poet, author, and Hip-Hop educator Tony Keith, Jr.returns as guest MC, who will spotlight local authors exhibiting their works, selling books, and offering personalized signings, then will wrap up the book fest with a dynamic reading and performance.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am | Mr. WeFIT Adventures: Invasion of the Suga Monster at Sycamore and Oak in SE (Best for ages 4+) ♥
    • Kids become heroes in a fun, interactive fitness adventure with games, challenges, and a final Suga Monster showdown.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 am | Little Builder’s Club at National Building Museum (Best for ages 0-5)
    • Little Builders is a monthly workshop series for children ages 5 and under and their caregivers, offering a playful introduction to museums, design, and early STEAM concepts through storytelling, crafts, movement, and hands-on exploration.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | Library Day at the Rubell Museum in SW ♥
    • Free museum entry with DC Public Library!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | Anacostia Library Parents Meet Up and Play Group (Best for ages 0-5 + parents)
    • Meet other parents, learn about library programming, and leave with early literacy tips you can implement at home.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Hands On: Paper Strawberry at the National Museum of the American Indian ♥
    • Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 pm | Mad Science in the Park at the Playground at 9th & Penn in SE
    • Things That Go Boom – Learn the four signs of a chemical reaction through foaming and color-changing experiments, balloon inflation, and, of course, some explosions!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 pm | District of Play Community Clinic at Barry Farms Recreation Center in SE ♥
    • Washington Wizards Jr. basketball clinic 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 pm | 2026 Home Rule Music Festival at the Parks at Walter Reed  in NW ♥
    • Free, family friendly celebration featuring go-go and jazz music, food, drink and merch vendors, record fair and live art.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | 2nd Annual NoMa Pride Block Party 2026 in NE
    • Includes face paint, yard games, local vendors & more!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | Family Improv at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library in NW
    • Play a variety of fun, wacky and absurd games and skits. No experience necessary-all you need to bring is your imagination and your sense of humor. 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 3:00 pm | Capital Pride Parade in NW ♥
    • This beloved tradition honors our history and acknowledges the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in Washington, DC, while respecting the origins and importance of taking to the streets in our fight for equality.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 3:00 pm | Palindrome Party at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library in NW ♥
    • Celebrate palindromes on this palindromic date (6-20-2026) with palindrome-themed games, music, trivia, art and books! Palindromes are words or phrases that read the same forwards and backwards.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm | SpyKids Mission Training at Volta Park Pool in NW ($)
  • Saturday (6/20) at 4:00 pm | Indepen’Dance at the National Museum of American History ♥
  • Saturday (6/20) at 6:00 pm | Sally’s Night at National Air and Space Museum ♥
    • Enjoy activities that explore the wonder of our universe and shine a light on women in STEM. Includes trivia, planetarium shows, scavenger hunt, hands-on activities & more! 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 pm | Solstice, Under the Stars at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
    • Enjoy a late-night skate party featuring sounds by Farrah Flosscett, immersive stargazing experiences, and after-hours access to ACM’s newest exhibition, We Make History.
Pete the Cat makes its debut on stage at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD this weekend! Here's more about the show: Life is a really, really, really big adventure as Pete the Cat and the Biddle family rock out in a fast-paced, globe-trotting musical based on the smash hit book series. When Jimmy Biddle is anxious about finishing second grade, Pete takes him to Paris in his VW bus and Jimmy connects with his inner artist.
Tap here for Peter the Cat Ticket Info

Maryland

Prince George’s County
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 am | Cub Corner at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 3-6)
    • Think like a scientist with Ada Twist! Inspired by the book Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, young innovators will design and decorate their own lab safety goggles while sparking creativity, curiosity, and hands-on STEAM fun.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | Father’s Day Paint Workshop: A Special Bond on Canvas at Arts’tination National Harbor ($) (Best for ages 8+) ♥
    • Join artist Luther Wright for a guided painting experience where participants will create a heartfelt work of art featuring a father and child. This special workshop is designed to honor the love, support, memories, and lasting connections that fathers and father figures bring to our lives.

Maryland

Montgomery County
  • Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 am | Pinstripes Kids Club at Pinstripes Bethesda ($)
    • Camp Pinstripes — Kids can experience all their favorite summer camp crafts and activities—no overnight bags required! 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 am | Build a Bug at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg ♥
    • Design and create your own bug, real or imaginary out of simple materials.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 am | Perler Bead Pride Flags at Rockville Memorial Library
    • Create a pride flag that represents you! This hands-on activity will stimulate your child’s creativity and imagination, while helping them develop critical fine motor skills. 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | 2026 Summer Reading Challenge Kick-off at Davis Library in Bethesda ♥
    • Includes make a dinosaur puppet, drop-in crafts & balloon twisting!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | Ultimate Frisbee at Bauer Drive Community in Rockville
    • Enjoy frisbee throwing demos, frisbee golf, field games, arts and crafts, snacks and more. Free for county residents!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | Pete the Cat at Imagination Stage in Bethesda ($) (Best for ages 4-10) ♥
    • Life is a really, really, really big adventure as Pete the Cat and the Biddle family rock out in a fast-paced, globe-trotting musical based on the smash hit book series.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty: The Time Traveler at Glen Echo Park ($) ♥
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | The Science of Ice Cream at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville
    • Learn about the science of ice cream with a special guest from Bruster’s Ice Cream! Explore how ice cream is made with hands-on activities.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 6:00 pm | Juneteenth Reimagined: Black Panther at Bowie Ice Arena ♣
    • Come dressed in your best Afrocentric attire and enjoy an evening filled with pride, celebration, and inspiration for the whole family!
  • Saturday (6/20) at 6:30 pm | Skywatching: Telescope Fun at Observatory Park in Gaithersburg
    • Bring your telescope for expert tips or explore the night sky through ours! Enjoy hands-on activities and stargazing.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 pm | Shakespeare in the Parks Tour: As You Like It at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville 

More Maryland Events

Manassas Bee Festival
On Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am, head to Manassas, VA for the 6th Annual Bee Festival! Join thousands of visitors and buzz on by to have fun and learn about honeybees, native pollinators, and planting native plants at this FREE annual event.
Tap here for Bee Festival Info

Northern Virginia

Arlington County

Northern Virginia

City of Alexandria

More Northern Virginia Events

  • Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 am | Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day for Juneteenth at Mount Vernon Estate ($)
    • Learn about Ona Judge, Peter Hardiman, Hercules Posey, and Mount Vernon’s many enslaved people who resisted enslavement and sought freedom before the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 am | The Sun: Our Neighborhood Star at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls (Best for ages 8+) ♥
    • Learn what powers the sun, how it compares to other stars, and how to observe it safely. This program includes a discussion of solar features and an observing session with solar telescopes, weather permitting.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am | Manassas Bee Festival at Liberia House & Grounds in Manassas ♥
    • Enjoy a bluegrass band, food trucks, mead & beer gardenvendors, crafts, native plants, speakers, farm animals, wagon rides, games/prizes, bounce house, education for native plants, pollinators, and more.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Celebrating 11 Years of Exploration at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($) ♥
    • Throughout the celebration, visitors can get up close and encounter the fascinating Madagascar hissing cockroach and be among the first to explore the newest phase of the 3D Printer Experience, showcasing 3D-printed educational models.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 1:00 pm | Bubble Science at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale ($)
    • Learn about the science of bubbles in this interactive class.
Celebrate 11 years of exploration, curiosity, and hands-on discovery at Children's Science Center LAB in Fairfax, VA! This festive birthday weekend is filled with special experiences that showcase the wonder of science. Throughout the celebration, visitors can get up close and encounter the fascinating Madagascar hissing cockroach and be among the first to explore the newest phase of the 3D Printer Experience, showcasing 3D-printed educational models. This special event is included with admission!
Tap here for 11th Anniversary Ticket Info

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Washington, DC 

Maryland

  • Sunday (6/21) at 10:30 am | Cub Corner at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 3-6)
    • Think like a scientist with Ada Twist! Inspired by the book Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, young innovators will design and decorate their own lab safety goggles while sparking creativity, curiosity, and hands-on STEAM fun.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 11:00 am | Father’s Day Skate at Wheaton Ice Arena ($)
  • Sunday (6/21) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Family Workshop: Operation Game at KID Museum in Bethesda ($) ♥
    • Visitors will explore conductivity and circuits as they create a conductivity game similar to the game of “Operation”. They will combine conductive materials and cardboard to create their unique game boards.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty: The Time Traveler at Glen Echo Park ($) ♥
  • Sunday (6/21) at 12:00 pm | Father’s Day Skate at Cabin John Ice Rink in Rockville ($) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 12:30 pm | Ice Cream Sundays on the Train at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Pete the Cat at Imagination Stage in Bethesda ($) (Best for ages 4-10) ♥
    • Meet the actors at 4:00 pm! Life is a really, really, really big adventure as Pete the Cat and the Biddle family rock out in a fast-paced, globe-trotting musical based on the smash hit book series.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 pm | Silver Spring Summer Block Party at Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center ♥
    • Fun community event for all ages featuring games, arts and crafts, snacks, local vendors and more!
  • Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 pm | Shrek the Musical at The Bowie Playhouse ($) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 4:00 pm | Soaring Solstice at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville ($)
    • Learn about raptor’s amazing adaptations that help them hunt in a variety of environments and lighting conditions.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: Remember the Titans at National Harbor ♣
  • Sunday (6/21) at 6:00 pm | Juneteenth Reimagined: Summer Sunset Concert Series: Too Much Talent Band at Allen Pond Park

Northern Virginia

  • Sunday (6/21) at 9:30 am | Storytime at the Westover Farmer’s Market in Arlington 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 10:00 am | Sully Antique Car Show at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly ($)
    • Includes live music, food vendors, children’s activities & more! 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Celebrating 11 Years of Exploration at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($) ♥
    • Throughout the celebration, visitors can get up close and encounter the fascinating Madagascar hissing cockroach and be among the first to explore the newest phase of the 3D Printer Experience, showcasing 3D-printed educational models.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 11:00 am | Mama Elena at Lubber Run Amphitheater in Arlington ♥
    • Mamá Elena is a Latin Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, based in Washington, DC
  • Sunday (6/21) at 11:00 am | Father’s Day: Mommy, Daddy & Me – BBQ Chicken Sliders & Chocolate Cupcakes at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 4-7) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 12:00 pm | Family Friendly Wood + Canvas + Textured Art Workshop at AR Workshop Alexandria ($) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 12:00 pm | Father’s Day: Field Day with Dad at Shipgarten in McLean 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 12:30 pm | Animal Dads at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale ($) ♥
    • Pretend to be a penguin, wolf and beaver dad as you learn about these doting fathers. Meet live animals and make a craft for your favorite father/grandfather.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 pm | La Cenerentola (Cinderella) at Wolf Trap in Vienna ($) ♥
    • Sung in Italian with English captions. Strobe lighting effects will be used during all performances.
  • Sunday (6/21) at 3:00 pm | 2026 Father’s Day Version: Family Sushi! at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 6+) 
  • Sunday (6/21) at 7:00 pm | Firefly Festival at Fort CF Smith Park ♥
    • Come celebrate summer’s natural night lights as we learn about these bioluminescent beetles! Activities include: bug hunts, games, crafts, walks, and talks about fireflies.

For Tweens & Teens

Washington, DC

  • Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 am | Teen Learn to Sew at Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library in NW 
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | COMICTROPOLIS: Between the Comic and the Controller at West End Neighborhood Library ♥
    • Explore the bridge between the comic book and the controller with two writers whose craft has taken them from comics to video games.

Maryland

Northern Virginia

  • Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 am | Basic Self-Defense Class with EvolveAll at Shirlington Library
    • This workshop will teach essential self-defense techniques that are easy to learn and effective in real-life situations.
  • Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 pm | Magical Botany – Science to Story at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria ($) (Best for ages 14+) ♥
  • Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 pm | Restore Habitat at Glencarlyn Park (Best for ages 9+)
    • Volunteers improve habitat, meet fellow do-gooders, get exercise, and learn about native plants and wildlife all while making a difference in the great outdoors. 

This Week's Book Recommendation

A Song for Juneteenth cover image
In honor of Juneteenth & African American Music Appreciation Month, this week's book of the week goes to acclaimed poet Zetta Elliott's "A Song for Juneteenth" This emotional and lyrical picture book celebrates the importance of Juneteenth as well as the resilience of Black families and the power of community—featuring stunning illustrations from Caldecott Honoree Noa Denmon. Purchase this book for $18.99 from Amazon.
Tap here to purchase this book from Amazon [Affiliate]

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