Top Family-Friendly Activities in the DMV this Weekend (10/10 – 10/12)

Sarah standing in front of a sign at the Anacostia Community Museum
New Blog on the Way!
Hey y'all! As Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month winds down and Halloween season picks up, there's much to explore across the DMV. I've been making my way to the Smithsonian museums this week in case they shutdown on Sunday due to lack of funding. Taking notes now to release new guides by the time they open back up. Did you know Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum is the least visited of the Smithsonian Museums in DC? It's also one of the smallest (if not the smallest) but houses a wealth of information pertaining to culture and social issues impacting both residents East of the River and across greater DC. Their current exhibit "A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C., 1900 - 2000" explores the establishment and cultivation of Arts Education for Black residents through large displays and interactive exercises. There are a few parallels between this exhibit and the current exhibit on display at the DC History Center (downtown) titled, "Class Action: Education & Opportunity in the Nation's Capital". I highly recommend checking out both exhibits to make comparisons! This history and stories shared are rich to say the least. Stay tuned for more about both exhibits in upcoming guides! For now, let's explore some of the upcoming fun happening this weekend...
Sarah in a hot pink dress
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+

Events

Sherri Shepherd - Special Storytime & Signing on October 11 at 11:00 am
Featured Event | MahoganyBooks is teaming up with DC Public Library to bring you a meet & greet this Saturday (10/11) at 11:00 am with Sherri Shepherd as she debuts her children's book "The Sunshine Queens"! Tap the link below for details.
Tap here for more info on Sherri Shepherd's Meet & Greet

Top Activities This Weekend

Washington, DC

Maryland

  • Saturday (10/11) at 11:00 am | 11th Annual Green Festival at David Driskell Community Park in Hyattsville
    • Celebrate sustainability with exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, pet adoptions and fun activities like face painting, games, bubbles, and giveaways for the whole family!
  • Saturday (10/11) at 11:00 am | Fall Harvest Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring (Best for ages 6+)
    • Enjoy free admission to the Woodlawn Museum and hands-on activities including churning butter, participating in Autumn Bingo, decorating a cardboard pumpkin, and more!
  • Saturday (10/11) at 12:00 pm | 13th Annual Farm Fest 2025 at Show Place Arena
    • This signature event brings together families, local businesses, vendors, Black farmers, riders, and the broader agricultural community.
  • Saturday (10/11) at 1:00 pm | Celebrate Diwali! at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
    • Includes crafts and stories, as well as cultural performances and snacks!
  • Saturday (10/11) at 2:00 pm | Fall Fest at Schrom Hills Park in Greenbelt
    • Includes hay rides, games, amusements, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, and music! 
  • Sunday (10/12) at 11:00 am | Wheaton Passport to Sports Day at Wheaton Ice Arena ($)
    • A ticket will get you wristband and passport to attend events at the Wheaton Ice Arena, Wheaton Indoor Tennis, and Wheaton Sports Pavilion. Participants who fill their passports will be entered to win fun prizes.

Virginia

  • Thursday (10/9) – Monday (10/13) | Disney on Ice presents Jump In! at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax ($)
    • Discover thrilling adventures from Zootopia, Inside Out 2, and the all-new Moana 2. Relive the timeless tales of Toy Story, Frozen, and Encanto, and the dazzling Disney Princesses.
  • Saturday (10/11) at 10:00 am | Fairy House Festival at Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria ($)
    • Create your own tiny fairy house using natural materials to enchant future visitors at our site. Includes cider, cookies & activities!
  • Saturday (10/11) at 10:00 am | Farm Day at Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church ($)
    • Free admission but some activities require tickets! Enjoy a day of farm-filled fun and activities for the whole family, including a petting farm, pony rides, pumpkin painting, birdhouse painting, live music, tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn, blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
  • Saturday (10/11) at 12:00 pm | Oktoberfest at The Boro in Tysons
    • Includes traditional Polka band and dance performances, interactive dance lessons, kid-friendly fun, contests & more! 
  • Saturday (10/11) at 1:00 pm | Fall Heritage Festival at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington
    • Step back into history and try your hand at some old-time games and crafts, make a corn husk doll, churn butter, dip candles and work the cider press! Bring your old pants and shirt to make a scarecrow – child sizes work best!
  • Sunday (10/12) at 12:00 pm | Fall Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
    • Includes pumpkin painting, donut on a string, pumpkin bowling & more! 
  • Sunday (10/12) at 1:00 pm | 5th Annual Ethiopian Fall Festival at Chinquapin Park in Alexandria ($)
    • Enjoy live music, traditional dance, delicious food, local vendors, kids’ activities, and access to vital resources.
Fiesta de la Familia A Family Celebration
Featured Event | Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month is coming to a close. Celebrate at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on Sunday (10/12) with Fiesta de la Familia! There will be performers, music, children’s activities, exhibitors and vendors for everyone to enjoy. Tap the link below for additional info!
Tap here for Fiesta Info!

More Adventures

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx American Heritage Month 

 
Washington, DC
  • Saturday (10/11) at 11:00 am | Siempre Amigos – Buddies Not Bullies at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library in NW
    • Theatre play that, through comedy and facts, exposes students to the harsh realities of bullying. It enforces the “cons” of bullying and reinforces all the “pros” of being buddies.
Maryland

Create Art 

 
Maryland
  • Friday (10/10) at 5:30 pm | Over the Moon Celebration at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville ($)
    • Make a craft, stroll down the trail for a moonlit hike, and end our program with a delicious snack.
  • Sunday (10/12) at 1:00 pm | Create a Leaf Sun Catcher! at Wheaton Library  
Northern Virginia

Toddler & Early Education Activities

 
Washington, DC
Maryland
  • Saturday (10/11) at 10:30 am | Animal Haiku at Potomac Library (Best for ages 3-8) 
    • Join poet and artist Nancy Arbuthnot (author of Wild Washington: Animal Sculpture A to Z, illustrated by Cathy Abramson) to create your own small book of animal poems and illustrations. 
Northern Virginia
  • Saturday (10/11) at 10:00 am & 2:00 pm | Animal Tea Party at Frying Pan Park ($) (Best for ages 4-7)
    • Bring your favorite stuffed animal, help decorate for the party and read a story. Enjoy drinks and cookies in a special environmentally friendly tea set and meet one of their animals.

Halloween-themed Fun

 
Washington, DC
Northern Virginia

STEM & STEAM Activities 

 
Maryland
Northern Virginia
  • Sunday (10/12) at 5:00 pm | Cosmic Carillon at the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington
    • Space themed bell concert + interactive activities | This event will be canceled if the US Government shutdown continues through October 12th!

Storytimes & Book Events 

 
Washington, DC
Northern Virginia

Watch Movies

 
Washington, DC
Maryland
Featured Event | There's a Middle School Maker Night at KID Museum on Friday (10/10) at 5:30 pm. This event is exclusively for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students & admission is $20/child. Explore the museum and make new friends! Tap the link below for more info!
Tap here for Middle School Maker Night Tickets

For Older Kids & Teens

Washington, DC
Maryland
Northern Virginia
  • Friday (10/10) at 3:00 pm | Taylor Swift Party for Tweens at Central Library in Arlington, VA (Best for grades 5-8)
    • Fun get-together to celebrate Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl. Meet likeminded friends, make Taylor crafts and buttons and listen to the new album with us!
  • Friday (10/10) – Sunday (10/12) | Anime USA at Hyatt Regency Crystal City in VA ($) 

Monday (10/13) - Indigenous Peoples Day

How to Fool Your Parents: A Family Magic Show at Planet Word

Tickets are $5! This show is from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Planet Word Museum in Downtown DC. Best for kids ages 8-12 & their families.
Tap to purchase tickets to the show

Rocknoceros at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA

Tickets are $14.25 per person! Rock-out at this all ages show in Vienna, VA.
Tap to purchase tickets to the show

This Week's Book Recommendation

This week's book, recommended by Online Boutique Laces & Pages, comes from best-selling Author Ruth Forman and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honoree Raissa Figueroa! "Like So" is a vibrant picture book honoring the love and bond that exists between family and child even in complicated times. Purchase this book for $15.18 from their shop by tapping the image above.
Tap Here to Shop the Laces & Pages Online Boutique

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