Top Family-Friendly Activities in the DMV this Weekend (5/22 – 5/25)

Jack with the Washington Nationals mascot
Looking Ahead: Play Ball Weekend with the Nationals is coming up on 6/6/26
Tap here Play Ball Weekend Info
  • Updated: 5/21/2026

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!

Coming Up this Weekend

Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month on Friday (5/22) at Woodridge Library in NE DC with a fun and creative Koinobori craft event! Kids ages 5–12 can design and create their own colorful carp streamer inspired by traditional Japanese culture.
Tap here for the AANHPI Crafting Info

Friday, May 22, 2026

Washington, DC

Maryland

IlluminAsia Book Con, celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is this Saturday (5/23) at the National Museum of Asian Art! Bring the kids for book readings, hands-on crafts, and giveaways from an all-star lineup of authors and illustrators. Plus, you can purchase books from the museum store and get them signed.
Tap here for IlluminAsia Book Con

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Washington, DC

  • Saturday (5/23) at 9:30 am | Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Bird Walk hosted by the National Museum of Natural History 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 am | Saturday Morning Live! presents 123 Andrés at the National Theatre (Best for ages 3-6) ♥
    • Billboard calls GRAMMY winners 123 Andrés “rock stars for little language learners.” Andrés and Christina perform lively concerts in Spanish and English on stages across the US and Latin America, and are even co-hosts of the award-winning PBS podcast Jamming on the Job.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 am | Just Drop In! at National Building Museum ($)
    • What will the cities of tomorrow look like? In this hands-on drop-in activity, kids are invited to design their own mini “future city” using recycled and craft materials.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 am | Little Engineers at Play ~ A Toddler STEM Exploration Event at Palisades Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 0-5) 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:30 am | Rappin’ with Mr. Root at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library in NW ♥
    • Get involved with call-and-response, steady beat chants, beat production, and group dancing! Learn the importance of expressing yourself and how other hip-hop legends have done the same.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | IlluminAsia | Children’s Book Fair at National Museum of Asian Art ♥
    • Bring the kids for book readings, crafts, and giveaways from an all-star line up of authors and illustrators in celebration of AANHPI Month!
  • Saturday (5/23) at 1:00 pm | Spring Festival at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library in SE ♥
    • Enjoy outdoor activities, crafts, live entertainment, and community connections as we welcome warmer days and new beginnings.
  • Saturday (5/23) 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 (5/23) at 2:00 pm | Comictropololis: La Borinqueña Rises at MLK Memorial Library ♥
    • Enjoy a conversation about the origin of Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s Puerto Rican superhero La Borinquena. After the talk, learn how to create comic books with Shawn Martinborough.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 3:00 pm | MTP Block Fest featuring Yeison Landero at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
    • Free musical concert!
Movie: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie " (PG)
Free Indoor Movie on Saturday (5/23) at 2:30 pm at Accokeek Library!
Tap here for free movie info

Maryland

Prince George’s County
  • Saturday (5/23) at 9:00 am | Basic Birding 101 at Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton ($) (Best for ages 5+)
    • Grab your binoculars, or borrow a pair from us, and join a naturalist for a birdwatching adventure during the spring migration season. Enjoy the beauty of nature as you search for the many birds moving through our area.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 am | Park Shredders Skate Jam at Walker Mill Regional Park ♥
    • High-energy skate jam open to skaters of all skill levels. Ride, connect, and enjoy a fun day at the skatepark! Live art installation by Ryan Allen.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:30 am | STEAM Hour at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 6-12)
    • Join our educators at this hands-on activity table where creativity takes flight! Perfect for budding engineers and aviation enthusiasts, this interactive program allows visitors to design and build their own creations. Whether you’re constructing airplanes, airports, or inventing something entirely new, Saturday STEAM Hour encourages you to dream big and bring your ideas to life.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | 2026 Memorial Day Parade down Belair Drive in Bowie
    • The City of Bowie proudly presents a powerful and patriotic Memorial Day Parade honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, saluting those currently serving, and recognizing all who have worn the uniform in defense of our nation. 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | Animal Encounters: Spring Camouflage at Mount Rainier Nature and Recreation Center ($)
    • Come meet the nature center’s live reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey, and discover how interacting with animals can boost your mood and support mental wellness, while learning about their natural habitats.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 1:00 pm | Seeds and Weeds Planting Day at Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton
    • Help restore beauty and biodiversity by planting native flowers in areas cleared of invasive weeds—no gardening experience needed, just a willingness to dig in and make a difference!
  • Saturday (5/23) at 2:00 pm | Spring Recital at Oxon Hill Library
    • Students ages 3 to 77 will perform pieces they’ve been working on this season, and the event will conclude with a brief awards presentation.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 2:30 pm | Movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie at Accokeek Library ♣
There's a special women's voting rights storytime at Olney Library on Saturday (5/23) for ages 5+! Learn about the empowering history of how women fought for and won the right to vote in the United States. Make a special suffrage themed craft, dress up, so you too can be a Suff, explore local connections to the women's suffrage movement and see how this history is now being portrayed on stage in the musical Suffs! Watch a clip of the musical and go home with a pocket version of the constitution.
Tap here for storytime info!

Maryland

Montgomery County
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:30 am | Family Movie: Tangled at Wheaton Library ♣
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:30 am | Paint Like Picasso at Rockville Memorial Library 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | Promote the Vote Storytime: Be a Suff! at Olney Library (Best for ages 6+) ♥
    • Make a special suffrage themed craft and have some dress ups, so you too can be a Suff! Explore local connections to the women’s suffrage movement and see how this history is now being portrayed on stage in the musical Suffs! Watch a clip of the musical and receive a pocket version of the constitution. 
  • [Last Chance] Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre’s Aesop’s Fables at Glen Echo Park ($) 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 12:00 pm | Hometown Holidays at Rockville Town Center ♥
    • Enjoy live entertainment for all ages, featuring an exciting lineup of performances across multiple genres. Savor delicious food and beverages from your favorite local restaurants and vendors. Families will find plenty to do with kids’ activities, including yard games, crafts, and kid-friendly performances. Plus, stop by outreach booths to connect with festival sponsors, community organizations, and City of Rockville services.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 4:00 pm | Make Marbled Paper at Germantown Library
    • Create a marbled piece of paper using shaving cream and food coloring.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Fluffy Cloud Slime at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville ♥
    • Come learn how to make soft and fluffly Cloud Slime with glue, food coloring, contact solution and a secret fluffy ingredient! This hands-on program will provide children with the opportunity to use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to achieve a result. 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 8:30 pm | Star Party at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville
    • Join the National Capital Astronomers and Meadowside Nature Center to gaze upon the stars at this nighttime watch party! Viewing scopes and binoculars will be provided for guests to observe planets, the moon, stars, and more.

More Maryland Events

  • Saturday (5/23) at 8:00 pm | Public Star Party at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville
    • Telescopic views and programming are shared inside through the club’s telescope. 
Viva Vienna flyer
Viva Vienna! 2026 is this weekend: Saturday (5/23) - Monday (5/25)
Tap here for Viva Vienna details

Northern Virginia

Arlington County
  • Saturday (5/23) at 8:00 am | Water Safety Day at Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center ♥
    • Discover and practice essential tips for protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your friends in and around the water. Safety starts with learning the fundamentals of swimming and water awareness.

More Northern Virginia Events

  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:00 am | Viva Vienna! 2026 ♥
  • Saturday (5/23) at 2:00 pm | Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration at Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale ♥
    • Includes food, music, dancing, arts and crafts, and fun! 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 5:00 pm | The Buzz on Bees at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly ($) ♥
    • Buzz through the ins and outs of a bee colony. Learn about the park’s history of bees, how colonies thrive and grow and watch as we open the bee boxes. End the fun evening with a sweet taste of honey.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 8:30 pm | Stargazing at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
    • Stargazing will take place outside in the bus parking lot. 

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Washington, DC 

  • Sunday (5/24) at 10:30 am | One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure at National Air and Space Museum in SW
    • In this free planetarium show, join Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from “Zhima Jie,” the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They also journey to Zhima Jie to learn about the similarities in our view of the sky.
  • Sunday (5/24) at 11:00 am | Storytime with Illustrator Cindy Lozito at Loyalty Book Petworth in NW ♥
    • A joyous picture book biography of José Sarria, a pioneering activist, drag queen, and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States.

Maryland

  • Sunday (5/24) at 10:00 am | Tiny Tots starring Ingrid & Mollie ~ Jennie the Cat’s Library Visit at The Puppet Co. Playhouse Glen Echo ($)
  • Sunday (5/24) at 10:30 am | STEAM Hour at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 6-12)
    • Hands-on activity table where creativity takes flight! Perfect for budding engineers and aviation enthusiasts, this interactive program allows visitors to design and build their own creations.
  • Sunday (5/24) at 12:00 pm | Hometown Holidays at Rockville Town Center ♥
    • Enjoy live entertainment for all ages, featuring an exciting lineup of performances across multiple genres. Savor delicious food and beverages from your favorite local restaurants and vendors. Families will find plenty to do with kids’ activities, including yard games, crafts, and kid-friendly performances. Plus, stop by outreach booths to connect with festival sponsors, community organizations, and City of Rockville services.
  • Sunday (5/24) at 2:00 pm | Gareth Hinds for The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel at People’s Book Takoma ♥
    • With bold imagery and an ear tuned to the music of Homer’s epic poem, award-winning graphic artist Gareth Hinds reinterprets the ancient classic as it’s never been told before. A New York Times bestseller, now in a sumptuous collectible edition with new cover design, gold foil, and stenciled edges.
  • [Last Chance] Sunday (5/24) at 2:00 pm | Adventure Theatre’s Aesop’s Fables at Glen Echo Park ($) 
  • Sunday (5/24) at 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: GOAT at National Harbor ♣

Northern Virginia

Monday, May 25, 2026

Sensory Friendly & Accessible

  • Friday (5/22) at 10:30 am | Sensory Playtime at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 1-5) 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 10:30 am | Story Time for the Spectrum at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW (Best for ages 2-8)
    • This sensory-friendly story time is designed to be enjoyed by kids of all abilities, especially kids on the autism spectrum!
  • Sunday (5/24) at 9:00 am | Sensory-Friendly Sunday ~ Colors of Nature at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia
    • These events are designed for families with kids, teens, and adults with sensory-processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities. Enjoy self-paced activities including sensory bins and pathways, scavenger hunts, crafts, or games.

For Tweens & Teens

Washington, DC

  • Friday (5/22) at 6:00 pm | Teen Spring Drip at Anacostia Recreation/Pool (Best for ages 13-18) ♥
    • An evening of music, food, water games, and more!
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | Adventure Party ~ Dungeons & Dragons for Kids at Woodridge Neighborhood Library in NE (Best for ages 8-11)
    • Dungeons and Dragons is a Table Top Role Playing Game where players will play characters, using improve, math, strategy, and negotiation skills to accomplish a goal.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 2:30 pm | Teen Studio: Don’t be Blue at Hirshhorn Museum (Best for ages 13-19) 
  • Saturday (5/23) at 3:00 pm | Bellevue Saturday Cinema: AAPI Heritage Month at Bellevue Neighborhood Library in SW
    • Battle Royal: In a dystopian future, a group of students from a Japanese high school are forced by the government to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.

Maryland

  • Friday (5/22) at 3:30 pm | Project Launch Pad: Design, Print & Launch Your Own Brand at Bowie Library
    • Project Launch Pad is a high-energy, 8-session “startup incubator” where teens don’t just learn about business—they build one from the ground up.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 8:00 am | Black Birders Week: Kickoff Talk & Tour at Bladensburg Waterfront Park (Best for ages 10+) ♥
    • As part of the Black Birders Week series celebrating and uplifting Black birders, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts, participants will join a park naturalist for a discussion on the history and significance of the movement. The presentation is followed by a bird‑themed pontoon boat tour along the Anacostia River.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 11:00 am | From Wright “B” to F-4 Phantom II: Fighter Combat in Vietnam Living History Tour at College Park Aviation Museum ($)
    • Experience the thrill of being a combat pilot and walk in the footsteps of those who flew from 1909 to 1970. Led by a military historian clad in authentic Vietnam era flight gear, discover the stories of the people and events that led from College Park Airport to Southeast Asia, from the early age of flight to the age of jet propulsion. In the face of challenges, learn about the evolution of flight, and the people who were involved. Explore how the Tuskegee Experience opened the doors to a desegregated military, which led to integrated skies. Registration required. Includes museum admission.
  • Saturday (5/23) at 1:00 pm | Mindfulness and Mental Resilience for Teens at Germantown Library 
    • Feeling stressed? Learn practical tools to build emotional balance, confidence, and resilience—skills that support both academic success and overall well-being.
  • Sunday (5/24) at 2:00 pm | African Mask Painting with Artist DionJa’y at Arts’tination National Harbor ($) (Best for ages 10+) ♥
    • Explore African mask traditions through painting, color, and creativity in this hands-on workshop.

Northern Virginia

  • Friday (5/22) at 2:30 pm | Brick and Chill: Teen LEGO Hangout at Glencarlyn Library (Best for grades 6-12) 
  • Friday (5/22) at 6:00 pm | Teen Nights at Gunston Community Center in Arlington
    • Includes a variety of games, projects, music and more!
  • Sunday (5/24) at 11:00 am | Kid’s Knife Skills at Cookology at Ballston Quarter ($) (Best for ages 8-17) ♥
    • In this hands-on cooking class, kids will sharpen their knife skills while whipping up two delectable dishes: Veggie Stir Fry and Apple Pie. 

This Week's Book Recommendation

A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day cover image
A Story about the first Memorial Day! "A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day" by Leah Henderson is a children's book that tells the story of the first Memorial Day in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865, through the eyes of a young, newly freed Black boy named Eli. The book depicts how a community of Black Americans, including formerly enslaved people, organized to honor fallen Union soldiers by creating a cemetery and holding a procession with flowers and wreaths, an event considered the first Memorial Day. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper, the book highlights this little-known history with poignant prose and powerful images, emphasizing themes of remembrance, freedom, and sacrifice.
Tap here to purchase this book via Amazon

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Have you read our latest blog for WHUT? Here's a recap of their curated walking tour for the Around the World Embassy Tour hosted by Passport DC.
Tap here to see the May Blog

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