Top Family-friendly Activities in the DMV this Weekend (9/19 – 9/21)

Liv and Jack play in bubbles at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park
Bubble Fun at Glen Echo Park
Welcome to Theatre Week hosted by Theatre Washington! Theatre Week is similar to Restaurant Week but for theatrical performances. You can see professional productions for as low as $25, $45 or $65 per ticket. There are a couple of family-friendly shows available at Theatre Week prices to check out. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show" arrives at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD this week with $25 tickets. "Not Your Mother's Goose" will make its way to stage October 3rd through November 2nd at Adventure Theatre (pictured above) in Glen Echo Park. Tickets for this show are also $25/person. I also highly encourage adults to take a peek at the listing of productions for solo trips, date nights & more! It's a great opportunity to check out a new-to-you theater or performance. Tap the link below to see the full listing of what they have to offer! Although Theatre Week ends October 5th, performances may run longer. Happy Planning!
Sarah in a hot pink dress
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Tap to see the full Theatre Week Listing

Events

Children's Day at Brookside Garden
Featured Event | Children's Day at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD is Sunday, September 21st from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Explore the science and art of gardening through child-driven art projects and engaging science activities. Participants will rotate through outdoor activity stations designed to educate and entertain. It's the perfect event to explore Brookside for first-time visitors as well. Tap the image above for more info!

Top Activities This Weekend

Washington, DC

  • Friday (9/19) at 5:30 pm | Back to the Yards in SE
    • Includes arts & crafts, retro arcade game battles, photo booths, glitter tattoos, caricature artists, break dance performances & more!
  • Saturday (9/20) – Sunday (9/21) at 10:00 am | Grand Opening of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
    • Be among the first to explore the American Dream Experience, our new cutting-edge, interactive exhibition, with family friendly activities, and surprise pop-ups.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 12:00 pm | Ward 5 Day at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in NE
    • Includes a youth entrepreneur fair, food, games, music & more!
  • Saturday (9/20) at 1:00 pm | Chevy Chase DC Day
    • Includes face painting, balloon twisting, a juggler, a caricature artist, a bounce house,  plus other activities, food, performances & more!
  • [Just Added] Saturday (9/20) at 12:00 pm | 2025 H Street Festival in NE
      • Spanning 12 blocks of H Street NE and featuring multiple staging areas and more than 200 businesses, restaurants, community organizations and vendors. Come down to enjoy great food, drinks, music, contests, kids’ activities and more!
  • Saturday (9/20) at 4:00 pm | P&G Truth and Service Classic 2025 at Audi Field ($)
    • Catch Howard vs. Hampton in this historic HBCU football matchup!
  • Sunday (9/21) at 12:00 pm | 17th Annual Columbia Heights Day on 11th St. in NW
    • Includes kids concerts, musical theater shows, vendor pop-ups & more!

Maryland

  • Wednesday (9/17) – Sunday (10/12) | The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at Imagination Stage ($) (Best for ages 2-6)
    • This show is performed in English or en Español! See Theatre Week for discounted tickets!
  • [Limited Tickets Left] Friday (9/19) at 7:30 pm | Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro ($)
  • Saturday (9/20) at 10:00 am | 33rd Annual Burtonsville Day 2025
    • Includes parade & festival with touch-a-truck, games, vendors, food & more!
  • Saturday (9/20) at 11:30 am | Train Day Discovery Day at the Gaithersburg Community Museum (Best for ages 6+)
    • Dive into the world of trains! Hear from CSX Conductor Tony Carrillo and Operation Lifesaver, and explore the 1918 steam engine on display.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 12:00 pm | Hyattsville Arts Festival
    • Family-friendly event unites the local community and visitors alike, featuring over 100 talented artists, unique vendors, top craft brewers and food trucks from across the DMV area.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 1:00 pm | Park Police Community Day at Watkins Regional Park
    • Includes backyard games, food vendors, live music, moon bounce, pony rides, police demos & more!
  • Sunday (9/21) at 10:00 am | Children’s Day at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton
    • Includes children’s activities, performances by the Beech Tree Puppets, and sensory retreat area.

Virginia

  • Saturday (9/20) at 9:00 am | HalloWEIRD Art Market at Del Ray Artisans in Alexandria
    • Browse Halloween-inspired creations that are spooky, creepy, crawly, and goth.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 10:00 am | Tons of Trucks 2025 at Chinquapin Park in Alexandria
Hispanic Heritage
Featured Event | Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Prince George's Public Library! They have several events including storytimes, dance performances & more! Tap the image above to explore events by date.

More Adventures

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Family-Friendly Workshops

  • Friday (9/19) at 10:30 am | Family Workout at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in DC 
  • Friday (9/19) at 6:00 pm | Afrobeat Dance Essentials with Gucci Moves at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount ($ pay what you wish)
    • Connect with the rhythm, express yourself through movement, and experience the joy of AfroDance in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 10:00 am | Community Fishing at Anacostia Park in SE DC 
  • Saturday (9/20) at 10:00 am | Mommy/Daddy & Me: Baking Fun! at Cookology in Arlington, VA ($) (Best for ages 3-7)
    • Together, you’ll bake a giant chocolate chip cookie cake, perfect for sharing and decorating with fun toppings. Then, whip up delightful strawberry shortcakes, complete with fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
  • Saturday (9/20) & Sunday (9/21) at 11:00 am | Charmed by Labubu at District Candle Lab Union Market in NE DC ($)
    • Create your Labubu’s favorite new outfit and matching charm jewelry piece at this creative, hands-on event!

Storytimes & Book Clubs

STEM & STEAM Activities

  • Saturday (9/20) at 1:00 pm | STEM Fun: Straw Structures at Mount Rainier Library in MD (Best for ages 5-12)
    • Dive into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math with fun, hands-on experiments and activities!
  • Saturday (9/20) at 2:00 pm | Chemistry of Fall Colors: STEM at Germantown Library in MD (Best for ages 5+)
    • Learn about the vibrant colors of fall foliage and the chemical changes happening within the leaves of deciduous trees as they prepare for winter.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 2:00 pm | Found in the Stars… a Captain Curiosity Adventure! at White Oak Library in MD
    • Captain Curiosity teaches kids science while keeping them laughing and having a great time.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 6:00 pm | The Great Solar System Adventure – Planetarium Show at David M. Brown Planetarium in Arlington, VA ($) 

Watch Movies

Liv and Jack standing in front of a crab
Port Discovery in Baltimore, MD has a Sensory Sunday coming up this Sunday (9/21) from 9:00 am - 11:00 am!

Sensory Friendly & Accessible

For Older Kids & Teens

  • [Just Added] Saturday (9/20) at 10:30 am | Anacostia Youth Media Festival
    • Includes a sketch comedy workshop, cinematography demo & more! 
  • Saturday (9/20) at 10:30 am | In the Tradition ~ A Two-Day Intensive Writing Workshop for Teens at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library in NW DC
    • Young poets are invited to join Kenneth Carroll, III (KC3) on an inspiring journey through the poetry & folklore of literary legend Sterling A. Brown. Explore the roots of a tradition that paved the way for rap while crafting your own folkloric poetry.
  • Saturday (9/20) at 11:00 am | Welcoming Week Discussion: Immigrant Journeys at Bladensburg Branch Library (Best for teens & adults)
    • Interactive discussion about life in the U.S. Share your journey and stories of triumphs and struggles. 
  • Saturday (9/20) at 1:00 pm | Craft & Create: Vision Board Workshop at Largo-Kettering Branch Library
    • Get ready to craft your Path to Your BAG (Big Audacious Goal) in this creative vision board workshop!
  • Saturday (9/20) at 2:00 pm | Teen Drop-in Sewing Workshop at Gaithersburg Library in MD 

This Week's Book Recommendation

Laces & pages recommends
This week's Laces & Pages Book Recommendation comes from Author Tonya Abari and celebrates the rich history and beauty of naturally loc'd styles. Selah can't wait to show off her newly loc'd hair at school, but when she bounces off the bus, her classmates react with whispers and a word Selah hasn't heard before: dreadlocks. The word dread makes her uneasy: is there something scary about her hair? Selah's family shares stories about standing up to hair discrimination and why they love their locs, helping Selah return to school with confidence, because there's absolutely nothing dreadful about her hair!
Tap Here to shop the Laces & Pages Online Boutique

Sweepstakes for DMV Residents

Enter to win a Trip for 4 to Disney World

Tap the link below to enter WHUT’s Fallidays Family Vacation Sweepstakes! One winner will receive a trip for 4 to Walt Disney World that includes roundtrip airfare for 4 people, 4 nights in a Walt Disney Resort, 4 tickets to Walt Disney World theme parks with Park Hopper plus a $300 Disney Gift Card. No purchase necessary! The deadline to enter is September 29, 2025. You must be 21 and older to qualify. You must currently live in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia. You can only submit one (1) entry per day.
Tap here to enter via WHUT

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