Plenty of summer fun is underway! We visited the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall last Saturday and had a great time. This year's "Youth and the Future of Culture" theme had many, many activities of interest to Liv and for her age group. We learned about the offerings of Action Youth Media, which is a nonprofit that offers free after-school and summer media content classes in Silver Spring, MD. During the festival they offered DIY workshops for stop motion animation, cyanotype printing & other activities. They also celebrated 20 years of aiding youth in our area. Tap the image above to visit their website for more info! With that, there's a bunch of new activities and events on the scene this weekend to explore... happy planning!
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events
Favorite picks in this list have the heart symbol ♥ at the end of the listing.
Free movies in this list have the club symbol ♣ at the end of the listing.
Friday, July 11, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:15 am | Kids Camp – The Wild Robot at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
- 10:30 am | First Friday Fun at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW (Best for ages 0-12)
- 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm | Celebrate Hawaiian Culture: Children’s Kapa Workshop with Page Chang at imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American Indian ♥
- Learn the art of Hawaiian kapa making with Kumu (teacher) Page Chang of Pūkoʻa Studios from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Made primarily from the paper mulberry or “wauke,” kapa (barkcloth) is the traditional fabric of Hawai‘i.
- 12:00 pm | Wicked: The Sing A-Long Version! at MLK Memorial Library ♣
- Presented by the Center for Accessibility with open captions
- 1:00 pm | Free Afro-Cuban Dance Workshop for Kids at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 5-12) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 2:00 pm | Summer Fun Fridays at Deanwood Neighborhood Library in NE
- Legos and building fun
- 5:00 pm | Romanian Weekend at The Wharf ♥
- Three-day extravaganza on District Pier celebrating the richness and diversity of Romanian culture with music, dance, food, wine, spoken word performances, concerts, and craft shows!
- [Opening Weekend] 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at The National Theatre ($) ♥
- 7:00 pm | Late Night Hype at Riggs-Lasalle Recreation Center in NE
- Carnival-style event with food, music, games, dancing & more!
- Dusk | Extrordinary Cinema: The Incredibles at The Kennedy Center ♣
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:30 am | Pre-K Story Hour at Springhill Lake Recreation Center in Greenbelt
- 6:00 pm | Summer Movie Nights ~ Lilo & Stitch: The Movie at Accokeek Neighborhood Park ♣
- 7:00 pm | Safe Summer: Wicked Movie Screening at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse (Best for ages 12-17) ♣
- 7:00 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 8:00 pm | Movies in the Park: Mufasa: The Lion King at Watkins Park ♣
- 8:30 pm | Movie Nights at the Mount Rainier Nature Center – Lilo & Stitch ♣
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Parks Playhouse Junior featuring Rocknoceros at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park in Silver Spring (Best for ages 2-8)
- 10:30 am | Dory Fantasmagory at Imagination Stage in Bethesda ($)
- 11:00 am | The Whyrates at Marilyn J. Praisner in Burtonsville ♥
- The Whyrates – pirate musician “Sage O’Silver” and science teacher “Juarez M’Gold”, use fiddle, comedy, puppetry, and experiments to get children singing and dancing like pirates while learning along the way.
- 11:00 am & 6:00 pm | The Lightning Thief presented by Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo Park ($)
- The 6:00 pm show is a student production!
- 2:00 pm | Create a Graphic Novel at Aspen Hill Library (Best for ages 10-15)
- 2:00 pm | “A Wild Goose Chase” with Sandbank Shadow Factory at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring (Best for ages 4-13)
- “A Wild Goose Chase” is an interactive live performance that combines shadow puppetry with poetry.
- 2:00 pm | The Whyrates at Kensington Park Library ♥
- The Whyrates – pirate musician “Sage O’Silver” and science teacher “Juarez M’Gold”, use fiddle, comedy, puppetry, and experiments to get children singing and dancing like pirates while learning along the way.
- 6:00 pm | Teens Night Out – Indoor Camping Party at Long Branch Community Recreation Center (Best for ages 13-18)
- 6:30 pm | Dive-in Movie: Finding Nemo at Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center ($)
- 6:30 pm | DESI GROOVE Dance Party on the Lawn of BlackRock Center in Germantown ♥
- 7:00 pm | Movies on the Green ~ Parent Trap at Cabin John Village in Potomac ♣
More Maryland Events
- 10:30 am | Ballet Storytime and Preview at Discoveries: The Library at Westfield Annapolis
- The Ballet Theater of Maryland will share how ballet and movement can tell a story and take us on adventures, just like a book!
- 2:00 pm | Songs, Sounds, Summer at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 3-7)
- 2:00 pm | July’s Paint Party at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- 6:00 pm | Toby’s Dinner Theatre presents: The Little Mermaid in Columbia ($)
- 8:30 pm | Outdoor Movie – Moana 2 at Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse in Laurel ♣
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Bounce in the Park at Barcroft Park (Best for ages 3-9)
- 10:15 am | Kids Camp – The Wild Robot at Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City ($)
- 1:30 pm | Teens Archery & S’mores at Long Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 13-17) ♥
- 3:30 pm | Kids Archery & S’mores at Long Branch Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 6-12) ♥
- 7:00 pm | Night Sounds Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center ($)
City of Alexandria
- 10:30 am | Munit and Z Lovebugs at Beatley Branch Library
- 6:00 pm | Pajamas, Sweets & Pizza at The Tiny Chef Studio ($) (Best for ages 5-10) ♥
- While parents enjoy a night out, kids will dive into a fun-filled evening of decorating cookies, cupcakes & more!
More Virginia Events
- 10:30 am | Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods featuring Andrew & Polly at Wolf Trap in Vienna ($) (Best for ages 2-8)
- 6:00 pm | Creek Adventure Wagon Ride at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly
- 8:00 pm | Movies Under the Moon | Up! at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax ♣
Virtual
- 10:00 am & 1:00 pm | Story Time: The Earth’s Shield hosted by the National Air & Space Museum
Saturday (7/12) in Washington, DC
- 9:00 am | Sensory Friendly Morning at the Garden: Taste of Summer at the U.S. Botanic Garden
- Explore some of the edible plants currently in season at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Learn about fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers from around the world and discover how pollinators help plants to make foods we enjoy.
- 9:30 am, 12:30 pm & 3:30 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 10:00 am | The Phillips Plays – Abstract Art at the Phillips Collection ($)
- 10:00 am | Fort Stevens Day in NW
- Includes living history demonstrations, live music, 19th-century children’s games and crafts, history talks, and a guided walk from Fort Stevens to Battleground National Cemetery.
- 10:00 am | Water Power Day at Peirce Mill in NW ♥
- See how Peirce Mill uses the power of water to grind corn into cornmeal. Then experiment with water toys, learn about Archimedean screws, and construct a paper-plate waterwheel.
- Rain date – Sunday (7/13)
- 10:00 am | Labubu Scavenger Hunt at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- Happening all day, daily through August 23rd!
- 10:00 am | Soar Together Family Day: The Sun at Maximum Activity at the National Air and Space Museum ♥
- Through activities, demonstrations and talking to experts, learn how the Sun can affect the Earth, explore the science that helps people stay prepared, and see the Sun’s changing features for yourself.
- 10:00 am | The World & Me: Caring for the Future of our Planet with Company E and Sound Impact at the National Museum of Natural History
- Watch a performance titled Letters to Earth*, explore different hands-on activities with museum specimens, and discover ways to make an impact in taking care of Earth for future generations.
- 10:30 am | Storytime for the Spectrum at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library
- 11:00 am | TREEmendous DC Trees at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 5+) ♥
- Join Casey Trees, your neighborhood DC tree group, to read a story, make your own TREEmendous bookmark, and explore the DC Tree exhibit with a tree expert to learn more about the trees living in DC, who they are, and what they do for us.
- 11:00 am | Touch a Fire Truck Story Time at Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 12 & under) ♥
- 11:00 am | A Squared Duo presented by Story Tapestries at Woodridge Neighborhood Library ♥
- The duo of Ashlee McKinnon and Avril Hernandez uses choreography, freestyle, and student interaction to bring the elements of hip-hop dance to life that tells a story and moves to music.
- 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm | Celebrate Hawaiian Culture: Children’s Kapa Workshop with Page Chang at imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American Indian ♥
- Learn the art of Hawaiian kapa making with Kumu (teacher) Page Chang of Pūkoʻa Studios from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Made primarily from the paper mulberry or “wauke,” kapa (barkcloth) is the traditional fabric of Hawai‘i.
- 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | Family Workshop | Draw and Display at ImaginAsia Studio at the National Museum of Asian Art (Best for ages 6-11) ♥
- 12:00 pm | Romanian Weekend at The Wharf ♥
- Three-day extravaganza on District Pier celebrating the richness and diversity of Romanian culture with music, dance, food, wine, spoken word performances, concerts, and craft shows!
- 12:00 pm | Happy Re-Opening Week! at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- Ice cream and music to celebrate the library’s return.
- 12:30 pm | The Dragon Clan Show at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park
- Includes epic stunts, impressive weapon handling, and breathtaking magic tricks!
- 1:00 pm | Culture Queen’s Dance Party at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum ♥
- 1:00 pm | The Village Skate Up at Union Market ♥
- Includes Skate Lessons with a local instructor for all skill levels, open skate + skate jam, air market, giveaways & more!
- 1:00 pm | STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum ($) (Best for grades 2nd – 6th)
- [Opening Weekend] 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at The National Theatre ($) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Bastille Day at Fessenden Park in NW ♥
- Enjoy quiche and profiteroles, play the classic lawn game petanque, listen to live music, and take part in French-themed activities.
- 2:00 pm | Accessible Movie Showing: Blink (PG) at MLK Memorial Library – shown with open audio description (AD) and open captions
- Blink follows a Canadian family who journey around the world prior to their children losing their vision to a rare genetic disorder, in order to experience the world’s beauty while they still can.
- 2:30 pm | Summer Teen Studio: Keep It Tight (Knit) at Hirshhorn Museum (Best for ages 13-18)
- Take inspiration from artist Anni Albers, a fiber artist who experimented with various weaving techniques, allowing her materials to guide her work. Use string, beads, and your creativity to make friendship bracelets.
- 6:00 pm | Late Night Drip at Ridge Road Pool in SE
Saturday (7/12) in Maryland & Northern Virginia
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 10:00 am | Dig Day at Dinosaur Park in Laurel ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- Dig into real fossil sites, uncover ancient secrets, and help make exciting new discoveries alongside paleontology experts.
- 10:00 am | Wilderness Survival with a Ranger: Land Navigation at Clearwater Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 10+)
- 10:30 am | Family Zumba at Columbia Park Community Center in Landover (Best for ages 13+)
- 11:00 am | Global Tales and Traditions Series: Muslim American Heritage at Surratt House Museum and Research Center in Clinton ♥
- Make Islamic paper lanterns while listening to a story!
- 11:00 am | Playday at the Library: Color Our World at Laurel Library
- 11:00 am | Glaciers: Hot Topic, Cool Chemistry! at Largo-Kettering Library (Best for ages 7+) ♥
- Dive into an icy adventure with a chemist from the American Chemical Society! Get hands-on with fun experiments as we explore the fascinating chemistry of glaciers and uncover the mysteries hidden in the ice!
- 12:00 pm | Story Explorers: Beginning Readers at Largo-Kettering Library (Best for ages 5-8)
- 12:00 pm, 3:30 pm & 7:00 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 2:00 pm | Therapy Through Art for Teens and Young Adults at Hyattsville
- 2:00 pm | Jazz Dance with Caleb Moore at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier ($) (Best for ages 10+) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Family Crochet Club at Accokeek Library
- 4:00 pm | Creative Writing with Ellen Carter Woodbridge at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier ($) (Best for ages 5-10) ♥
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Parks Playhouse Junior featuring Rocknoceros at Arora Hills Local Park in Clarksburg (Best for ages 2-8) ♥
- 10:30 am | Mr. Lilo at Rockville Memorial Library
- Lilo Gonzalez, originally from El Salvador, has become the pied piper of children’s music in the greater DC area, having spent many years as a music teacher and performer.
- 11:00 am | Movie: The Sandlot at Aspen Hill Library ♣
- 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEM ~ Milk Bottle Xylophones at Noyes Library for Young Children in Kensington
- 11:00 am | Tony Music at Potomac Library
- 11:00 am, 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm | The Lightning Thief presented by Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo Park ($)
- The 5:00 pm version is a student production!
- 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Dory Fantasmagory at Imagination Stage in Bethesda ($)
- The 1:00 pm show is ASL interpreted & you can meet the actors of the play!
- 4:00 pm | Crafts at the Library: Aquarium in a Jar at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
- 5:00 pm | Bloom at Good Hope Concert Series ~ Cecily A Soulful Tribute to Disco Icons at Good hope Neighborhood Recreation Center
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Good Kid-izen: Team Players (Bring Your Bike) at Color Burst Park in Columbia (Best for ages 5+) ♥
- Bring your own bike and join the Bike with a Cop activity! Ride on our “track” at Color Burst Park.
- 10:30 am | Butterfly Weekend Walk in Woodstock
- 10:30 am | Reptile World at Potomac Branch Library in Indian Head
- 10:30 am | Science Saturdays: Paper Airplanes at Maryland City Library (Best for ages 6-10) ♥
- Learn about aerodynamics by creating and testing paper airplanes.
- 11:00 am | Summer Reading: Celebrate Libraries! at Savage Branch Library in Laurel ♥
- Includes snacks, party decorations, selfie station & more!
- 2:00 pm | Series Safari: Who HQ Books at Glen Burnie Library (Best for ages 6-10)
- 2:00 pm | Reptile World at Waldorf West Branch Library
- 2:00 pm | Let’s Draw… Summer Fun! at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City (Best for grades 3rd – 5th)
- Create your own summer inspired drawing using how to draw guides, video tutorials, and drawing tips.
- 2:30 pm | Teen Book Buffet at PD Brown Memorial Library in Waldorf (Best for ages 13-18)
- Rotate among the stations to sample a variety of books from our book buffet “menu” and discuss your favorites. At the end, there will be time to start reading our selected titles.
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Crafty Kids: Take and Make at Courthouse Library
- 10:00 am | Stories Come Alive! at READ Booknook at Ballston Quarter
- Stories come alive with ETC Beginnings, where the staff at READ selects a book and ETCB brings it to life!
- 2:00 pm | Dungeons & Dragons One Shot Adventures at Aurora Hills Library (Best for middle school students)
- 4:00 pm | Video Game & Disney Benefit Concert: Good Beats Ensemble at Grace Community Church ($) ♥
- 7:00 pm | Summer Teen Night: Splash & Glow at Arlington Mill Community Center
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | Storytime for Little Historians at Alexandria Black History Museum (Best for ages 5-8)
- 10:30 am | The Uncle Devin Show at Beatley Central Library (Best for ages 0-8) ♥
- 11:00 am | Book Tasting at Barrett Branch Library (Best for ages 12+)
- Get book recommendations + pastries!
- 11:00 am | Free Hockey Clinic at Francis C. Hammond Middle School (Best for ages 5-17)
- 11:30 am | Calligraphy Workshop at Burke Branch Library (Best for teens & adults)
- 2:00 pm | Book Journaling Meetup at Barrett Branch Library
- 6:00 pm | Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration at Oronoco Bay Park ♥
- Experience this one-of-a-kind Alexandria event with your family. The evening includes live music, food and drink vendors, and ends with the grand finale — a fireworks display on the Potomac River at 9:30 pm.
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Family Fun Entertainment Series featuring Lohr Family Antics at Reston Town Square Park
- 10:00 am | Mad Science of Washington at Wakefield Park in Annandale ♥
- This spellbinding show introduces children to the principles of vibration and chemistry.
- 10:00 am | Blue Sky Puppet Theater at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly
- 10:00 am | The YOJO Show at Burke Lake Park Amphitheater in Fairfax
- 10:30 am | Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods featuring Sonia De Los Santos at Wolf Trap in Vienna ($) (Best for ages 4-12)
- 11:00 am | LAREXPO: Latin American Artisans & Entrepreneurs Expo in Downtown Manassas
- Celebrate Latin American culture and traditions through art, food, folklore dances, zumba, live music, artisans, and exhibitors showcasing the wealth of each participating country!
- 5:30 pm | Sunset Polo at Great Meadow in The Plains ($)
- Theme: Peace, Love & Tie Dye
- 6:00 pm | Summer Concert Series at Mosaic in Fairfax
- Featuring VA Singing Princesses & Milk Mountain
- 6:30 pm | A Wonderful Family Adventure featuring National Treasure at Reston Row Plaza ♣
Virtual
- [Limited Seats Left] 11:00 am | Virtual Dungeons and Dragons – Homebrew hosted by Charles County Public Library
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Washington, DC
- 9:30 am, 12:30 pm & 3:30 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 10:00 am | Curiosity Day at Planet Word ♥
- Be among the first to experience the latest addition to the Words Matter gallery: the questions beacon. The interactive touchscreen display invites you to see how the way we phrase our questions can change conversations, uncover new ideas, and even sway outcomes, from everyday chit-chat to courtroom cross-examinations.
- 12:00 pm | Romanian Weekend at The Wharf ♥
- Three-day extravaganza on District Pier celebrating the richness and diversity of Romanian culture with music, dance, food, wine, spoken word performances, concerts, and craft shows!
- 2:00 pm | NSO Summer Music Institute Time Travel Family Pop-Up at The Kennedy Center
- Musicians of the NSO Summer Music Institute play in a special pop-performance for children, a performative conclusion of a three-course workshop on developing a children’s music program led by Sound Impact.
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm & 6:30 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 3:00 pm | Youth Painting Therapy Workshop with Shayla Mona’e Russell at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier ($) (Best for ages 10+)
- 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: Dog Man at National Harbor ♣
- 6:30 pm | Summer Concerts at Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Montgomery County
- 9:30 am | Bluey Storytime at People’s Book Takoma ♥
- 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | The Lightning Thief presented by Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 1:00 pm | Step into the Pokeverse at Westfield Wheaton
- Pokemon Battle on Nintendo Switch to win a FREE Pokemon Funko pop.
- 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm | Dory Fantasmagory at Imagination Stage in Bethesda ($)
- Masks are required for the 1:00 pm show and you can meet the actors at the 4:00 pm show.
- 2:00 pm | Magician Mike Rose at Olney Library
- 2:00 pm | Scrapbook Sunday at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda (Best for ages 12+)
- Bring your blank or neglected scrapbook, and some photos, we’ll bring the trimmings! Come learn how to make attractive, colorful scrapbooks!
- 3:30 pm | A Journey through Piano Music History at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Learn about the major periods of classical piano music: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impressionist. Enjoy an interactive lecture combined with a recital.
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Wild for Water Day at Robinson Nature Center ($) ♥
- Enjoy water games and experiments for the whole family. Participate in a river treasure hunt. Meet live creatures that depend on rivers and streams. Explore the wonders of snow, ice and water in the “stages of water” area for little ones.
- 12:30 pm | Ice Cream Sundays on the Train at B&O Railroad Museum ($)
- 3:00 pm | Mascot Visit at sweetFrog Laurel
- 5:30 pm | Disney Bingo & Milkshakes at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar in Ellicott City ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Summer Fun Family Series! ♥
- Flower pounding on fabric, face paint + live music
- 11:00 am | Lubber Run Summer Concerts – Drew Blue Shoes at Lubber Run Amphitheater
- 1:30 pm | Family STEM Project at Gulf Branch Nature Center ($)
- 3:00 pm | Builders Club at Central Library (Best for grades K-5th)
- 3:00 pm | Sunstruck – Planetarium Show at David M. Brown Planetarium ($) (Best for ages 10+)
City of Alexandria
- 11:00 am | Family Friendly Wood + Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop ($)
- 2:00 pm | Family Day with Young Historians at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum ($)
- Jr Docents provide stationed tours throughout the two tavern buildings and operate special, hands-on activity stations about period clothing and chocolate making.
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | NVA Thai Street Food & Culture Festival in Downtown Manassas ♥
- 11:00 am | Monarchs – The Mighty Migrators at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax ($)
- Learn how to identify monarch butterflies throughout their life stages, the plants they need to survive, and the dangers that threaten their survival.
- 11:00 am | Reptile Show with Raging Reptiles at Manassas Mall ♥
- 12:00 pm | Kids and Paws: Paw Patrol Chase, Bluey and Superman at Shipgarten in McLean
This Week's Book Recommendation
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Summer Movies
Check out this list of upcoming indoor & outdoor summer movies! Most are free and some are paid but a good time watching classic & new movies is only a click away.
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