It's Art All Night Weekend in DC and I have a few recommendations for those heading out with kids & families in tow. Art All Night is an annual festival celebrating The Arts in DC. Each participating neighborhood hosts activations and special offerings through local businesses or their neighborhood library. In the listing below under "Top Activities this Weekend", you'll find a majority of the neighborhood library events plus a few Main Street/BID events that are geared more towards children and families with most of the family-based festivities occurring Friday (9/12) night. We've been attending Art All Night for the past few years and really enjoyed the Downtown DC festivities. As I see additional family-friendly activations, I'll add them here. Happy Planning for this weekend!
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Events
We’re testing a new format for this blog this week!
Top Activities This Weekend
Washington, DC
- Friday (9/12) – Saturday (9/13) | Art All Night throughout DC ~ Kid-friendly suggestions:
- Friday (9/12) at
- 4:00 pm | Art All Night Uptown Main Street in NW
- Includes dance demos & workshops for all ages, African drumming & storytelling, art projects & kids musical sing-along.
- 4:00 pm | NoMa in Color: Color Jam at Alethia Tanner Park in NE
- Includes pet rock art, roller skating performance, live music & more!
- 4:00 pm | Art All Night Petworth Main Street in NW
- Includes kids corner, bubbles, ice cream, live painter, creative workshops & more!
- 5:00 pm | Art All Night Art of Otaku & Japan at Barracks Row in SE
- Anime & Japanese culture themed activations + K-pop Dance Class at 6:30 pm & Taiko Drummers performance at 8:30 pm
- 5:00 pm | Art All Night Rhode Island Ave. NE at Rita’s Italian Ice
- Includes a drumline, crafts & face paint!
- 5:00 pm | Art All Night at Mount Pleasant Library in NW
- Stop by for face painting, cupcake decorating, chalk fun, live music, DJs, tarot, an edible book contest and more to celebrate Art All Night and the Library’s 100th birthday!
- 6:00 pm | Art All Night at Georgetown Neighborhood Library in NW
- Dance to beats by DJ Wonder, sip and create your mocktails recipes, craft friendship bracelets, sing Karaoke, chat and paint a picture, and explore other hands on activities.
- 6:00 pm | Art All Night the Art of… at Woodridge Neighborhood Library in NE
- Includes virtual activities, painting, mahjong, crafts, local vendors, history and presentation of Kwandi quilt making., body art, food, live music and unique designs and crafts by local artisans, caricatures, boxing and movement demonstrations, workshops, Community Tile Art, and an opportunity for children 2-5 years to enter a drawing to win a free* Ello plush at our Art of Reading Station! Register for “Style Your Own T-Shirt or Totebag” and “Build Your Own Terrarium” to take with you.
- 7:00 pm | Art All Night: The Art of Making Memories at Benning Neighborhood Library in NE
- Craft personalized mementos they’ll treasure long after the night ends, because art isn’t just about the moment of creation—it’s about the memories we carry forward.
- 7:00 pm | Art All Night Penn Ave East at Randle Highlands Elementary
- Includes a live DJ and fitness activations to lawn games, spades, a photo booth, and community resources!
- 4:00 pm | Art All Night Uptown Main Street in NW
- Saturday (9/13) at
- 7:00 pm | Art All Night Celebration at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Libraryin NW
- Includes family improv, crafts with Red Panda art studio, writing workshop, community art project & more!
- 7:00 pm | Art All Night at Southwest Neighborhood Library in SW
- Includes a concert for kids, line dancing, create your own candle & more!
- 7:00 pm | Art All Night Celebration at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Libraryin NW
- Friday (9/12) at
More DC Adventures
- Saturday (9/13) at 11:00 am | Stamp Spectacular at the National Postal Museum
- This family festival invites visitors of all ages to explore the vibrant world of stamps through hands-on crafts, storytelling, games, and gallery adventures. Whether you’re a longtime collector or just stamp-curious, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy. Check out the 4DMV Kids Guide for Visiting the National Postal Museum to help plan your trip.
- [Just Added] Sunday (9/14) at 10:00 am | SawasdeeDC Thai Festival 2025 on the National Mall
- Includes a parade, Thai food demo, Muay Thai Martial Arts Showcase & more!
Maryland
- Friday (9/12) & Saturday (9/13) Long Branch Fest in Silver Spring
- Two days. Live music. Local eats. Artisan vendors. Family fun.
- Saturday (9/13) at 11:00 am | Bowie International Festival at Allen Pond Park
- World cultures and nations are celebrated throughout the Bowie International Festival in a variety of ways, including dance and musical performances from around the world.
- Saturday (9/13) at 11:00 am | Touch-a-Truck at Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda
- Get up close with a wide variety of trucks, emergency vehicles, and heavy machinery + live music, face painting, balloon twisting, obstacle course & more!
- Saturday (9/14) at 1:00 pm | Montgomery County Biking Festival in Rockville, MD
- The Montgomery County Family Biking Festival will help current and potential cyclists explore opportunities for using cycling for transportation. Includes eBike and cargo bike test rides on protected bike lanes, bike decorating and a balance bike parade!
Virginia
- Saturday (9/13) at 9:00 am | Old Town Books Junior’s 1st Birthday Celebration in Alexandria
- Includes storytime, cake & balloons, character appearances & ice cream for sale!
- Sunday (9/14) at 10:00 am | No Kid Hungry Cooking Class for Kids with Kids! at Cookology in Arlington ($) (Best for ages 8-17)
This hands-on children’s cooking class will be taught by registered dietitian nutritionist and No Kid Hungry champion Chacha Miller. Menu includes rainbow veggie pasta, watermelon-tomato capers skewer & chocolate chip cookies! 50% of the ticket price will be donated to the organization No Kid Hungry.
More Adventures
Create Art
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:00 am | The Phillips Plays ~ Exploring Our Community at The Phillips Collection in NW DC ($)
- What communities do you belong to? Take a closer look at Coin de la Rue Medard, Paris by Lois Mailou Jones and explore what makes our communities—both shared and different—unique. Then, find inspiration from and use city maps to create a collage of your own neighborhood block.
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:00 am | TREEmendous DC Trees! at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library in SE DC
- 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.
- Saturday (9/13) at 12:00 pm | Slime, Stories, & Sea Tales with Rain Young at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum in SE DC
- Make slime, listen to stories and create art representing sea tales.
Watch Movies
- Saturday (9/13) at 2:00 pm | Happy Birthday, Roald Dahl at Deanwood Neighborhood Library in NE DC
- Celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday with a screening of Matilda, activities based on his books, and more!
- Sunday (9/14) at 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: The Garfield Movie at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD
Learn a New Skill
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:00 am | Dig Day at Dinosaur Park in Laurel, MD ($) (Best for ages 8+)
- Hands-on adventure at the world-famous Dinosaur Park bone bed! Dig into real fossil sites, uncover ancient secrets, and help make exciting new discoveries alongside paleontology experts.
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:00 am | Kids Cooking: Mini Calzones & Fairy Bread at Cookology in Arlington, VA ($)
- Saturday (9/13) at 11:00 am | Art Enables Saturday Workshop Off the Hook: Hook Rug Art in NE DC
- Inspired by their current exhibition “Outside Forces,” this hands-on workshop introduces you to the basics of rug hooking. You’ll design and create your own abstract mini hooked rug to take home, and no prior experience required.
- Saturday (9/13) at 1:00 pm | Curiosity Cube: Mobile Science Lab at Gaithersburg Library
- Spark your child’s love of science with a visit to the Curiosity Cube! It features interactive hands-on science experiments using the latest technology to spark curiosity in the next generation of scientists.
- Saturday (9/13) | DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day! at different rinks across Maryland & Virginia
- This event is for players who have never tried hockey before to gear up and give it a shot in a FUN and SAFE environment!
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
- Saturday (9/13) at 9:30 am | Washington Commanders’ Hispanic Heritage Event at the National Children’s Museum ($)
- STEAM programming and culture collide, with special activations including papel picado and marigold design, storytime & more!
- Saturday (9/13) at 11:00 am | Global Tales and Traditions Series: Hispanic Heritage Month at Surratts-Clinton Branch Library in MD
- Listen to the picture book “Mango, Abuela, and Me” by Meg Medina with illustrations by Angela Dominquez, and make papel picado banners.
- Sunday (9/14) at 11:00 am | Hispanic Heritage Month Community Day at Riversdale House Museum Historic Site in MD
- Stop by for a day full of interactive, hands-on, and educational activities, and learn about resources in your community.
- Sunday (9/14) at 2:00 pm | Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Celebration at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville, MD
- Includes an art exhibition and public reception displaying the works of artist Francisco Loza, live music, dancing, arts and craft activities for children, and light refreshments.
For Teens
- Friday (9/12) at 12:00 pm | Zen & Now: Mental Health Workshop for Teens at Bowie Library in MD
- Friday (9/12) at 4:00 pm | Teen Creative Writing at Petworth Neighborhood Library in NW DC
- Have an idea you’ve been sitting on? Toss around ideas with other creatives. This is a fluid writing series. All genres are welcome.
- Friday (9/12) at 5:30 pm | Teen Night: Handmade Pasta Ravioli & Garlic Bread Sticks at Cookology in Arlington, VA ($)
- Get ready to roll up your sleeves and learn the art of making handmade pasta ravioli and garlic bread sticks at this fun Teen Night event!
- Friday (9/12) at 7:00 pm | All Things Teen Wellness at Patrick Henry Recreation Center in Alexandria, VA
- An evening of sports, games, crafts, music, and food—plus resources and activities designed to support teen mental health and wellness.
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:00 am | Education Studios Preview at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (Best for middle school & high school students + adults)
- Sign up for one of six free intro sessions of dance, music or acting, and get a sneak peek at Signature’s upcoming programs for learners of all levels.
Sensory Friendly & Accessible
- Saturday (9/13) at 8:30 am | Morning at the Museum at the National Air and Space Museum in DC
- This free, sensory-friendly program is designed for individuals who are neurodivergent, have sensory sensitivities, or other learning and cognitive disabilities. All ages are welcome!
- Saturday (9/13) at 9:20 am | Sensory-Friendly Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton ($)
- Saturday (9/13) at 10:30 am | Story Time for the Spectrum at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library in NW DC
- All children and their families are invited to this fun story time, packed with sensory-friendly activities designed to be enjoyed by children of all abilities, including those on the autism spectrum.
This Week's Book Recommendation
