Harry Potter Fans, unite! This Broadway performance is on stage now at the National Theatre in downtown DC through September 7th. We caught the performance on July 31st, Harry's Birthday. And yes, I was one of three people in cosplay 🙂 This show is 2 hours and 55 minutes long with one intermission. My theatre bud, Liv, heard it was over 2 hours long and opted out swiftly LOL. It did feel really long but still a great performance. The special effects really make this show stand out! I highly suggest rewatching or rereading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire prior to seeing the show. There's also some Harry Potter themed events and mischief happening around town! On Friday (8/8), catch a special storytime in Arlington with some of the cast members of the theatre performance! See details below. And there's a life sized phone booth and photo display at IKEA College Park in promotion of the performance. Unlock deals on weekday shows using code IKEA59 through Ticketmaster. Full review coming real soon! For now, on to this weekend's events...
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.
Thursday, August 7, 2025
SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: PIECE BY PIECE AT DC ARMORY
FREE movie night! On Thursday, August 7th, head to DC Armory for the first free movie screening of Events DC's Summer Movie Series. See Piece by Piece and enjoy giveaways, snacks, a live DJ, activities and more beginning at 6:00 pm. Tap the image for more info!
Friday, August 8, 2025
Washington, DC
- 2:00 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- 2:00 pm | Crafternoon: Summer Edition at Woodridge Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 6-12)
- 4:00 pm | TeenyBopper Cinema featuring Frozen 2 at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library ♣
- 5:00 pm | Virtual Reality Game Time! at Shaw Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 5-19)
- [For Adults] 6:30 pm | Strengths of the Black Family Lifting and Affirming the Strength of Black Families at Sankofa Cafe in NW
- 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 7:00 pm | Late Night Hype at Rosedale Recreation Center
- Carnival styles event with food, music, games, dancing & more!
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 6:00 pm | Summer Movie Night featuring Rugrats in Paris at Birchwood City Park Building in Oxon Hill ♣
- [Last Chance] 7:00 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 7:00 pm | Safe Summer: Dreamgirls Movie Screening for Teens at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse (Best for ages 12-17) ♣
Montgomery County
- 11:00 am | STEMusic Concert at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 5+) ♥
- Dive into a world where music meets STEM education in the most exciting way possible. From mind-blowing experiments to math problem-solving, coding dances, and even rocket launches, this event has it all!
- 11:00 am | Tony Music at Little Falls Library in Bethesda (Best for Pre-k – elementary aged kids)
- This high energy program features a variety of instruments.
- 2:00 pm | Circus Science with Gregory May at White Oak Library
- 3:00 pm | STEMusic Concert at Long Branch Library in Silver Spring
- Dive into a world where music meets STEM education in the most exciting way possible. From mind-blowing experiments to math problem-solving, coding dances, and even rocket launches, this event has it all!
More Maryland Events
- 2:00 pm | Self-Defense for Kids at Odenton Library
- 6:00 pm | Toby’s Dinner Theatre presents: The Little Mermaid in Columbia ($)
- 7:00 pm | Outdoor Concert featuring Spanglish American Band at Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse in Laurel
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Bounce in the Park at Virginia Highland Park (Best for ages 3-9)
- 11:00 am | Harry Potter Read-Aloud with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Actors at Central Library ♥
- Listen to actor Trish Lindstrom, who plays Ginny in the National Theatre’s production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, read excerpts from the Harry Potter book series.
- 6:00 pm | Met Park Movie Nights featuring Lilo and Stitch at Metropolitan Park ♣
Saturday (8/9) in Washington, DC
- 9:30 am & 11:00 am | Second Saturdays: InterAct Story Theatre at The Kennedy Center (Best for ages 2-5) ♥
- In this fun-filled creative drama workshop, Ali Oliver-Krueger, Artistic Director of InterAct Story Theatre, leads children and grown-ups in exploring a favorite story through movement, acting, and song.
- 9:30 am, 12:30 pm & 3:30 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- There’s also a Brunch at 10:30 am with colorful plates & fun activities for $25 person! (Best for ages 2+)
- 10:00 am | Pokey’s Party: Celebrating 30 Years of Turtle Wisdom at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center ♥
- Hands-on activities include make-your-own Pokey party hat, create a commemorative t-shirt (please bring your own shirt!, write Pokey a birthday card, & earn a Jr. Ranger badge.
- 10:00 am | The Phillip Plays ~ Back to School at The Phillips Collection ($)
- Get ready for school at the Phillips! On a family-friendly tour at 11am, take a closer look at Milton Avery’s Girl Writing and discuss what you wonder about the school year ahead. In the art workshop, design your dream playground and create an identity collage.
- 10:30 am | August Family Day: Celebrating Baseball at The Library of Congress ♥
- Create your player persona by crafting a baseball card and explore items from the Library’s extensive baseball holdings. Also, meet mascots from the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team.
- 10:30 am | Mandarin Story Time at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library
- Join us for songs, rhythms, and stories told in Mandarin. Families of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to participate!
- 11:00 am | International Cat Day at the National Zoo
- Activities include animal enrichment, information tables about cats, and the opportunity to participate in arts, crafts and games that celebrate your favorite felines.
- 11:00 am | Yoga with Nzinga at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library in SE (Best for ages 5+)
- 12:00 pm | Sightlines Saturday Guided Tour and Activity: Back to School at Smithsonian American Art Museum
- 12:00 pm | Emery Heights Community Day at Emery Heights Community Center in NW
- 12:30 pm | Back to School Bash at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library in SE ♥
- 1:00 pm | STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum ($)
- 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 2:00 pm | Food Science: Butter at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- Learn how to make butter!
- 2:00 pm | Washington National Opera Institute Showcase at The Kennedy Center
- 2:00 pm | CatVideoFest 2025 at The Miracle Theatre ($)
- CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.
- 4:00 pm | Jellyfish Craft at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 2+)
Saturday (8/9) in Maryland & Northern Virginia
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- [Just Added] 10:00 am | Dad Games in Upper Marlboro ♥
- Dads compete in fun games throughout this field day at Dad Games HQ!
- 10:30 am | Youth Learn to Ride: Bike Riding Class at Largo-Kettering Library (Best for ages 6-12) ♥
- 11:00 am | Palmer Park Block Party & School Resource Fair in Landover
- 12:00 pm | CCI Block Party in Greenbelt
- Free games, food, and prizes!
- [Last Chance] 12:00 pm, 3:30 pm & 7:00 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 12:30 pm | Back-to-School Splash Bash at Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Complex in Landover
- 1:00 pm | Kids Create: Butterfly Suncatchers at Mount Rainier Library
- 2:00 pm | Robo Builders: Introduction to Hardware at Laurel Library (Best for grades 5-7) ♥
- Get hands-on with real hardware by sorting parts and matching them to their functions in a relay-style challenge. Then, work in teams to build a simple mechanism, applying what you’ve learned.
- 5:00 pm | Patuxent River Park Community Day at Mount Calvert Historic Site ♥♣
- Enjoy free kayak rentals, take free professional portraits, take a golden hour cruise on the Patuxent River, and then, after, join us for an outdoor movie screening of Wild Robot.
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Just for the Record – Vinyl Day 2025 at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring ♥
- Event highlights:
- 11:00 am | Make Your Own Album Cover
- 11:00 am | Create Your Own Graffiti Tag
- 11:00 am | DJ Basics for Kids
- 12:00 pm | DJ Basics for Teens and Adults
- 12:00 pm | STEMusic Concert
- 1:00 pm | Kids Dance Party
- 3:15 pm | Scratch Basics
- 4:15 pm | Blending/Mixing/Stems Basics
- Learn the fundamentals of blending and mixing music to create your product. Learn about stems and isolating vocals and Instrumentals on beat while avoiding BPM transition audio “train wrecks.”
- Event highlights:
- 10:30 am | Learn & Craft: Climate Change at Potomac Library
- 10:30 am | Craft and Create: Artie’s Beach Party at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 5-12)
- 11:00 am | Color Our World: Science Guys of Baltimore at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEM ~ Coffee Ground Fossils at Noyes Library for Young Children in Kensington
- 2:00 pm | Color Our World: Science Guys of Baltimore at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda
- 4:00 pm | Crafts at the Library: Mosaic Your Way at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville
- 4:00 pm | Origami with Fold and Fun at Rockville Memorial Library
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | August’s Finger-Paint Party at sweetFrog Laurel ($)
- 10:00 am | Good-Kid-izens Community Heroes at Color Burst Park in Columbia ♥
- Introduce children to firefighters, police officers, librarians, and other helpers, emphasizing how they make our community better.
- 10:00 am | Lil’ Stars: Wild Weather at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($) (Best for ages 3-9)
- There’s also an 11am show!
- 10:00 am | Set Sail for School at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($) ♥
- Annual back-to-school event with school-related resources, engaging activities, and fabulous free giveaways.
- 10:00 am | Rockburn Open Car Show
- Celebrate the beauty of classic, antique, hot rods, and modified cars on display outdoors at Rockburn Branch Park.
- 10:30 am | Science Saturdays: Paper Circuits at Maryland City Library in Laurel (Best for ages 6-10)
- 10:30 am | Butterfly Weekend Walk in Woodstock
- 2:00 pm | Spiders are your Friends! at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 6-11)
- 2:00 pm | Composting with the Alice Ferguson Foundation at Potomac Branch Library in Indian Head
- Have you ever wondered what to do with leftover fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, or even coffee grounds? Come learn about a sustainable option for all of these and more with the Alice Ferguson Foundation!
- 6:00 pm | Toby’s Dinner Theatre presents: The Little Mermaid in Columbia ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 10:30 am | Beetle Bonanza at Shirlington Library
- Come learn about the life cycle of the beetle, hear some beetle stories and make a paper beetle with flapping wings.
- 1:00 pm | Basic Self-Defense Class with EvolveAll at Westover Library
- 1:00 pm | Kids Baking Fun at Cookology ($)
- 2:00 pm | Dungeons & Dragons One Shot Adventures at Aurora Hills Library (Best for middle school students)
- 7:00 pm | Summer Teen Night: Pool Party at Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center
City of Alexandria
- 8:00 am | Hypergoat Coffee Roasters One Year Anniversary
- Includes kids storytime, raffle & more!
- 10:00 am | Storytime for Little Historians at Alexandria Black History Museum (Best for ages 5-8)
- 10:30 am | 1, 2, 3 Andrés! at Beatley Central Library ♥
- Join Grammy-winning children’s musicians for an interactive musical performance in English and Spanish.
- 12:30 pm | Upcycled Mini Kit at Beatley Central Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Use a variety of craft materials to turn a tin into an emergency or survival kit of your choice.
- 1:00 pm | Cupcake Decorating Class: Campfire Cupcakes at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
- 3:30 pm | DIY Teens: Galaxy Jars at Barrett Branch Library (Best for ages 11+)
More Virginia Events
- 10:30 am | Kidz Korner – Superhero Training! at Old Town Square in Fairfax
- Earn your very own Superhero Training Certificate!
- [Just Added] 11:00 am | Mamacita Festival at Shipgarten in McLean ($)
- Includes a family-friendly atmosphere, drag queens, community vendors, cultural showcases, and more!
- 12:00 pm | Pachycephalosaurus Picnic at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale ($)
- Bring your picnic blanket and lunch or snack for an outdoor lesson about dinosaurs.
- 12:30 pm | Ice Cream and Games at Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls ($)
- 6:00 pm | Mosaic Live Summer Concert Series featuring Mr. Jon & Friends in Fairfax
- 6:30 pm | A Wonderful Family Adventure featuring Madagascar at Reston Station ♣
- 7:30 pm | Bats – Friendly Flyers at Lake Fairfax Park
- 8:00 pm | Starlight Cinema Movie Night featuring Moana 2 at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly ♣
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Washington, DC
- 9:30 am | DC Ward 1 Day at National Children’s Museum
- Free visit day for DC residents in Ward 1! To reserve DC Ward Day tickets, enter your zip code as a promo code on the Discounts page during checkout.
- 9:30 am, 12:30 pm & 3:30 pm | Sesame Street the Musical at The Kennedy Center ($)
- There’s also a Brunch at 10:30 am with colorful plates & fun activities for $25 person! (Best for ages 2+)
- 10:00 am | Sunday Storytime at Planet Word (Best for ages 2-6)
- 11:00 am | Drag Story Hour with Charlemagne Chateau at DC Pop-Up in NW ♥
- 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 4:00 pm | Marquee: A Performance by Moveius Contemporary Ballet at National Portrait Gallery ♥
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- [Last Chance] 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm & 6:30 pm | UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor ($)
- 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: IF at National Harbor ♣
Montgomery County
- 1:00 pm | Create Your Own Solar System at Wheaton Library (Best for ages 4-10) ♥
- 2:00 pm | Dog Man Day at Germantown Library (Best for ages 4+) ♥♣
- Dog Man scavenger hunt, craft, and movie with popcorn!
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Sensory Sunday at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($)
- Theme: Watermelon Weekend
- 10:30 am | Sensory-Friendly Sundays at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($)
- Theme: Wild in Water
- 12:30 pm | Ice Cream Sunday at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($)
- 5:00 pm | Toby’s Dinner Theatre presents: The Little Mermaid in Columbia ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 9:00 am | Bug Helpers in the Garden at Fort CF Smith Park ($) (Best for ages 6-10)
- Learn about all the different types of creepy crawlies and do a little bit of bug-catching to get a closer look at these awesome creatures.
- 10:00 am | MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Summer Fun Family Series at Metropolitan Park
- Doors to Other Worlds collage — inspired by current exhibition, Portals / Music from Duck Chuck Goose
- 12:00 pm | Kids Sushi Making at Cookology ($) (Best for ages 8+) ♥
- 3:00 pm | Builders Club at Central Library (Best for grades K-5th)
City of Alexandria
- 10:00 am | STEAM-tastic: A Trail of Trouble at Del Ray Artisans ($) (Best for ages 6-12) ♥
- Danielle Simone is a Virginia author and will share some activities from her book, A Trail of Trouble. Participants will work through 4 stations: create signs for Leave No Trace camping, engage in an outdoor natural items scavenger hunt, explore natural first aid remedies, and design a suspension bridge. While students are engaged in these activities, they will learn about global warming and the importance of protecting our environment.
- 1:00 pm | Cupcake Decorating Class: Campfire Cupcakes at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 9-12)
- 2:00 pm | Family Day with Young Historians at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum ($)
- Jr Docents provide stationed tours throughout the two tavern buildings and operate special, hands-on activity stations about period clothing and chocolate making.
- 3:00 pm | Family Friendly Wood + Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop ($)
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Munit & Z Love Bugs at Wakefield Park in Annandale
- 10:00 am | the grandsons, jr. at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly
- 10:00 am | La Musica – A World of Encanto with JChris at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax ♥
- 10:30 am | Born in the Wild Walk at Burke Lake Park ($) (Best for ages 4+)
- 12:00 pm | Spider-Man and Frozen host Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
- 12:00 pm | Salvadorian Festival in Downtown Manassas
- 1:00 pm | Science Meets History – Spies at Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls ($) (Best for ages 6-10) ♥
- Get ready for a little deception, secret messaging and eavesdropping. Learn the science of spying and create your own secret messages and practice a few of these skills yourself.
- 7:00 pm | Goodnight Walk – Owls at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale ($)
- Learn to recognize the calls and features of local owls. Make a craft and enjoy a night hike with a naturalist.
Next Week
DC Back to School Bash
On Monday, August 11th from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, the National Children's Museum is offering DC Public School and DC Charter School students and their families FREE admission to the Museum. And from 10 am - 2 pm, Woodrow Wilson Plaza will be abuzz with exciting activations presented by TCMA, including a chance to meet Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy + grab Commanders giveaways, a musical performance on the Live! Concert Series stage from noon – 1pm, a children's book fair by Turning the Page, community + activity tables & free lemonade, lunch bag & recipe giveaway. Tap the image above for more info!
This Week's Book Recommendation
On the Blog...
ICYMI: New Galleries at the National Air & Space Museum
Tap the link below to see our review of the latest galleries at the National Air and Space Museum! Timed tickets are required to visit and free to book online. All that info + more in the blog linked below.
New
Movies, Movies, Movies
This listing of indoor/outdoor movies has been updated to include screenings through the end of Summer and beginning of Fall around the DMV. Choose from free and discounted admission to classic and new-ish movies for kids and families. Tap the link below to start planning your next cinematic adventure.
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