Hello September! It's National Book Festival weekend and although I'm not as excited for this year's event given the current political climate we're in, I do think its important to highlight the festival given its free to attend and offers a wide range of activities for kids of all ages. Let's celebrate the books! The main family-friendly activities are located in Hall D, which is the main festival space. There's a Roadmap to Reading, which is sort of like a passport activity through all 50 states. Each booth will stamp your booklet and when you've received stamps from all 50 states, you can retrieve a giveaway/prize from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) booth. There's also a Story District, where storytelling comes alive and a STEM District that features STEM based organizations like Black Girls Code and and the UMD Language Science Center. Did I mention there's a Highlights Magazine booth where kids can pick up a scavenger hunt card & win prizes? I think I'm more excited that it's Highlights Magazine than anything else LOL. So many fun things to explore at this year's festival. Tap the image above or the button below to read more about family friendly activities at the National Book Festival. Happy Planning!
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.
This Month
Healthcare Appreciation Month at LEGO Discovery Center
All through September, healthcare workers receive FREE entry to LEGO Discovery Center in Springfield, VA plus 30% off for their friends and family-up to six (6) guests. Purchase tickets in advance to reserve your time slot. Tap the link below for more info!
Discount
Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds on 9/4
Head to Old Town Books in Alexandria on Thursday, September 4th for an unforgettable evening with bestselling, award-winning authors James Ponti and Jason Reynolds. They'll discuss the launch of Hurricane Heist, the second book in Ponti’s Sherlock Society series, a fast favorite with middle-grade readers since the launch of the first last fall. The two will regale young and old with stories about their hugely popular books, their writing process, and their ardent commitment to getting kids to fall in love with reading. Receive a presigned book for $31.44 & bring a friend for $11.49. Tap the link below for more info!
Book Event
Friday, September 5, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Care Fair at Smithsonian’s National Zoo ♥
- Chat one-on-one with animal keepers and veterinarians, watch special feeding and training demonstrations, and get hands-on with fascinating animal artifacts.
- 10:00 am | Story Time with Author: “The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World” at the National Museum of Natural History
- Explore unique Smithsonian connections to the inventions in here book through play and artmaking. Families will also be invited to explore invention-related play with our friends from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden inside the Hall of Mammals.
- 10:00 am | Storytime: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?” at the National Gallery of Art
- 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm | The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 8:00 pm | Eisenhower Under the Stars on the National Mall
- A variety of telescopes will be available for the public to use, with knowledgeable people on hand to answer questions. There will also be hands-on activities for all ages.
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 4:00 pm | Game On! at Mount Rainier Branch Library
- Bring your favorite game or enjoy one from their collection!
- 5:00 pm | Prince George’s County Fair at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro ($) ♥
- Includes a carnival, livestock competition, vendors & performances!
- [Opening Night] 8:00 pm | Legally Blonde the Musical at Bowie Playhouse ($)
Montgomery County
- 10:30 am | Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre presents: The Selfish Giant’s Garden at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 11:00 am | Musical Story Hour with Bach to Rock at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 18 months to 5 years)
- 4:30 pm | Read to a Dog at White Oak Library (Best for ages 5-12)
- 5:30 pm | DIY Press-On Nail Workshop – Create & Paint Your Own Custom Set at Dov & Company in Potomac ($)
- 5:30 pm | Meet & Greet Author Devin Elle Kurtz of “The Bakery Dragon” at People’s Book Takoma
- Magic shimmers on every page of Devin Elle Kurtz’s feel-good picture book that celebrates baked goods, dragons, and generosity in equal measure. Filled with adorable illustrations, this is a perfect read aloud for bedtime or brunchtime!
- 7:00 pm | Movies on the Green featuring Encanto at Cabin John Village in Potomac ♣
More Maryland Events
- 5:00 pm | Teen Night Extravaganza at Roger Carter Community Center in Ellicott City (Best for ages 11-17)
- 7:00 pm | Author Meet & Greet with Robin Wall Kimmerer of “Bud Finds Her Gift” at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore
- From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Braiding Sweetgrass“ comes a beautiful and lushly illustrated tale celebrating gratitude, reciprocity, and finding our place in the natural world, ideal for sharing with the youngest readers.
Virginia
Arlington County
- 11:00 am | Intergenerational Storytime at Aurora Hills Library
- 6:00 pm | Met Park Movie Nights featuring Moana at Metropolitan Park ♣
- 8:00 pm | Play On! Pride Night at Signature Theatre ($) (Best for teens & adults)
- A delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits. This show contains adult themes around gender/sexuality/sex.
City of Alexandria
- 7:30 pm | Twilight Boardwalk Stroll at Huntley Meadows ($)
- Join a park naturalist for a guided walk along the forested paths to the wetland and experience the park as it transitions from day into night. Watch and listen for nocturnal residents such as beavers and owls.
More Virginia Events
- 7:00 pm | Campfire Friday at Lake Fairfax in Reston ($)
Saturday (9/6) in Washington, DC
- 9:00 am | Make a Crop Duster at Home Depot Stores
- 9:00 am | 2025 Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center ♥
- This year’s festival includes STEM and Story Districts, crafts & more! Read more about family-friendly activities.
- 9:30 am | DC Ward 3 Day at National Children’s Museum
- Free visit day! To reserve DC Ward Day tickets, enter your zip code as a promo code on the Discounts page during checkout.
- 10:00 am | Children’s Day at Peirce Mill in NW
- Enjoy special tours of the mill just for kids, then try grinding corn by hand. Play some traditional children’s games – or make your own toys up at the barn.
- 10:00 am | Celebration of Textiles: Enduring Traditions at GWU Textile Museum in NW ♥
- Explore the world of possibilities for making clothing and textiles, enjoy cultural dance and music performances, and visit the centennial exhibition Enduring Traditions: Celebrating the World of Textiles to explore global traditions that continue to inspire textile communities today.
- 10:00 am | Community Fishing at Anacostia Park
- 10:00 am | First Saturdays at the National Gallery of Art
- Free Family Festival that includes drop-in art making, face painting, children’s yoga & live music!
- 10:30 am | Joy of African Movement at the National Museum of African Art
- Join Afrochique, the premier African female choreography team at the University of Maryland, College Park. Learn contemporary African dance techniques.
- 10:30 am, 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm | The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- 11:00 am | We are All DC: A National March at Malcolm X Park in NW
- 11:00 am | DC Puzzle Fest at MLK Memorial Library ♥
- Includes community puzzling, speed puzzling rounds, information about DC Puzzle Swap, and their biggest swap yet!
- 11:00 am | WILD Nature Play Club at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum
- Unstructured play time in nature as well as a child-directed hike through the George Washington Carver Nature Trail. At the end of the hike, gather together for a story and nature activity then head back to the museum.
- [For Educators] 11:00 am | Fall into School Gardening at the Washington Youth Garden
- Free supplies for D.C. Title 1-eligible schools or schools with limited capacity and budget for garden programming & training for all educators.
- 12:00 pm | DC Community Organizing Festival at University of DC ♥
- Likeminded neighbors to advance DC’s democratic future —with free food, trainings, and activities for all ages.
- 12:00 pm | Women in Sports + Legends & Legacy at The Wharf ♥
- Day of sports, culture, and empowerment honoring the powerful legacy, and unstoppable future, of women’s sports. Includes activities for all ages, live music & conversations with award-winning journalist Jemele Hill.
- 12:00 pm | Wizards 3v3 Tournament in front of Capital One Arena ♥
- Includes a free street tournament, youth clinic, family activities, food trucks & music!
- 1:00 pm | Write the Future! Writing Workshop at Project Create Arts Center in SE (Best for ages 13-24)
- Whether you’re a curious first-time writer or a seasoned storyteller, this event invites you to explore who you are and where you’re going through writing, art, and performance.
- 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 1:30 pm | Beyond the Baseline at Barry Farm Recreation Center
- Ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly refurbished basketball courts include food, music & giveaways!
- 2:00 pm | Together in DC: Family Resource Fair at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
- Families and students will discover service providers and organizations from around the District. You can learn about the hidden services offered by the city to help you and your family succeed during the school year.
- 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm & 5:00 pm | Open House at Washington National Opera in NW
- Enjoy a rare, FREE, behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, talent, and processes that fuel WNO productions!
- 4:00 pm | Seasonal Craft ~ Apple Tree Painting at Southwest Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 2-12)
- 5:30 pm | Sensory-Friendly Evening at the Garden: “Fall” About Leaf Shapes at the US Botanic Garden
- Explore different leaf shapes and discover how leaves make carnivorous plants so unique. Interactive activities will be offered at this program.
Saturday (9/6) in Maryland
- 9:00 am | Make a Crop Duster at Home Depot Stores
Prince George’s County
- 10:30 am | Wings of Watkins at Watkins Nature Center ($)
- Come face-to-face with a powerful bird of prey! Learn all about what makes raptors so incredible, then enjoy a thrilling training session and watch a bird take flight in an exciting live demonstration.
- 11:00 am | Prince George’s County Fair at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro ($) ♥
- Includes a carnival, livestock competition, vendors & performances!
- 11:00 am | Dari/English Ready 2 Read Storytime at New Carrollton Branch Library (Best for ages 3-5)
- Experience a special storytime filled with stories, songs, rhymes, in both Dari and English.
- 11:00 am | STEM Fun: Plastic Egg Drop at Bowie Branch Library
- 1:00 pm | Magic: The Gathering – Play and Learn at Laurel Branch Library (Best for ages 10+)
- Learn and play the strategic card game Magic: The Gathering!
- 1:00 pm | Kids Create: Jelly Fish at Mount Rainier Branch Library
- 1:30 pm | Pins and Needles: Knitting for Wellness at Oxon Hill Branch Library (Best for teens & adults)
- 2:00 pm | Kids Create: Sunflowers at Accokeek Branch Library
- 8:00 pm | Legally Blonde the Musical at Bowie Playhouse ($)
Montgomery County
- 11:00 am | The Story of Ferdinand the Bull at Germantown Library
- Enjoy The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf read in both English and Spanish, with beautiful classical guitar music helping to bring the story and characters to life.
- 11:30 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm | Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre presents: The Selfish Giant’s Garden at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 2:00 pm | Flying High: Colorful Airplane Art at Germantown Library (Best for ages 4+)
- Let creativity take flight with this vibrant mixed-media airplane craft, complete with a heart-shaped smoke trail!
- 2:00 pm | Escapadas de Tortugas – Bilingual Program at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton (Best for ages 8+)
- Fun scavenger hunt on the grounds of Brookside Nature Center!
- 4:00 pm | Nature Night In at Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda ($) (Best for ages 4-10)
- Drop the kids for a Nature Night In and enjoy 3 hours away! They’ll have a fun filled night with age appropriate natured based games, a picnic dinner, a hike and campfire if weather permits or a nature themed movie night if it’s rainy.
More Maryland Events
- 10:00 am | Good Kid-izens ~ Children’s Business Fair at Color Burst Park in Columbia
- 12 Child businesses from the community showing their entrepreneurial passion!
- 10:00 am | Annie’s Outdoor Puppet Show at Robinson Nature Center in Columbia ($)
- There’s also a 10:30 am show!
- 11:15 am | Playmakers Gabby’s Dollhouse Meet & Greet at Port Discovery in Baltimore ($) ♥
- Meet Gabby, Pandy Paws, and other favorite characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse, plus enjoy interactive activities and photo ops.
- 11:30 am | DIY Backpack Keychains at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 6-11)
- 12:00 pm | Free Kids Craft – Flower Bookmark at sweetFrog Laurel
- 1:00 pm | Grandparents’ Day Celebration at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia ♥
- Celebrate the people who bring us endless experience, wisdom, and love! Participate in crafts, learn history, and take fun pictures. Participants are welcome to register with or without participating grandparents/grand- children. Program includes space to honor grandparents and grandchildren who are no longer with us.
Saturday (9/6) in Northern Virginia
- 9:00 am | Make a Crop Duster at Home Depot Stores
Arlington County
- 10:00 am | Gardening at the Fort for Families at Fort CF Smith Park
- Tour the fort garden and check out what’s growing. Discuss the current state of the garden, answer any gardening questions, and do a bit of mellow garden work including harvesting your own veggies to take home!
- 10:15 am | Sensory Storytime at Central Library (Best for ages 11 & under)
- 1:00 pm | 4th Annual Hispanic Heritage Community Festival at Tyrol Hill Park ♥
- Celebrate during this family event with music, popcorn, snow cones, and an opportunity to meet and chat with Arlington County Officers, Deputies, County staff, and Arlington’s community leaders.
- 1:00 pm | Rosslyn Jazz Fest at Gateway Park ♥
- Free to attend afternoon of music, community, food trucks, yard games, and more.
- There’s also a Textile Rescue Lab provided by the Arlington Art Truck
- 2:00 pm | History Hike: Defending Spout Run at Fort CF Smith Park
- [Limited Seats Available] 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm | Play On! at Signature Theatre ($) (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- A delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits. This show contains adult themes around gender/sexuality/sex.
- 6:00 pm | APS Weekend featuring Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- 7:30 pm | APS Weekend featuring Explore at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- The story centers around the motive of human travel to Mars, but the show presents and explains a much broader selection of science including history of astronomy, geocentric and heliocentric models, Kepler laws of planetary motion or orbital maneuvers.
City of Alexandria
- 10:30 am | Public Safety Reads Storytime at Barrett Branch Library ♥
- Members of Alexandria’s public safety agencies will lead a children’s story time! The host and MC will be National United Ms. East Coast 2025.
- 11:00 am | 3rd Annual Alexandria Black Family Reunion at Barrett Branch Library ♥
- This event brings neighborhoods together to help fill gaps in the documented history of Alexandria’s African American community. Enjoy a variety of food trucks, music and dancing, games for kids and adults, and Black Family Reunion t-shirts.
- 12:00 pm | Carlyle House Family Fun Day: Read-A-Book Revel at Carlyle House Historic Park
- 12:00 pm | Made in ALX Fall Maker’s Market at Port City Brewing Co.
- Includes crafts, activities, music & more!
- 1:00 pm | Cupcake Decorating Class: Apple Pie Cupcakes at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 4-8)
More Virginia Events
- 10:00 am | Adapted Park Explorers at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield ($) (Best for ages 6-11)
- Explore different features of the park with hands-on science and nature activities tailored to young people with disabilities.
- 10:00 am | Ancient Plants Sketch Hike at Huntley Meadows ($) (Best for ages 12+)
- Huntley’s forests are home to certain plants whose ancestors have been with us since dinosaur times. Join artist and naturalist, Margaret Wohler, to learn about and sketch the ferns, moss and their allies on a 1.5 mile walk (flat terrain).
- 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Species Saturday at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($) ♥
- Includes a bonus animal encounter from one of their eight animal ambassadors. Animal ambassadors include… Land Hermit Crabs, White’s Tree Frogs, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Corn Snake, Mali Uromastyx, and Axolotl!
- 12:00 pm | Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day at Hidden Oaks Nature Center ($) (Best for ages 4-9) ♥
- Bring your teddy bear or other plush friend to find out how bears became many children’s first best friend. Learn about bears, have a bear treat and make a bear craft.
- 1:00 pm | Kids Festival at the Springfield Overlook ♥
- Afternoon of fun and wonder with Abracadabra Alex and Marsha and the Positrons!
- 6:30 pm | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert at Wolf Trap ($)
- 6:30 pm | Back to School Boro Bash in Tysons ♣♥
- Includes crafts, school supplies drive & free screening of Monsters University
- 7:00 pm | Bats – Friendly Flyers at Lake Fairfax ($)
- Join a naturalist for a night of learning about the beauty of our local bats. It’s time to clear these flying mammals’ good name and understand how helpful they are to humans.
- 7:30 pm | Full Moon Nature Hike & Campfire at Riverbend Park in Great Falls ($)
- 7:30 pm | Broadway in the Square at Reston Town Center
- BROADWAY’S BAD BOYS gives audiences a chance to spend some time with the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera, the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, and a little Harold Hill in between!
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Washington, DC
- 10:00 am | Free Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
- 10:00 am | Free Community Day at Capital Jewish Museum in NW
- Enjoy Maker Morning: Spray Ink Challah Covers ($) at 10:00 am as well. Best for ages 8-12)
- 10:00 am | Building Readers Club at National Building Museum ♥
- Move and create in a Very Hungry Caterpillar workshop from Imagination Stage. Meet celebrated authors Raúl The Third and Gale Galligan, discover how they bring visual stories to life, and get your books signed. & Craft your own tale with CREATE Arts Center.
- 10:30 am | Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Day at the National Children’s Museum ($) ♥
- Includes multiple cat-tastic activations throughout the Museum and a Meet & Greet opportunity with Gabby!
- 10:30 am | Author Meet & Greet featuring Bob McKinnon of “America Gives Thanks” at Politics and Prose at Connecticut Ave.
- 12:00 pm | Wizards 3v3 Tournament in front of Capital One Arena ♥
- Includes a free street tournament, youth clinic, family activities, food trucks & music!
- 1:00 pm | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre ($)
- 1:00 pm | Youth Action Institute Second Annual Kick-Off Event at Edlavitch DCJCC (Best for teens) ♥
- Celebrate the start of a new year of service! Enjoy ice cream and games, and work on a drop-in service project to start earning SSL hours in a fun way.
- 1:00 pm | Washington Commanders Football Viewing Party at Bellevue Neighborhood library in SW
- 2:30 pm | The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the Museum of the Bible ($)
- 4:00 pm | Clueless Movie Party at Alamo Drafthouse DC ($)
- [For Adults] 4:00 pm | Between the Lines with Jason Reynolds and Eunique Jones Gibson at Planet Word
- Join Planet Word and #1 NYT bestselling author Jason Reynolds for an inspiring conversation on words, culture, and community with his special guest, author and publisher Eunique Jones Gibson, creator of the award-winning Because of Them, We Can® campaign and CEO and Chief Creative Officer of the innovative agency Culture Brands.
Maryland
Prince George’s County
- 9:00 am | Sensory Friendly Hour at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 3-17)
- 11:00 am | Prince George’s County Fair at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro ($) ♥
- Includes a carnival, livestock competition, vendors & performances!
- 1:00 pm | Animal Encounters at Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton ($)
- 2:00 pm | Legally Blonde the Musical at Bowie Playhouse ($)
- 6:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: A Minecraft Movie at National Harbor ♣
Montgomery County
- 10:00 am | Sunday Serenade at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda
- Free outdoor concert with breakfast treats and coffee for purchase!
- 10:30 am | Takoma Park Folk Festival at Takoma Park Middle School ♥
- Free, all-day celebration of music, art, food, and community
- 11:30 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm | Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre presents: The Selfish Giant’s Garden at Glen Echo Park ($)
- 1:30 pm | Grandparents’ Day – Music and Stories ~ An Intergenerational Program at Kensington Park Library ♥
- Big Cheese performs to begin the day followed by grandparents’ reading favorite stories to grandchildren. Bring your own family or adopt another family.
- 2:00 pm | Arts Olympiad at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 8-12)
- This fun art program mixes creativity with movement! You’ll learn cool facts about the Olympics and get to make a piece of artwork based on your favorite sport or art.
More Maryland Events
- 2:00 pm | Highland Cow Themed Cookie Decorating Class & Milkshakes at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar ($)
Virginia
Arlington County
- 1:30 pm | APS Weekend featuring Accidental Astronauts at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm | Play On! at Signature Theatre ($) (Best for teens & adults) ♥
- A delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits. This show contains adult themes around gender/sexuality/sex.
- 3:00 pm | APS Weekend featuring Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival at David M. Brown Planetarium ($)
- 4:00 pm | Clueless Movie Party at Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City ($)
City of Alexandria
- 11:00 am | Chalk-a-Block in Old Town North
- The streets of Old Town North will be brought to life with chalk artists, live music, and local artisans/makers showcasing their works.
- 12:00 pm | ALX Jazz Fest Pop Up at Southern Towers Farmers Market
- 1:00 pm | Cupcake Decorating Class: Apple Pie Cupcakes at Tiny Chefs ($) (Best for ages 9-12)
- 1:00 pm | Family Fun – Monarch Migration at Green Spring Gardens Park ($)
- Learn about the amazing migration of the monarch butterfly. Discover the secrets of this butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to flight and beyond. Take home a monarch-themed craft.
More Virginia Events
- 9:00 am | Hike with a Naturalist at Lake Accotink in Springfield ($)
- 9:00 am | Hops & Holes at Burke Lake Park ($)
- Amphibians can use all sorts of small bodies of water to complete their lifecycles. Join a naturalist as we explore park’s miniature golf course looking for frogs and tadpoles. Finish off the program with some miniature golf.
- 10:00 am | NVA Thai Street Food & Culture Festival on the Manassas Museum Lawn
- 10:00 am | Clemyjontri Park Open House in McLean ♥
- Includes Carousel rides, trackless train, arts & crafts, community resource fair & more!
- 10:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Grandparents’ Day at Children’s Science Center LAB in Fairfax ($) ♥
- Grandparents will receive free entry with their grandchild.
- 12:00 pm | Captain America, Black Panther & Tiana host Kids and Family Festival at Shipgarten in McLean
- 3:00 pm | Music in the Gardens: Good Vibrations at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna ($)
This Week's Book Recommendation
