Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area · Latest check Sat, Oct 24
Things to do with kids in District of Columbia, DC
57 upcoming family events and 21 places and programs in District of Columbia, DC. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it — confirm the details there before you go. Dates are in Eastern Time.
All of the Washington, DC area →This weekend in Washington, DC →Upcoming family events
Oct24SatArts & craftsThrough Dec 13
Dance Place Kids on the Move — Fall 2026
Dance Place
From $340
Oct24SatSTEM & discoveryThrough Jan 10
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice — 2026–27
National Children's Museum
With admissionAges 3–10
Oct24SatSpooky and hauntedSat, Oct 24 · 2:00 PM
Family Spooky Disco — confirm event time
Dance Place
Oct24SatSTEM & discoverySat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM
Safari Adventure with WETA PBS Kids
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
Oct24SatArts & craftsThrough Dec 5
Sitar Arts Afterschool — Fall 2026
Sitar Arts Center
Paid
Oct24SatSTEM & discoveryThrough Nov 17
Tinkering with Textiles — fall 2026
National Children's Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Oct 24 · 11:00 AM
Art & Me Family Workshop: Outdoor Sculpture
National Museum of Asian Art
FreeAges 3–8
- Arts & crafts
Through Dec 18
Momentum Jazz Hip Hop Academy — Fall 2026
Momentum Dance Theatre
Ages 6–15
- Pumpkins and patches
Sun, Oct 25 · 2:00 PM
Van Ness Elementary Fall Festival with Pumpkins in the Park — Navy Yard
Van Ness Elementary School
With admissionAll ages
- STEM & discovery
Tue, Oct 27 · 10:00 AM
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly! — Discovery Theater
Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
PaidAges 3–8
Oct28WedSTEM & discoveryWed, Oct 28 · 5:30 PM
Cricut Project Reservation — Southwest STEAM Lab
Southwest Neighborhood Library — SOW STEAM Lab
Ages 13–19
Oct28WedSTEM & discoveryWed, Oct 28 · 4:00 PM
Skeleton Sam Scavenger Hunt
Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library
Ages 13–19
Oct28WedCommunityWed, Oct 28 · 10:45 AM
Story Time with DC Public Library — October 2026
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
FreeUp to 5
Oct29ThuArts & craftsThu, Oct 29 · 9:30 AM
Tinkerer-in-Residence printmaking — fall 2026
National Children's Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Community
Thu, Oct 29 · 6:00 PM
Hocus Pocus — Movies on the Pitch at Audi Field
Audi Field
Paid
- Community
Fri, Oct 30 · 4:00 PM
Hill-O-Ween 2026 at Eastern Market
Eastern Market — Capitol Hill community festival
All ages
- STEM & discovery
Through Oct 31
Smithsonian Sleepover: All-American Road Trip at the American History Museum
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
PaidAges 8–14
Oct31SatArts & craftsSat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM
Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden opening celebration
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
FreeAll ages
Oct31SatSTEM & discoverySat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM
The World & Me: Bat Week Extravaganza
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
- Community
Sat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM
Día de los Muertos Family Festival — National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Oct 31 · 11:00 AM
Halloween Kids Club at Pinstripes Georgetown
Pinstripes Georgetown
- Pumpkins and patches
Sat, Oct 31 · 12:00 PM
Pumpkin Painting: Creative Minds — Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
FreeAll ages
- Community
Sat, Oct 31 · 11:00 AM
Stamp & Scream Halloween at the National Postal Museum
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Free
Nov3TueSTEM & discoveryTue, Nov 3 · 10:30 AM
Play Date: Animal Spotlight — Bison
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Thu, Nov 5 · 10:00 AM
Dance Stories with Kalanidhi Dance — Discovery Theater
Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
PaidAges 5+
- Community
Fri, Nov 6 · 5:00 PM
Family Fun: Diwali at the National Museum of Asian Art
National Museum of Asian Art
FreeAll ages
- Nov7SatSTEM & discovery
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM
The World & Me: National Bison Day
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
Nov7SatCommunitySat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM
Twentieth Annual Parade of Trabants
International Spy Museum
Free
- Community
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM
Celebramos a los Veteranos: A Festival of Service and Remembrance
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Free
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM
First Saturday Festivals — November/December 2026
National Gallery of Art
FreeAll ages
- Community
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:30 AM
Service and Sacrifice: Veterans Day 2026 at the American Indian Museum
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 7 · 11:00 AM
Spirit Toonz: D.C. Soccer in Art — Family Workshop
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Free
Nov8SunSTEM & discoverySun, Nov 8 · 2:00 PM
From Spy School to Real Spies: Stuart Gibbs
International Spy Museum
With admissionAges 7+
- Markets and festivals
Through Dec 23
DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle 2026
DC Holiday Market — New Hampshire Avenue NW at Dupont Circle
Free
Nov13FriOutdoorsFri, Nov 13 · 10:00 AM
Garden Tots at Hillwood — fall 2026
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
From $12Ages 2–5
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 14 · 12:00 PM
Carter G. Woodson Zine Lab at the Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Free
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 14 · 10:30 AM
NMAAHC Kids Book Day: 123 I Like You and Me
National Museum of African American History and Culture
FreeAges 4–8
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM
Open Studio: November Sculpture Saturdays at the Hirshhorn
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden — Art School
Free
- Arts & crafts
Sun, Nov 15 · 11:30 AM
American Art Family Day — Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Free
- Outdoors
Mon, Nov 16 · 10:00 AM
Garden Play: Houseplants! — Smithsonian Gardens
S. Dillon Ripley Center — Room 3035
FreeAges 2+
Nov18WedSTEM & discoveryThrough Dec 15
Scribble Machines — November–December 2026
National Children's Museum
With admissionAll ages
Nov19ThuNutcracker and showsThrough Dec 31
A Christmas Carol — Ford’s 2026 run
Ford's Theatre
PaidAges 5+
- Outdoor rinks
Through Feb 28
Washington Harbour Ice Rink — 2026–27 season
Washington Harbour Ice Rink
From $10All ages
Nov20FriOutdoorsFri, Nov 20 · 5:00 PM
National Zoo ZooLights: Opening Night 2026
Smithsonian's National Zoo
From $10
- STEM & discovery
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
A Bison Celebration — National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
Free
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM
Growing Community: Fall Harvest Celebration — Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Sun, Nov 22 · 2:00 PM
A Christmas Carol — sensory-friendly performance
Ford's Theatre
PaidAges 5+
Nov24TueMarkets and festivalsThrough Jan 3
Holidays at Hillwood: A Woven Wonderland
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
With admissionAll ages
Nov26ThuSTEM & discoveryThrough Jan 3
Season's Greenings 2026: National Parks and Historic Places
United States Botanic Garden
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM
Coffee & Gratitude: Cyanotype Family Workshop — Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Free
- Community
Fri, Nov 27 · 11:00 AM
Native American Heritage Day at the American Indian Museum
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
Free
Nov28SatNutcracker and showsSat, Nov 28 · 7:00 PM
The Washington Ballet's The Nutcracker
Warner Theatre
Paid
- Arts & crafts
Through Dec 18
Seasons of Light — Smithsonian Discovery Theater
Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
From $8Ages 5–10
Dec5SatParadesSat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf 2026
The Wharf — District Pier and Wharf Street
FreeAll ages
- Community
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
Native Art Market at the National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
Free
- Nutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 9 · 10:00 AM
Little Red and the Gingerbread Man with Barefoot Puppets — Discovery Theater
Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
PaidAges 3–7
- Community
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Morning at the Museum (Sensory-Friendly) — Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Free
Places and ongoing programs
VisitanytimeSTEM & discoveryVisit on your schedule
Brick City interactive LEGO exhibition
National Building Museum
With admission
OngoingprogramCommunityRecurring / by appointment
Building Readers Club
National Building Museum
With admission
VisitanytimeArts & craftsVisit on your schedule
Building Stories interactive exhibition
National Building Museum
With admission
OngoingprogramSTEM & discoveryRecurring / by appointment
Draper Spark!Lab
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
FreeAges 6–12
OngoingprogramSTEM & discoverySession in progress
Exhibit Explorations — fall 2026 youth group pilot
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAges 11+
OngoingprogramArts & craftsRecurring / by appointment
Family building, literacy and scout programs
National Building Museum
VisitanytimeArts & craftsVisit on your schedule
Imagination Gallery — Phillips family art space
The Phillips Collection
With admissionAll ages
VisitanytimeSTEM & discoveryVisit on your schedule
imagiNATIONS Activity Center
National Museum of the American Indian
FreeUp to 10
OngoingprogramArts & craftsRecurring / by appointment
Levine Music NW DC Youth Lessons
Levine Music NW DC
OngoingprogramOutdoorsRecurring / by appointment
Little Critters: Nature Play at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Bird House
Smithsonian's National Zoo — Bird House Classroom
FreeAll ages
VisitanytimeSTEM & discoveryVisit on your schedule
National Children's Museum: STEAM Play
National Children's Museum
From $18.95
OngoingprogramSTEM & discoveryRecurring / by appointment
STEM2Go — Anacostia Monthly Take-Home Projects
Anacostia Neighborhood Library — Children’s Section
Ages 5–19
OngoingprogramArts & craftsRecurring / by appointment
Teen Studio — Hirshhorn Art School
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
FreeAges 13–19
OngoingprogramSTEM & discoveryRecurring / by appointment
Top Secret Family Guide museum mission
International Spy Museum
PaidUp to 10
VisitanytimeSTEM & discoveryVisit on your schedule
Wegmans Wonderplace
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
FreeUp to 6
- Community
Recurring / by appointment
Big Moments, Little Stories — Story Time at Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Free
- Arts & crafts
Recurring / by appointment
Cradleboards and Crawlers — Baby Program at the American Indian Museum
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)
FreeAges 0–2
- STEM & discovery
Recurring / by appointment
Girl Scout private badge workshops
International Spy Museum
- STEM & discovery
Recurring / by appointment
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Smithsonian National Museum of American History — 3 East
From $10
- Community
Recurring / by appointment
Story Time at the National Postal Museum
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Free
- Arts & crafts
Recurring / by appointment
Storytime Studio at the Hirshhorn
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden — Art School
FreeAges 0–6
Recently ended
- Spooky and haunted
EndedPast · Oct 23 · 5:00 PM
Halloween Spooktacular 2026
National Children's Museum
With admissionAll ages
- STEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 20 · 10:30 AM
Play Date: Awesome Arachnids
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
Oct19MonSTEM & discoveryEndedPast · Oct 19 · 4:00 PM
Teen & Tween STEAM Club — Vinyl Designs
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library — 204-F Youth Program Room
Ages 10–19
Check?datesOutdoorsEndedPast · Oct 18 · 6:00 PM
Boo at the Zoo 2026 — Family Halloween Evenings
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
From $35All ages
- Arts & crafts
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 11:00 AM
Katy Hessel family book talk
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
FreeAges 7+
- STEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 14 · 10:00 AM
National Fossil Day 2026
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
Sep12SatSTEM & discoveryEndedThrough Oct 13
Automata — fall 2026
National Children's Museum
With admissionAges 3+
Oct13TueSTEM & discoveryEndedPast · Oct 13 · 3:00 PM
LEGO Storytime with the National Building Museum
Shepherd Park / Juanita E. Thornton Neighborhood Library — Meeting Room2
- STEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 13 · 10:30 AM
Play Date: Creature Features — Fossil Edition
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
FreeAll ages
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