This weekend with kids in Washington, DC

24 family events from Friday to Sunday in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area. Each one links to the organizer’s page and shows when we last checked it — confirm the details there before you go.

Fri, Oct 16 · 9:30 AMTinkerer-in-Residence printmaking — fall 2026National Children's Museum · All ages · $18.95 per adult and child age 1+; under 1 and members free.
Through Nov 17 · 9:30 AMTinkering with Textiles — fall 2026National Children's Museum · All ages · $18.95 per adult and child age 1+; under 1 and members free.
Fri, Oct 16 · 10:00 AMLittle Jams — fall 2026 concert seriesCabin John Regional Park Amphitheater · Family activity; numerical ages not specified. · Free; registration not required.
Mon, Oct 12 · 11:00 AMOpen Carving Days — reviewed October seriesClearwater Nature Center · Family activity; numerical ages not specified. · Free live demonstrations; this is not a hands-on carving class.
Through Nov 16 · 4:00 PMRoboThink McLean Robotics Engineering — One-month CourseRoboThink McLean · Ages 6–12. · $300 per child for the complete one-month course; not a per-day fee.
Through Jan 22 · 4:00 PMRoboThink McLean Robotics Engineering — Three-month CourseRoboThink McLean · Ages 6–12. · $832.5 per child for the complete three-month course; not a per-day fee.
Fri, Oct 16 · 6:00 PMBoo at the Zoo 2026 — Family Halloween EveningsSmithsonian’s National Zoo · Allages;ticketneededage3+;age2ruleunclear · $35/person age3+; member15%off ($29.75); eventparking$30/vehicleadvance,$40dayof; carousel/trainextra
Through Nov 1Beatrice Likes the Dark — fall 2026Adventure Theatre MTC · Recommended ages 5+. · Paid show; current single-seat price not visible in reviewed official overview.
Through Oct 18Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The MusicalImagination Stage · Best ages 3–9; about 60 minutes. · Tickets advertised from $16 with dynamic pricing. Lerner Theatre: under 1 free lap pass; ages 1–2 $5 lap pass; 3+ full ticket. Lap passes by box office only.
Through Dec 13Dance Place Kids on the Move — Fall 2026Dance Place · Children and preteens/teens; individual class numerical cutoffs not shown. · Pay-what-you-can options $340, $380 or $420 for one weekly class for the entire semester; scholarships/payment plans available.
Through Jan 10Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice — 2026–27National Children's Museum · Recommended ages 3–10 and their families · $18.95 per adult and child age 1+; under 1 and members free.
Through Dec 18Momentum Jazz Hip Hop Academy — Fall 2026Momentum Dance Theatre · Ages 6–15; level 2+ requires audition or director permission. · Current class tuition not exposed in reviewed evidence.
Through Dec 5Sitar Arts Afterschool — Fall 2026Sitar Arts Center · School-age children and youth; center serves ages 0–24 with separate programs. · Income-based family tuition plus $15 semester registration fee; the registration fee is not full tuition.
Sat, Oct 17 · 9:30 AMCabin John Halloween Eye Spy Train — 2026 seriesCabin John Miniature Train · Family activity; numerical ages not specified. · $6 per person per train ride; under 2 free with a paying adult. Regular-season discount cards do not apply.
Sat, Oct 17 · 10:00 AMInternational Archaeology Family DayJosiah Henson Museum and Park · Family activity; numerical ages not specified. · Activities included with paid museum admission; official event publishes $6–$7, exact admission categories require confirmation.
Sat, Oct 17 · 10:00 AMWildlife Help 101Clearwater Nature Center · Ages 16+; youth teens eligible. · $30 resident / $39 nonresident published program fee.
Sat, Oct 17 · 11:00 AMKaty Hessel family book talkHirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden · Recommended ages 7+ · Free
Sat, Oct 17 · 11:00 AMSTEM Fun — Ozobot CodingBowie Branch Library · Elementaryaudience5–12 · Activity-specific fee not stated in reviewed detail
Sat, Oct 17 · 1:00 PMSTEM Fun — Magnetic BlocksMount Rainier Branch Library · Elementaryaudience5–12 · Activity-specific fee not stated in reviewed detail
Sat, Oct 17Spooky Dry Ice Science — October seriesHidden Oaks Nature Center · Age 5 through adult; children need a registered paying adult. · $10 registration fee; child must be accompanied by a paying adult also registered.
Sun, Oct 18 · 8:00 AMBirding for Beginners — October 18Huntley Meadows Park · Age 12 through adult; children 12–16 accompanied by registered adult. · Fee not verified; confirm with organizer.
Sun, Oct 18 · 11:00 AMTurkish Festival 2026Pennsylvania Avenue NW — 3rd to 6th Streets · Familiesandchildrenallages · Freeadmission;food/merchandisepurchasesextra
Sun, Oct 18 · 12:00 PMPlanet Word sixth anniversary community dayPlanet Word Museum · Families; numerical ages not stated · Free
Sun, Oct 18KID Sunday maker sessions — Operation Game and ElectronicsKID Museum · Family workshop and separate grade-4+ drop-off studio; see exact participation rules. · Workshop/studio fee not published in readable page. $15 general admission is not asserted as workshop price.