Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The Tony-winning play opens its DC run at the National Theatre. Try the Golden Snitch Digital Lottery for $40 tickets.
Library of Congress Film: Clueless
The Library of Congress screens Clueless on the lawn with a live performance at 7pm.
Sunset Cinema: Hamilton
The Wharf screens Hamilton outdoors on the waterfront. Bring blankets and grab food nearby.
Jazz in the Garden
DC's summer concert series in the Sculpture Garden. Free lottery tickets, pack a picnic.
Chalk the Block at the National Portrait Gallery
Free sidewalk chalk art, ice cream, DJ, and a jazz concert at 5 PM. Part of the Smithsonian's America 250th celebration.
Juneteenth for the City Block Party
Bread for the City hosts this Anacostia block party with live music, Black-owned vendors, food trucks, face painting, and bounce houses.
Montgomery County Juneteenth Festival
Family carnival with rides, games, live performances, and hands-on activities at Cabin John Regional Park. Free parking shuttle.
Smithsonian Solstice: Museums Until 11 PM
First-ever 3-day Smithsonian Solstice weekend. Museums open until 11 PM with special programs, DJ sets, and roller skating.
17th Street Block Party (Pride)
Dupont Circle's biggest street party with food vendors, live entertainment, and community vibes. Best for families during daytime.
Capital Pride Parade + Family Fun Festival
Family Fun Festival at Stead Park with crafts, glitter tattoos, and inflatable obstacle course. Parade at 3 PM. Sunday festival with Maren Morris.
Home Rule Music Festival
Free all-day outdoor music at Walter Reed. Chuck Brown Band, Trouble Funk, Sun Ra Arkestra. Kids Zone, vinyl record fair, food trucks.
Littles Bike Ride at Eastern Market
Tiny cyclists ages 3-6 ride through Capitol Hill with a police escort. Balance bikes and trikes welcome. Register on Eventbrite.
Manassas Bee Festival
Bounce house, wagon rides, farm animals, and a pollinator costume parade for kids. Bluegrass band, food trucks, free tractor shuttle.
Science Solstice Sunday at the National Zoo
First day of summer at the zoo. Scavenger hunt with animal clues and prizes, animal demos, and hands-on STEM stations. Free with pass.
American Icon: The US Flag in Art
Smithsonian exhibition exploring how artists have used the American flag. Tweens interested in art and history will find plenty to dig into here.
Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk
Eight museums open along Embassy Row with special programming. Tweens can explore at their own pace across the neighborhood.
Marine Barracks Evening Parade
Precision marching, the Silent Drill Platoon, and the drum and bugle corps. Impressive enough to hold any tween's attention.
Spirit of Independence Festival
Hands-on history and science demos at the American History Museum. Older kids get to engage with real artifacts and historical reenactments.
Library of Congress Discovery Space
New interactive space for kids and teens at the Library of Congress with hands-on exhibits designed for curious minds. Timed entry required.
Bird Walk at the National Zoo
Guided bird-watching walk at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Expert ornithologists lead families through the grounds identifying bird species and behaviors. RSVP required.
Virginia Renaissance Faire
Jousting, fire performers, archery, and period-accurate food. Tweens who think they're too cool for everything will love this.
Nationals vs Giants
Live baseball at one of DC's best venues, especially good with older kids who can appreciate the sport and the atmosphere.
National Building Museum Workshops
Architecture and photography workshops that actually challenge older kids. Great for tweens interested in design, art, or engineering.
Tephra ICA Arts Festival
200+ artists, live music, and a creative outdoor atmosphere. A great way for tweens to explore art in a relaxed setting.
Anacostia River Festival
Anacostia River Festival 2026: free canoe rides, live music, food trucks, and tons of hands-on activities for kids along the river.
Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance
Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony with military bands and wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Free.
Asia on the Creek
Asia on the Creek is a free Asian culture festival with dance, music, food, and a market at Carroll Creek Park in Frederick, MD.
Asian American Book Fair
Free Asian American Book Fair at the National Museum of Asian Art in DC.
Asian BBQ Festival, Rockville
Free Asian BBQ Festival at Rockville Town Square on June 14, 2026, 11am to 6pm.
Giant National Capital BBQ Battle
The Giant National Capital BBQ Battle takes over Pennsylvania Avenue June 27-28, 2026.
Bison Standing Strong at Natural History Museum
Explore Bison Standing Strong at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
National Arboretum Bonsai Festival
The National Arboretum Bonsai Festival runs May 8–10 in DC. Free admission, live demos, kids workshops, and the 400-year-old Yamaki Pine.
CiNoMatic Outdoor Movie: Top Gun
Free outdoor screening of Top Gun at Alethia Tanner Park in NoMa, DC. Hosted by Alamo Drafthouse with lawn games and food vendors.
Columbia LakeFest
The free Columbia Festival of the Arts LakeFest returns June 12-14 to the Columbia Lakefront in Maryland - live music, kids' art workshops,...
DC Chocolate Festival at the French Embassy
DC Chocolate Festival 2026 at the French Embassy: kids' chocolate-making classes, tasting stations, and pastry demos.
DelFest
DelFest bluegrass and roots music festival in Cumberland, MD. Dedicated KidZone, camping, food vendors, and live music. May 22-25, 2026.
Drive-In at Union Market
Drive-In at Union Market on May 8, 2026. Watch Mulan from your car or blankets. $25 per car or free on foot. Monthly screenings all summer.
Falls Church Memorial Day Parade & Festival
Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival on May 25, 2026.
Fete de la Musique, Georgetown
Free Fete de la Musique in Georgetown on June 20, 2026, with more than 40 acts across outdoor stages and the French Embassy.
Gaithersburg Book Festival
Gaithersburg Book Festival May 16, 2026 at Bohrer Park. 100+ authors, kids activities, writing workshops, and live music.
Saint Sophia Greek Festival
Annual Greek festival at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Glover Park.
Heritage Days Montgomery County
27th annual Heritage Days opens dozens of historic sites across Montgomery County on June 27-28, 2026.
Hill Center Family Day
Hill Center's annual Family Day on Capitol Hill with live music, magic show, face painting, and alpacas and bunnies to meet.
Innovations in Flight 2026
Free outdoor aviation display with 60+ aircraft at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA on June 13, 2026.
July 4th Fireworks on the National Mall
Where to watch the July 4th fireworks on the National Mall in 2026, plus Metro, timing, and tips for doing it with kids during the America25...
Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
Fifth annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at National Harbor on June 19, 2026.
Juneteenth Community Day at NMAAHC
Free Juneteenth Community Day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on June 19, 2026.
Loudoun Spring Farm Tour
Loudoun Spring Farm Tour, May 16–17, 2026. Free self-guided tour of 20+ farms in Loudoun County, VA.
National Memorial Day Parade
Taking the kids to the Memorial Day Parade in DC? We cover the best spots to stand with a stroller, the parade route, start time, and tips f...
Mount Vernon Revolutionary War Weekend
Mount Vernon Revolutionary War Weekend May 2-3, 2026. Military drills, cavalry demos, meet General Washington, and youth muster for kids.
National Memorial Day Concert
Free National Memorial Day Concert on the Capitol West Lawn with the National Symphony Orchestra and host Gary Sinise. Live PBS broadcast.
National STEM Festival 2026
Free week-long STEM festival on the National Mall, June 22-27.
Free Outdoor Movies at the REACH
Free outdoor movie screenings at the Kennedy Center REACH every Friday, starting May 30.
Passport DC, Around the World Embassy Tour
Visit 40+ embassies for free during Passport DC's Around the World Embassy Tour.
Play Date: Marvelous Meteorites
Free drop-in play date at the National Museum of Natural History. Hands-on meteorite activities for ages 0-5.
Pride Family Day at Glen Echo Park
6th annual Pride Family Day at Glen Echo Park on June 13, 2026. Free crafts, face painting, carousel rides, and playground fun for all ages.
Fairfax County Drone Light Show
Fairfax County trades fireworks for a drone light show at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston on June 27, 2026.
Rockville Hometown Holidays
Your guide to Hometown Holidays 2026 in Rockville, MD. Free concerts, carnival rides, bouncy houses, face painting, and food trucks at Town...
Sails on the Potomac Tall Ships
Free Sails on the Potomac in Old Town Alexandria, June 12 to 14, 2026.
Smithsonian Solstice Saturday
Smithsonian museums on the National Mall stay open late for Solstice Saturday on June 20 - free sun-themed crafts, performances and after-ho...
Star Wars Weekend at Barracks Row
Star Wars Weekend at Barracks Row, May 1-3, 2026. Free costume contest, lightsaber battles, Jedi meet-and-greets, and Star Wars movie screen...
Strawberry Festival at Messick's Farm
Strawberry Festival at Messick's Farm Market in Bealeton VA, May 16. Strawberry picking, hayrides, barrel train, candy launch.
Strawberry Jubilee at Great Country Farms
Strawberry Jubilee at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA, May 23–31, 2026.
Strawberry Picking Season
Strawberry picking season is here in DC, MD and VA. Head to Miller Farms, Larriland Farm, or Yankey Farms for family-friendly pick-your-own...
Takoma Park 4th of July Parade
The Takoma Park Independence Day Parade runs the morning of July 4, 2026, with an evening street party to follow.
ViVa! Vienna!
A parent's guide to ViVa! Vienna! 2026. Free admission, carnival rides for all ages, live music, food vendors, and practical tips on parking...
Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods
Wolf Trap's outdoor kids' theater returns to Vienna, VA for summer.
World Cup Watch Parties in DC
DC United's free FIFA World Cup watch parties come to Franklin Park (June 12-14) and Tingey Plaza in Navy Yard (June 19-21) - big screens, y...
Friday Night Concerts at Yards Park
Free Friday night concerts run June through July 2026 at Yards Park in DC's Capitol Riverfront.
Bird Migration Celebration
Free Bird Migration Celebration at the Smithsonian National Zoo on May 10, 2026.