Summer in the DMV winds down in August, and the good news for families is that many of the month’s best outings won’t cost a thing. From African American heritage festivals and outdoor concerts to museum story times and farm fairs spread across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia, there’s plenty to fill the calendar before school starts back up. Here’s what to put on your radar this month.
Best Free Things to Do in DC With Kids in July 2026
Key Takeaways
- Zoom out: The free fun runs all month, from the 33rd Annual Manassas African American Heritage Festival on Aug. 1 to the Honey Harvest Festival on Aug. 30, so it’s easy to line up outings from the first weekend to the last.
- Zoom in: The summer concert series is the throughline, with free Thursday nights at Glen Echo Park and Montgomery Parks and “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band closing out the season at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on Aug. 27.
- More details: A few outings add paid extras onto free admission. Carnival rides at the Fairfax County Carnival and Fair need tickets, and the “Peter and the Wolf” concert at the Honey Harvest Festival is $10, though the festivals themselves are free. Check with organizers before heading out.
33rd Annual Manassas African American Heritage Festival
Aug. 1. Free and open to the public, this long-running festival brings together more than 125 exhibitors, including arts and crafts vendors, retailers of African wares, youth groups, colleges and school exhibits, a health fair, a classic car show and a full lineup of food vendors. It is an easy, full-afternoon outing that gives kids something new to see at every turn.
Location: Metz Middle School, 9950 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA
Aug. 1. August’s theme is Friendship Day. Families gather on the front lawn for story time, crafts and hands-on activities built around the monthly theme. All ages are welcome, though some crafts may be tricky for children under 4. There is no fee to join, but donations are encouraged.
Location: Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA
Fairfax County Carnival and Fair
July 30 – Aug. 2. Old-fashioned family fun with carnival games, tractor demos, live animals, exhibits, shows and fair food. Admission to Kidwell Farm and Frying Pan Farm Park is free, and so is parking. Carnival rides require tickets, so plan for that separately if your crew wants to ride.
Location: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA
Great American Farmers’ Market
Aug. 3. Held during National Farmers Market Week and part of the city’s America 250 lineup, this free week-long market brings regional farmers, producers and makers to the National Mall. Families can sample and shop fresh local food, meet the growers behind it and turn a Mall visit into a hands-on lesson about where food comes from. Free to browse; bring cash for anything you want to take home. Hours vary by day, so check the schedule before you go.
Location: National Mall, near 1400 Jefferson Dr. SW, Washington, DC
Aug. 4. Meet officers from the 2nd District police station, the B-CC Rescue Squad and the Bethesda Fire Department. Kids can tour fire trucks and ambulances, play free carnival games and enjoy face painting, balloon animals and crafts, with food and treats from local favorites. A low-effort weeknight outing that always lands well with younger children.
Location: Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD
Glen Echo Park Summer Concerts: Arty Hill & The Long Gone Daddys
Aug. 6. A free Thursday night concert on the park grounds, this week featuring classic and original honky-tonk country. Bring a blanket, spread out and let the kids dance. The summer series showcases local musicians each week and is one of the most dependable free family traditions in the region.
Location: Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD
Aug. 7. A free, family-friendly afternoon of games, crafts and hands-on activities, with local organizations hosting booths for kids of all ages. It runs alongside Sterling’s Hot Dog Day, so you can easily make a full afternoon of it.
Location: Sterling Marketplace, Avenue A and W. Second St., Sterling, VA
Friday Evening Parades at Marine Barracks
Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28. One of the capital’s most storied free traditions, this 75-minute ceremony features “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoon. Admission is free, but reservations are required, so book your date ahead at barracks.marines.mil. The late start makes it a better fit for older kids, and guests can meet the Marines and pose with mascot Chesty XVI after the show. The 2026 season wraps Aug. 28.
Location: Marine Barracks Washington, 8th and I streets SE, Washington, DC
Storytime at the National Gallery of Art
Aug. 8. A bilingual read-aloud in English and Spanish, followed by creative play activities. The book is read twice, so wiggly toddlers get a second chance to settle in. All ages are welcome, especially the youngest visitors and nursing parents. Strollers can be parked at coat check. Free, and no registration is required.
Location: East Building Atrium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Aug. 8. Kids can collect autographs from the Midshipmen, play games on the stadium field and pick up giveaways from Navy Athletics partners. Free for all Navy fans, and a fun first taste of the fall season before school starts.
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, MD
Sunday Art in the Park: Shenandoah Guitars
Aug. 9. Guitar music from Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay, Cuba and beyond, performed by Shenandoah Conservatory’s director of guitar studies and his students. Pack a picnic and settle in on the lawn for an easy end to the weekend.
Location: Reston Town Square Park, 11900 Market St., Reston, VA
Aug. 13. Montgomery Parks brings local and regional musicians to parks across the county on Thursday nights, and the concerts are free. Food and drinks are available for purchase, so dinner is handled. Bring chairs or a blanket and let the kids run.
Location: 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, MD
Cub Corner: National Aviation Day
Aug. 15. An early celebration of Orville Wright’s birthday, built for ages 3 to 6. Kids hear a reading of “How People Learned to Fly,” then make paper bowler hats like the ones the Wright brothers wore and design paper airplanes to test in the museum’s plane launcher. Free, no registration required, and museum admission is included.
Location: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD
Aug. 15-16. Panda Fest makes its D.C. debut with more than 90 Asian food vendors, over 200 street food offerings, cultural performances, 40-plus merchandise vendors and family-friendly activities. Pandas turn up throughout the festival in inflatables, games and food. Tickets are required.
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 4th and 7th streets, Washington, DC
The Stage at Union Station: American Music Through the Decades
Aug. 20. A free concert series in the Main Hall celebrating the evolution of American music ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. Local musicians perform genres spanning generations.
Location: Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC
Young Explorers Club: Barnyard Bash
Aug. 22. August’s edition of this monthly morning brings a petting zoo, plus glitter tattoos, face painting, bubbles, craft stations, giveaways and live entertainment. The splash pad will be open, so pack a bathing suit and a towel. Free for everyone.
Location: Founders Row, 110 Founders Ave., Falls Church, VA
Library of Congress National Book Festival
Aug. 22. The Library of Congress brings its biggest celebration of reading to the convention center, with authors, illustrators and hands-on activities across a full day. Admission is free, though for the first time this year free timed tickets are required for entry, so reserve ahead. There is a dedicated children’s and family programming track, making it an easy outing for readers of every age.
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
Aug. 22-23. Billed as the first INDYCAR race on the National Mall, this America 250 spectacle sends open-wheel cars along a temporary street circuit past some of the country’s most famous landmarks, with free general access. It is loud, fast and crowded, so it suits older kids and motorsport fans more than toddlers. Bring ear protection, and confirm the schedule and viewing areas before you go.
Location: National Mall street circuit, Washington, DC
Summer Concert Series at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Aug. 27. The series closes out with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band on the museum’s entry plaza. Bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket. Admission and parking are free, and the museum, Tun Tavern and museum store stay open until 6:45 p.m. on concert nights, so you can arrive early and explore.
Location: National Museum of the Marine Corps, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA
Aug. 29. Springfield Town Center closes out the summer with a lively outdoor festival built for the whole community, with great food, shopping, live entertainment and plenty of fun before the school year starts. Presented by Kojam and sponsored by Washington Parent, it is free to attend and an easy way to shake off the back-to-school jitters. Scan the event QR code on the flyer or search Kojam events for the latest details.
Location: Springfield Town Center, 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA
Aug. 30. The fourth annual Honey Harvest Festival brings live music, local honey, crafts, barbecue and a petting zoo. The festival itself is free and built for the whole family. A children’s concert of “Peter and the Wolf” follows at 5 p.m., with an instrument petting zoo beforehand. Tickets for that concert are $10 each.
Location: Christ the King, 10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA
