Fun Things to Do With Kids in the DMV This Weekend (Sept. 11-13)

September is finding its footing. This weekend’s calendar coincides with the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and families hoping to mark the date with their kids will find a full list of free community remembrance events across D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia in our separate guide to 9/11 25th anniversary events in the DMV.

The rest of the weekend is packed as well. Friday evening stretches from Barracks Row to Fairfax, anchored by an immersive arts-and-music installation on 8th Street SE and a free outdoor movie at Pat Rodio Park. Saturday spans all three jurisdictions: a guided history bike ride along the W&OD Trail in Vienna, Doggie Day Swim at four D.C. pools, and nearly nine hours of live reggae at Lake Anne in Reston.

Sunday leans toward Rosh Hashanah, with the Shofar Experience in Lincoln Park offering shofar sounds, songs, and traditional treats in the afternoon. Planet Word opens its free monthly storytime that morning for children ages 2 to 6, and a guided butterfly walk wraps up the afternoon in Loudoun County.

Running all three days, Taste of History keeps the National Mall’s kiosks open through Sunday, while East Oaks Farm in Poolesville offers guided farm tours every morning by advance reservation.

Most picks here are free, though a few have admission details that weren’t confirmed at the time of writing. Dates and times can change, so confirm with the organizer before you load up the car. Here are the best things to do with kids in the DMV this weekend, Sept. 11 to 13.

Here are our favorite free things to do with kids in Virginia this weekend.

Movies Under the Moon

• Date: Friday, Sept. 11
• Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
• Location: Pat Rodio Park, 3800 Keith Ave., Fairfax, Va.

Wrap up the week with a family-friendly outdoor screening at Pat Rodio Park. Bring blankets and low chairs, and plan to arrive early to claim one of the best spots before they fill up. The park does not have stadium seating, so a little planning goes a long way. Check the city’s parks page for the film title before you head out, since the lineup for this series has occasionally shifted late in the week.

Stonebridge Fall Fest and Chili Cook-Off

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
• Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Location: Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 15201 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge, Va.

Woodbridge’s annual fall festival centers on a chili cook-off, with local bands on stage and food trucks and artisan vendors filling the town center. Admission is free, and the seven-hour window makes it easy to drop in for an hour rather than commit to the whole afternoon. Food is pay-as-you-go, so bring a card if you plan to eat there. The event runs outdoors on the town center’s walkways, which are flat, stroller-friendly, and ringed by parking, though shade is limited at midday.

Trails and Tales: Vienna’s Hidden History Bike Ride on the W&OD Trail

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12. Also Oct. 10.
• Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon
• Location: Freeman Store and Museum, 131 Church St. NE, Vienna, Va.

A family-friendly 3.5-hour guided ride along the W&OD Trail covers nearly 200 years of Vienna history, with stops at Civil War landmarks and lesser-known stories along the route. The ride is best for riders comfortable with a half-day on the trail and is ideal for older children and teens who can handle the distance. Post-ride snacks are available at the Freeman Store and Museum, one of the oldest surviving storefronts in Fairfax County, making this a worthwhile weekend pick for families seeking both outdoor activity and local history. The Oct. 10 date is available if Saturday does not work.

12th Annual Reggae Festival

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
• Time: Noon to 9 p.m.
• Location: Lake Anne Brew House, 11424 Washington Plaza West, Reston, Va.

Nine hours of live reggae and island music at Lake Anne, one of the most comfortable outdoor event settings in Northern Virginia. The waterfront plaza gives kids room to move around while the music plays. Admission details were not posted at the time of writing, so check the Lake Anne Brew House’s site before assuming it’s free.

Fall Butterfly Walk

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
• Location: Murray Hill, 42910 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, Va.

A two-hour guided walk through gardens, pastures, hedgerows, and woodlands offers a chance to spot Monarchs and other butterflies as they begin their seasonal migration. Along the way, naturalists share how farmers and gardeners actively support butterfly populations, giving kids a concrete idea they can take home and try in their own yard. Registration is required and space is limited, so sign up early.

Falling for Fair Oaks

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
• Location: Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Va.

Fair Oaks Mall lines its corridors with local artisans, food vendors and games for a free fall market, and the draw for families is the Kids Markets pop-up running alongside it: booths staffed entirely by young entrepreneurs selling what they made. Vendor registration has closed, but shopping is open to everyone, and it’s a useful outing for tweens who are curious about running something of their own

Here are our favorite things to do with kids in D.C. this weekend.

Art All Night: The Art of Music

• Date: Friday, Sept. 11
• Time: 4:30 to 11 p.m.
• Location: Barracks Row Main Street, 8th St. SE, Washington, D.C.

For younger kids, the best time to go is at the start of the event or in the early evening, while it is still light and the street is less crowded. Plan to arrive soon after things begin, stay for the more relaxed, family-friendly portion, and leave before late evening, when the crowd and energy pick up after dark. If possible, set a clear exit time in advance so you are not deciding in the middle of the event. Choose comfortable shoes, keep kids close in the busier stretches of Barracks Row and have a meeting spot in case anyone gets separated.

Taste of History: Ongoing Food Experience on the National Mall

• Date: Sept. 11 to 13, and daily through Nov. 16
• Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Location: National Mall, Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, D.C.

A network of food kiosks near major Smithsonian museums and monuments on the National Mall, Taste of History is a convenient family stop for location-inspired dishes and quick meals you can order ahead on your phone. It is especially worth including when everyone is hungry and you need an easy, low-effort option. The kiosks are food vendors, so budget accordingly, but the Mall itself is free to walk through.

Doggie Day Swim DC

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
• Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
• Location: Langdon Park Pool, Francis Pool, Ridge Road Pool and Upshur Pool, Washington, D.C.

The last swim of the season belongs to the dogs. D.C. Parks and Recreation opens its outdoor pools to canine swimmers for one afternoon before they close for the year. All dogs must have a current, valid D.C. dog license, so check yours before you head over. Kids who aren’t bringing a dog can still watch, and it turns out to be a pretty entertaining Saturday afternoon in its own right.

Sunday Storytime

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13. Also Oct. 11 and Nov. 8.
• Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
• Location: Planet Word, 925 13th St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Free songs and read-alouds with D.C. Public Library children’s librarians take place inside Planet Word, the museum devoted entirely to language and words. Designed for children ages 2 to 6, the program is especially well-suited to toddlers, including two-year-olds who rarely sit for an hour anywhere else. Planet Word is free to enter, and it is worth arriving early to enjoy the building before storytime begins.

Shofar Experience in Lincoln Park

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Lincoln Park, 1100 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C.

A Rosh Hashanah celebration in one of Capitol Hill’s most historically significant public parks, featuring shofar sounds, songs, and shofars on display for close viewing, along with traditional treats including apples and honey and honey cake. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and families unfamiliar with the holiday are welcome to learn more through these traditions. Lincoln Park has real shade and an open lawn, so families can spread out. Free and appropriate for all ages.

Here are our favorite things to do with kids in Maryland this weekend.

Babies and Books!

• Date: Every Friday through April 17, 2027, starting Sept. 11
• Time: 9 to 9:30 a.m.
• Location: People’s Book, 7014-A Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park, Md.

A warm, half-hour weekly storytime for babies and toddlers ages 3 and under, featuring board books, classic tales, songs and rhymes. Its short format and engaging mix of reading, music, and repetition are especially helpful for infants and toddlers, supporting early language development, attention, and a love of books. Caregivers can enjoy free coffee during the program, making it an easy Friday-morning outing for DMV families. The series runs through April, so it is a great way to build a cozy routine that carries well into winter.

Mediterranean Festival

• Date: Friday, Sept. 11
• Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
• Location: Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 10620 River Road, Potomac, Md.

An evening of Middle Eastern food, live music, and handmade goods from vendors, with activities for children built into the program. Families can expect a community church festival atmosphere; admission details were not posted at the time of writing, so check ahead. Worth the Potomac drive for the food alone.

Private Guided Farm Tours at the Historic East Oaks Farm

• Date: Sept. 11 to 13, and daily through Oct. 30
• Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Location: East Oaks Farm, 21524 Whites Ferry Road, Poolesville, Md.

A one-hour guided tour of a working historic farm in Montgomery County’s agricultural reserve, where you’ll meet goats, sheep, cows, chickens, roosters, and peacocks before walking the gardens and pond. Advance reservation is required, and the schedule runs daily through October, making it a good option for any fall weekend. Plan this as a half-day destination — it’s about 45 minutes from the Beltway in western Montgomery County.

Storytime LIVE

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
• Time: 10 a.m. to noon
• Location: Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg, 15895 Gaither Drive, Gaithersburg, Md.

A free two-hour morning of stories, activities, and character appearances built around If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, with Mouse making an in-person visit. The event is geared toward preschool and early elementary ages and lasts long enough that you don’t have to rush through it. No registration was listed, but arriving close to the 10 a.m. start is the safest approach for character timing.

Maryland Farm Tours

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
• Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: 21808 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, Md.

Maryland Farm Tours opens participating farms across the state to self-guided visitors for one day, giving families a direct connection to local farmers and the land that produces Maryland’s food. Admission is free, though some farms offer paid activities such as hayrides or pick-your-own produce. The Gaithersburg location is an easy drive from most of Montgomery County.

Building Caring Connections With Nature

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, Md.

Park Ranger and Master Naturalist Jessica Furr leads a 90-minute outdoor program on practical steps families and gardeners can take to support local wildlife and restore habitat. The content is specific and actionable rather than general — participants leave with concrete steps they can take at home. Free and open to all ages, with no registration required.

For more events across the region, browse the Washington Parent events calendar, updated daily.