Fun Things to Do With Kids in the DC Area This Weekend

Ready for some family fun this weekend? Halloween is already creeping in. Boo at the Zoo kicks off Friday night with treat stations scattered all over the National Zoo, while Green Meadows Farm in Ijamsville lights up its jack o’lantern trail and invites kids 13 and under to trick or treat.

Saturday is packed with options for families. Head to the Library of Congress for a free Ben Franklin family day, or roll up your sleeves at the hands-on Big Build festival at the National Building Museum. Fall fairs pop up at schools and churches in Alexandria and Derwood, and Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County comes alive with music, dance and crafts at the American Indian Festival.

Sunday brings special programs just for babies and toddlers on the National Mall. Downtown, the Turkish Festival is free and welcomes all ages. Some events need tickets or timed passes, so be sure to check the details below before you head out. Want even more ideas? Browse the Washington Parent events calendar.

3 free things to do with kids in the DC area this weekend

1. Story Time at the National Postal Museum, Friday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Little ones hear a new story, stroll through the museum and try hands on postal play. Meet in the Historic Lobby; no registration needed.

2. BFF: Ben Franklin Forever Family Day, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At the Library of Congress, kids make paper circuit art to take home, watch a colonial printing press in action and meet a Ben Franklin character. It is free, but book a timed entry ticket ahead.

3. The Big Build, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids learn from real roofers, plumbers, woodworkers and designers in free, hands on sessions at the National Building Museum. Registration is suggested.

Here’s what else is happening for families DC

Story Time at the National Postal Museum (Additional dates: every Friday)

• Date: Oct. 16
• Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• Location: Historic Lobby, National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC.

Kick off your weekend with a fresh story every Friday. After story time, families can wander the museum together and dive into hands-on postal play that shows how mail connects us to people and places. It’s an easy morning out for preschoolers and their grown-ups. Meet in the Historic Lobby—no registration needed, and the museum is free to explore afterward. Free

Boo at the Zoo

• Date: Oct. 16 to 18
• Time: 6 to 8:30 p.m. (last entry 8 p.m.)
• Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

Boo at the Zoo transforms the National Zoo into a Halloween playground for families. Kids in costume can fill up a free souvenir goodie bag at treat stations sprinkled throughout the park—think sweets, snacks and little surprises. Along the way, you’ll spot skeleton scenes, festive displays, a magician, a kid-friendly dance party and a brand-new pumpkin patch perfect for photos. Three animal houses stay open late: the Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center and Elephant Community Center. Want more fun? Hop on the Conservation Carousel or the National Zoo Choo Choo train (rides sold separately).

Know before you go: tickets are $35 for everyone 3 and older and are sold for a set date, and children under 2 are free. Members save 15% and get early entry at 5 p.m. The zoo closes at 2 p.m. on event days, and the gates reopen at 4:30 p.m. Parking is $30 in advance or $40 that day. Costumes are welcome for all ages, but adults may not wear full face masks. The event is not nut free, so check candy labels.

The Sky Tonight: Live Planetarium Show

• Date: Oct 17
• Time: 10:30 to 11 a.m.
• Location: National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC. Enter through the Jefferson Drive doors.

A live guide shows families what to look for in the night sky after sunset and answers questions along the way. Free, but you need a timed entry museum pass. If passes run out, more are released at 8:30 a.m. that day. Free

BFF: Ben Franklin Forever Family Day

• Date: Oct 17
• Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 10 First St. SE, Washington, DC.

Kids can learn about Benjamin Franklin, the printer, inventor, and scientist, at this free family day. Inspired by his experiments with electricity, children make paper circuit artwork to take home. At set times, families go behind the scenes to the Rare Book Classroom to watch a hands on demonstration of a colonial printing press and see rare items from the colonial era. Library staff from the Science and Business Reading Room share Franklin materials from the collections, and a Ben Franklin character is on hand with trivia about his life. Afterward, explore The Source for more activities and collection highlights.

All activities are drop in, on the mezzanine of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Admission is free, but everyone needs a timed entry ticket for the Jefferson Building. Book ahead to get the time you want, since only a limited number are released that day. Free

DC Story Time

• Date: Oct 17 (Additional dates: Oct. 24, Nov. 7, 14 and 21, and Dec. 5, 12 and 19)
• Time: 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
• Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3, National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC.

Children ages 3 to 9 and their grown ups hear a book by a Native author or illustrator, explore objects from the museum’s teaching collection and make a craft. Free. The room holds 25 people, so ask at the Level 3 desk about tickets when you arrive. Free

The Big Build

• Date: Oct 17
• Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Washington, DC.

The Big Build at the National Building Museum is a free, hands on festival where kids can see how buildings come together from the ground up. Budding builders and curious kids can learn from real roofers, plumbers, woodworkers, and designers, then try the tools themselves in interactive sessions. If your child loves taking things apart or figuring out how stuff is made, this is the place to be. The festival is free, but registration is suggested. Free

Families Together: Fall Harvest

• Date: Oct 18
• Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• Location: National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

Families with children from infancy through kindergarten explore pies, pumpkins and apples with the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. The group starts in the classroom, then walks to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden to learn how apple trees grow, weather permitting. Tickets are $35 per family, older siblings are welcome, and registration is required.

Infant Investigators: CAN Touch This

• Date: Oct 18
• Time: 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
• Location: Constitution Avenue Lobby, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.

Babies up to 16 months old explore safe textures in a hands on lesson, then take a tactile tour of the Gem Hall. Tickets are $25 for one caregiver and one baby, and registration is required.

Turkish Festival

• Date: Oct 18
• Time: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between Third and Sixth streets, Washington, DC.

This free street festival fills downtown with Turkish food, live music,, folk ddowntown craft bazaaraar of crafts. Kids can head straight to the kids’ tent, packed with games and crafts. Free

Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia this weekend

Farm Harvest Fest and Carnival

• Date: Oct. 16 to 18
• Time: Friday, carnival 5 to 9 p.m. with Big Truck Night 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday: Farm Harvest Days 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and carnival 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday: Farm Harvest Days 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and carnival 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Location: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Va.

Got a truck fan in the family? Friday night is all about up-close views of big vehicles. The rest of the weekend is packed with carnival rides, games, farm animals and plenty of food. Parking is $10 per vehicle. Ride wristbands are $23.25 if you buy before 5 p.m. Friday and $28.25 after; single-ride credits are sold on site.

Cox Farms Fall Festival

• Date: Oct. 16 to 18
• Time: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.)
• Location: Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville, Va.

Slides, rope swings, farm animals and hayrides make for a full day of farm fun. Tickets are sold online only—$20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday and Sunday; kids under 2 are free. Busy days sell out fast, so book ahead. (Additional dates: Thursday to Monday through Nov. 8)

Burgundy Farm Country Day School Free Community Fall Fair

• Date: Oct. 17
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Location: Burgundy Farm Country Day School, 3700 Burgundy Road, Alexandria, Va.

Neighbors, families and alumni come together on campus for games, crafts, food and live music. Admission is free, and activity tickets are $1 each on the day or 13 for $10 if you buy ahead.

Things to do with kids in Maryland this weekend

Trail of Jack O Lanterns with Trick or Treat

• Date: Oct. 16 to 18 (Additional dates: Oct. 23 to 25, 30 and 31)
• Time: 6 to 10 p.m. (gate opens 5:30 p.m., last admission 8:30 p.m.). Trick or treating runs 7 to 8 p.m.
• Location: Green Meadows Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville, Md.

Families can stroll a glowing jack o’lantern trail, cozy up by the fire pits and visit the animal barn, open until 9 p.m. Kids 13 and under can trick or treat in costume. Each night brings a little extra: free s’mores for the first 50 families on Friday, comedy shows on Saturday, and free hayrides until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $16 for ages 2 and up, and babies are free. Pay by card at the gate or buy ahead online. The farm is about an hour from DC.

Private Guided Farm Tours at Historic East Oaks Farm

• Date: Oct. 16 to 18
• Time: Book a slot online. Tours start at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. and at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
• Location: East Oaks Farm, 21524 Whites Ferry Road, Poolesville, Md.

A one hour guided tour of a working farm, with goats, sheep, cows, chickens, roosters and peacocks, plus the gardens and pond. Tickets are $12 per person, or $10 each for groups of four or more, and children under 4 are free. Reservations are required.

18th Annual American Indian Festival

• Date: Oct. 17
• Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: American Indian Village, Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, Md.

A replica Eastern Woodland village hosts traditional dance, drumming, live music and storytelling, plus an artisan market with crafts and traditional foods. Admission is free, with fees for some crafts and rides.

Fall Festival at Neighborhood Church

• Date: Oct. 17
• Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
• Location: Neighborhood Church, 16501 Redland Road, Derwood, Md.

Come in costume for trunk or treating, a petting zoo, crafts and a raffle. Free.

Fall Fest at Transfiguration Parish

• Date: Oct. 17 (Additional dates: through Oct. 31)
• Time: 2:00 pm-7:00 p.m.
• Location: Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 13925 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, Md.

Pick out a pumpkin grown by the Navajo Nation, without GMOs or pesticides, at this free outdoor fall festival. Food trucks, local crafters and live music round out the afternoon, and kids can play in the straw and pose for fall photos. Saturday adds a bake sale and a 2 p.m. scarecrow building contest. Come back Saturday, Oct. 24, for the 4 p.m. carved pumpkin contest. Free

Kentlands Market Square Fall Artisan Market

Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Kentlands Market Square, 43 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, Md.

Celebrate Fall with a day of community and creativity with local artisans, small businesses, live entertainment and Fall activities. Free

Looking ahead

The Trail of Jack O Lanterns at Green Meadows Farm returns Oct. 23 to 25, 30 and 31, and the Cox Farms Fall Festival runs Thursday to Monday through Nov. 8. For more Halloween plans, see our roundup of family Halloween events in the DMV.