First tinges of fall at the National Arboretum
Happy Weekend!
Quick links to loads of ideas for local fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Kid-Friendly Dining
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Indoor Action
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* The Great Indoors
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Boo at the Zoo
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Friday – Sunday, 6-8:30pm
Admission: $25/members, $35/non-members
The National Zoo’s annual not-so-spooky Halloween haunt, one of DC’s most beloved events for the kiddie crowd, is back. With 30 treat stations, after hours animal viewing with habitats decorated for Halloween, and fiendishly decked out trails, this frightfully fun evening is a treat for the whole family. And the souvenir tote bags they give out will be brimming with goodies for all ages. Costumes very much encouraged!
Hill Family Biking: Moonlit T(w)een Ride
Where: Around Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 7pm
Admission: Free
The monuments at night are truly stunning, and what better way to see them than under a full moon? Parents are welcome, but not required on this 9.5-mile ride for adventurous t(w)eens, 6th grade and up, who agree to follow organizer instructions. Lights, water bottles, and helmets required. Reflective vests, snacks, and adult guides (parents of Eliot-Hine 8th graders) will be provided. This is a no-drop ride, meaning no one gets left behind. Register in advance — this is ride is limited to 25 t(w)eens.
Art Safari
Where: Torpedo Factory | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
The Torpedo Factory’s annual Art Safari, now in its 29th year, is always a family favorite. Offering a day of art adventures, this year’s event focuses on “Invention, Innovation, and Creativity.” Budding art enthusiasts can take part in all kinds of hands-on projects on all three floors of the Art Center, including artmaking on large canvases, clay sculpting, collage creations with fabric and fiber, mask making, ceramics exploration, and a scavenger hunt throughout the galleries.
Winnie the Pooh
Where: Imagination Stage | Bethesda, MD
When:Saturday & Sunday, 10am & 1pm
Admission: $12-44
Everyone’s favorite bear from the 100 Acre Wood is surrounded by Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl in this delightful and gentle musical. Set during one busy day, there’s a Heffalump to catch, Eeyore’s tail to find, and a misunderstanding between Rabbit and Kanga to sort out. In the end, friendship and understanding win the day. Recommended for ages 3+.
Alllll the Fall Fests
Where: Around the DC Metro
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall festivals are in full swing at locales all around the area! From pumpkin patches and apple picking to corn mazes and hayrides to giant slides and jumping pillows, there are activities GALORE to help folks embrace the autumn spirit. galore that let you relish in the fun autumn brings. This post has details on where all the fall fun is happening.
Autumn off the Farm
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Farm festivals may be the go-to autumn outing, but there are lots of other fantastic ways to enjoy the season around the area. This KFDC post lists 10 great places to check out for fall adventures.
The Big Build
Where: Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Any kid (or adult, for that matter) with an interest in building and construction will absolutely dig the National Building Museum’s annual event celebrating all things, well, building. The Great Hall will be full of different stations where guests of all ages aren’t just welcome, but encouraged, to try their hands at all kinds of construction and design techniques. Get an idea of what to expect in this KFDC post (it’s from a bunch of years back, but it’s essentially the same program).
Family Day: Halloween
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate spooky season with eerie crafts, images, and more from the collections. Each Family Day includes a creative activity, connections to Library of Congress collections, a chance to talk to staff experts, and a guide to using Library resources at home. Read more about the Library of Congress in this KFDC post.
Kids Euro Fest Family Day
Where: MLK Library | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family for the annual Kids Euro Fest, a day packed with performances, crafts, and workshops from European artists, each dedicated to teaching and entertaining children ages 4-10. This year, will be themed around one of the European Union’s core values: sustainability. The day’s activities include an Austrian children’s concert, Bulgarian traditional dance, a mime and magic show by Dutch-Algerian artist Hakim, Estonian recycled crafts, a German breakdancing performance from Flying Steps, Latvian ice melting, Portuguese recycled art workshop, Spanish jeopardy, and more.
Adams Morgan Apple Festival
Where: Adams Morgan, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
The 11th Annual Adams Morgan Apple Pie Baking Contest and the 16th Annual Licking Creek Bend Farm Heirloom Apple Tasting returns to Adams Morgan. The community event will take place in front of The Line Hotel and directly across the street from the farmer’s market in Unity Park at Euclid and Champlain Streets NW.
Halloween in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $5/online, $8/at gate
Join Annmarie’s annual family-friendly Trick-or-Treating festival for a howling good time. The garden will be decorated for the season with lots of great Halloween and fall decor, with fun photo ops around every corner! More than 60 local businesses and organizations will be here handing out treats for the kids, plus there will be fun and games, a DJ dance party, food trucks, and more! Dress up the whole family and enjoy a spooktacular day! Read more about Annmarie here and here.
Harvest Day
Where: The REACH Plaza | Kennedy Center, DC
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: Free
Local nonprofit FRESHFARM will be onsite outdoors at the Kennedy Center for a fun and tasty journey through the local food system. Learn how food is grown and made through hands-on activities and discover easy ways to get involved, from cooking to composting. Thee will also mbe live music, local vendors, and fun for the whole family — see the website for details.
Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour
Where: Farms around Loudoun County, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The annual Loudoun Fall Farm Tour showcases more than two dozen locations that offer everything from pumpkin patches to alpacas to flowers to vineyards to farmers markets. All of the locations provide an educational component for visitors as well. Visit the website for a map of the locations and more info on each one.
Fall Arts & Crafts Drop-In Workshop
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-2pm
Admission: Free
Join the Anacostia Community for a drop-in workshop to create fall-inspired crafts, including wreathes, leaf art and more. All supplies will be provided. Reserve a spot here.
Kingman Island Friends & Family Day
Where: Kingman Island | RFK Area, Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free with tickets
Saturday will be a good time to check out Kingman Island — there’s going to be all kinds of family-friendly activities going on. Do some paddling, take nature walks, try fishing, go on scavenger hunts, and more! Register in advance.
DC United Fan Appreciation Night
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 6pm
Admission: Resale tickets start at $48
DC United are playing Charlotte FC for their final match of the regular 8season. Not only can you enjoy the soccer action, it’s also Fan Appreciation Night with giveaways, discounts in the club shop, and more special activations for the crowd ooting on the team.
Mean Girls
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Fri, 7:30pm | Sat, 2pm & 7:30pm | Sun, 2pm & 7:30pm
Tickets: Start at $79
Mean Girls makes its triumphant return to The National where it held its world premiere. Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
She Persisted
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Sat, 11am & 2pm | Sun, 2pm
Tickets: $27
It’s opening weekend for Adventure Theatre’s newest show… Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Fri, 8pm | Sat, 2pm & 8pm | Sun, 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: $69-209 (look for discount)
Six spellers enter, but only one can be named winner of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! This charmingly witty and touching musical has entertained audiences since its Tony Award®–winning debut. A group of six mid-pubescents (and possibly a few audience members) compete in the title championship, spelling their way through vexing vocabulary while sharing hilarious and poignant personal stories. A riotous ride complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced and funny D-E-L-I-G-H-T.
The Other Americans
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Though November 24
Tickets: $59-99 (look for discount)
In Forest Hills, Queens, Nelson Castro, a Colombian American laundromat owner, grapples with a failing business and buried secrets. When his son Nick returns from a mental wellness facility after a traumatic incident, Nelson’s world unravels. Committed to protecting his family and business, he tackles racial and identity challenges to achieve his dream, proving his success. In this gripping tale of resilience, Nelson must navigate morality’s murky waters to salvage his future. Will he emerge victorious, or will his past consume everything he holds dear? Recommended for teens and older.
Turkish Festival
Where: Pennsylvania Ave, 3rd-6th St NW | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 6:30pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Turkish heritage and culture on the streets of DC! The free event will include live music, folk dancing performances, kids games, arts & crafts, cultural events, and more. Enjoy authentic Turkish cuisines and shop Turkish ceramic bowls, carpets, and other cultural items from local vendors.
Family Dance Party
Where: Hi-Lawn @ Union Market | Northeast DC
When: Sunday, 11-1pm
Admission: $10
Rumpus Room Family Dance Party: Halloween Special is back at Hi-Lawn! Get ready for a spooktacular day of dancing and fun for the whole family. Dress up in your favorite costumes and boogie at DC’s best (and only) family dance party on the roof at Union Market. This one always sells out, so snag tickets ASAP! Rumpus Room is designed for kids 10 and under and their caregivers.
More Halloween Fun
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Halloween may not be for a still be a couple of weeks away, but you can get the party started with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit. This post has details on where the tricks and treats are happening.
Laurie Berkner Band
Where: Center for the Arts | George Mason University, VA
When: Sunday, 3pm
Tickets: $20-40
Legendary children’s musician Laurie Berkner and The Laurie Berkner Band will bring a “Greatest Hits” solo concert to DC area families. They’ll perform songs from a career spanning more than 25 years in the entertainment industry, including such well-loved hits as “Victor Vito,” “Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz),”We Are The Dinosaurs,” and more recent fan favorites, too. As a special treat, Laurie and the band will also offer songs from their new album, A Laurie Berkner Halloween. Kids should plan to bring their dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for their heads).
Sukkot Party and Show
Where: Lincoln Park | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 4-4:45pm
Admission: Fee
Celebrate Sukkot with Chabad East DC Jewish Center and fulfill the special shaking the Lulav and Etrog! Hop inside the sukkah, and make a blessing on some delicious snacks. Kids can make sukkah decoration, do other crafts, and enjoy a magic show by Zigzag. Plus, there will also be a bagel buffet. RSVP here.
Spirit vs Red Stars & Fan Appreciation
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 5pm
Admission: Tickets start at $25
See some exciting soccer action and support women in sports as the Washington Spirit host the Chicago Red Starts this Sunday. This final home match of the regular season is also Fan Appeciation, and the club will celebrate with giveaways, special entertainment, and more extra fun!
Do Some Garden-ing
Where: Throughout the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall is a wonderful time to roam the many gardens in the area as the changing leaves start to brighten up the summer green. Enjoy the fall flowers and manicured grounds of the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle (then visit the museums on the Mall). Stroll among the many multi-tiered plats at Dumbarton Oaks. Explore, play, and see a variety of plant collections at the National Arboretum. Do some early leaf peeping at the Brookside Gardens. Wander around Green Spring Gardens on a scavenger hunt. Venture out to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Garden. Relish in the peace at the Brookland Monastery. Or enjoy a tour indoors and out at the U.S. Botanic Garden. You can bring along a picnic to many of these places and make it a whole day’s outing.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* In case you haven’t heard, Pandas are returning to the National Zoo!
* Fall classes for ages 1 and up are starting at Imagination Stage.
* Have a child who loves to sing? Auditions are now open for the National Children’s Chorus spring 2025 season.
* This Wednesday, October 23, at 7pm, join the National Cathedral and the Kennedy Center for The Big Sing, a community sing event part of a month-long Kennedy Center Arts and Wellbeing initiative called Nourish. Be sure to RSVP!
* Want to support a local school and possibly score some great items and experiences? Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan is hosting an online auction, and you’re welcome to join in the bidding!
* Oooh, some things to make Jack-o-lanterns extra cool: A carving kit with “cookie” cutters, pumpkin face stickers, and these neat stencils.
* See what classes REI has coming up. A few cool ones for teens and older: Intro to Mountain Biking, Intro to Rock Climbing, and Wilderness First Aid.
* It’s good timing to plan a winter getaway… here’s one idea for a warm escape.
* The cooler weather makes this gorgeous coat even more appealing (a great deal, too)!
* Does your family love a good puzzle? (I’m curious about this one!)
* Lol: A Sociological Guide to Parents at Your Local Playground
* So young 💔
