See dachshunds race for glory at the Wharf’s annual Oktoberfest
Happy Weekend!
Link up to all kinds of inspo for fun around DC:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Paddling Options
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Fall Festing
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Pick some pumpkins, whiz down giant slides, get lost in corn mazes, go on and hayrides, bounce around on jumping pillows, and so much more. There are activities galore to help you embrace the autumn spirit — some are listed below, and the KFDC guide to fall festivals has details on all of them.
Beatrice Likes the Dark
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Friday, 7pm | Saturday & Sunday, 11am & 2pm
Tickets: $27 (find discount)
Opening this weekend, this production blends magic, music, shadow play, and heartfelt storytelling in a celebration of curiosity, courage, and connection. When Beatrice casts a spell for endless darkness, she discovers that even the things we fear most can become beautiful when brought into the light. Overflowing with wonder, humor, and theatrical ingenuity, Beatrice Likes the Dark is a luminous reminder that families — and communities — shine brightest when every voice belongs. Recommended for ages 4+.
Kids Workshop: Witch Candy Box
Where: Home Depot locations around the area
When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Free – be sure to register in advance
Get ready for Halloween at Home Depot’s free monthly workshop for kids. All supplies are provided, including a little apron, and kids get to keep their craft along with a certificate of achievement and collectible pin. All attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. Register in advance.
Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 2-7pm
Admission: Free
It’s that time of year… put on your dirndl or lederhosen, grab your Dachshund, and head to The Wharf for all kinds of free, fun Oktoberfest festivities. The highlight: Cheer on the dogs competing in the 14th Annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash to benefit Rural Dog Rescue (some of the dogs up for adoption will be there, too). After the races, there will be polka lessons on the pier and stein hoisting contests, plus German fare, Bavarian decor and costumes, and Sam Adam Octoberfest beer for adults.
Tinkerfest
Where: National Children’s Museum | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: $18.95
Bring your biggest ideas to National Children’s Museum‘s first-ever Tinkerfest, a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning. The whole Museum (and Woodrow Wilson Plaza, too!) becomes a giant workshop, with tinkering stations, live demonstrations, and STEAM activities around every corner. Test, experiment, discover, and of course, TINKER!
Family Hoppy Hour
Where: Hill Center | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 5-7pm
Admission: $7/adult, $14/child
Get the weekend started with a family happy hour concert. Hop on over to the Hill Center for some early autumn fun, as kindie rock trio King Bullfrog play their high-energy tunes that both kids and grownups dig. There will be pizza and juice boxes for young concert-goers and beverages for the grownups.
Art on the Avenue
Where: Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the diversity of Alexandria’s Del Ray community at this multicultural arts festival. Numerous artists — jewelers, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, painters, sculptors, fabric artists, and musicians — will have their work on display and for sale. Kids activities will be offered throughout the day, and there will be food and drink options to please everyone.
First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Gallery of Art for their monthly First Saturday, a special day-long affair with multiple free programs for kids of all ages. Drop in for art-making, bring little ones to a lively and playful storytime, be part of a community quilt project, check out the play space, and get their faces painted, too!
Street Fest
Where: Union Market District, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 9pm
Admission: Free
Shop, move, and dance in the Union Market District on Saturday! Street Fest is back for its second year with a full day of fun and activity. Explore clothing, accessories, food, drinks and more. Start the day shopping pop-ups from local brands, all set inside containers transformed into storefronts for the day. Then get some good bites and treats from one of the many food vendors.
College Park Day
Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD
When: Saturday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
This free event is fun for the whole family with live entertainment on three stages, including a family stage with performances for children and families. There will also be wandering performers, crafts, activities, games, races, bounce houses, obstacle courses, and more. Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy browsing the College Park Aviation Museum’s exhibits (free on College Park Day) and a helicopter fly-in! Lots of food and drink options, too.
Taste of Bethesda
Where: Woodmont Triangle | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but pay for samples
According to some stats, Bethesda has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. Accurate or not, DC’s suburban neighbor definitely has a food scene worth celebrating. The 34th year of Bethesda’s famous food and music festival will bring the best restaurants and five stages of entertainment to the downtown’s Woodmont Triangle. Along with delicious food samples and live entertainment, there will be a kid’s corner for face painting, arts & crafts, and more fun for young ones. Admission is free, and taste tickets are sold on-site.
Oktoberfest in Vienna
Where: Vienna, VA
When: Saturday, 11am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy a day of Oktoberfest fun in Vienna. Along with beer and wine, thee are a loads of kids activities, live entertainment on three stages, a business expo, a marketplace showcasing local vendors and atisans, and a new bike gaeden and bike fest. Plenty of food will be available for purchase, too.
Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 2:30pm
Tickets: $18-33
When Jennie receives a Halloween card that calls her a scary cat, she feels like she’s been put in a box. Does she have to be scary? Join Jennie as she meets new friends with some spectacular tricks and treats to share, like skateboarding, shadow puppetry, and pumpkin carving. Who will Jennie choose to be? Recommended for ages 4+.
Rosslyn Fall Fest
Where: NOW Pop-Up Park | Rosslyn, VA
When: Saturday, 1-6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the start of autumn with the Rosslyn BID. Head to Gateway Park for an afternoon of fall-favorite activities for all ages to help welcome the season. Enjoy pumpkin decorating and carving, a corn maze, inflatables and lawn games, live music by Loyal Skeptics, food trucks and treats, hard cider and seasonal beer tastings, and more fun.
Dirty Dancing
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Fri, 7:30pm | Sat & Sun, 2pm & 7:30pm
Tickets: 99+
Get ready to have the time of your life! Based on the beloved film, the story that awakened a generation is back in a new stage production. Dirty Dancing: The Musical is the feel-good escape you’ve been craving, alive with the pulse of electrified dancing, the thrill of secret encounters, and the allure of forbidden romance. Set to live music from the original film you love, Baby and Johnny bring to life the summer that changed everything. Your reservation at Kellerman’s awaits! Recommended for ages 12+.
Glow in the Park
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Saturday, 6-11pm
Admission: $59
Enjoy a family night in the trees! At the much-loved aerial adventure park, the whole forest will glow in neon, fueled by a curated playlist. Get two full hours of climbing and zipping through a canopy that looks and sounds nothing like the daytime (plus a 40-minute orientation). It’s the most fun you can have in the trees. For ages 6+.
Olivia Rodrigo
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday nights
Tickets: Resale ticket prices vary
Pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo is playing two nights at Capitol One Arena — a show that is sure to be high-energy and packed with all her hits. It’s one of the biggest shows in DC this fall, and tickets sold out quickly, but you can get resale seats for a splurge.
Takoma Park Street Festival
Where: Carroll Ave. to Carroll St. | Takoma Park, MD
When: Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The streets of Takoma Park will be filled with music, artisans, community groups, kids activities, food vendors and a variety of green companies at the city’s 44th annual festival. Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping — over 150 vendors will be selling all kinds of artistic wares. Music lovers will enjoy three stages hosting 18 bands playing all day.
Sunday Workshops
Where: KID Museum | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, various times
Admission: $25
Explore new tools and materials while building your skills and mindset through creative, project-based workshops led by KID’s expert Maker Educators. Classes are limited to 15 guests, so be sure to sign up in advance!
Free Community Day
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown, DC
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
The first Sunday of every month is a great opportunity explore the National Museum of Women in the Arts when admission is FREE! Works span the centuries, from the 16th to the present in a variety of mediums, highlighting women artists all over the world. If tickets aren’t available, plan to go another day — the admission fee is worth it! (Or snag them for a future free day.)
The IN Crowd
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you’re seeking activities indoors because of possible rain, you have plenty of options. This post pulls together all the KFDC round-ups with ideas for inside fun. From museums and special programs for kids to play spaces and venues for indoor action to theaters presenting live entertainment and movies to stores where you can shop secondhand, you’ll find loads of ways to stay cool, dry, and sane. 🙂
Wicked Fun
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Get the Halloween party started early with activities and events that celebrate the spooky spirit throughout October! This just-posted round-up has details on where all the tricks and treats are happening.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* This sweet picture-book series was created by a local mom: The Adventures of Zay & Rylo, by author Ouma D. for ages 2–5, is inspired by real family moments and the friendship between a little boy and his dog.
* There have been a few additions to the list of KFDC Picks for Kid Friendly DC Restaurants.
* Looking forward to celebrating Levi’s birthday this weekend doing this with friends.
* If you’re doing some organizing (I always am), you’ll want to check out the Container Store sale.
* Love this Samba (non)color combo.
* Early Prime Day deals worth checking out: Immersion blender set (just in time for soup season), glass food storage containers, creepy Halloween decor, comfy hoodies.
* If you don’t yet have an Amazon Prime membership, it’s a good time to get one.
* 70 genius fall recipes.
