1. Have you been to the National Building Museum lately? A new, little exhibit just opened that is really fun to check out if you’re there. Mini Memories features a collection of 400 miniature souvenir buildings from places around the world. See everything from small replicas of the U.S Capitol to a tiny Windsor Castle to a baby Cathedral de Brasilla to a toy-sized Golden Temple from Laos. And be sure to bring kids to the interactive exhibits, too: In Brick City, they can view iconic architecture from across the globe constructed from LEGO bricks and build their own LEGO masterpieces. And the beloved Play Work Build welcomes young guests to play in the space filled with big, blue foam building blocks. The museum is open Thursday – Monday, 10am – 4pm. Admission is $10/adult, $7, child (free to hang out in the Great Hall).
2. Tomorrow, November 3, the National Portrait Gallery is hosting its annual El Día de los Muertos Festival. There will be live music, dance performances by a local folk dance company, a chance to create calaveras and papel picado to decorate the community altar, face painting to look like la Catrina, and more. Once again, Artists MasPaz and Guache will project their live video artwork on the museum’s G & 9th Street facade. The festival runs 5-8:30pm, and admission is free.
3. There’s nothing like following a hike with some good aprés hike fun — think a hearty meal, wine and brews, and outdoor games. I just shared some great combos for that around the DC area.
4. Now that Halloween is behind us, it’s time to start thinking holidays! Begin prepping for them by browsing seasonal decor. Our interfaith household displays this every year. So many fun, unique finds here. And Food52 is full of great holiday items (and currently has a 25% off sale with the code SAVENOW).
Wicked Fun!
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Celebrate Halloween all weekend long leading up to the big day! A scary amount of events and activities that embrace the spooky spirit are happening over the next few days. A bunch are detailed in this round-up, and this post has info on even more where you can find all the tricks and treats.
Mystery Mansion
Where: Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase | Chevy Chase, MD
When: Friday, 6-9pm
Admission: $10-20
Get into the Halloween spirit at this family friendly haunted house and outdoor fest with live actors and just enough thrills and chills to make the time fly. While this is always a no contact haunted house, if you are young or easily frightened, it’s recommended to attend with a friend! Parents encouraged, and adult haunted house fans are welcome. Mystery Mansion tickets also allows access to the grounds and all activities of the Bonfire Bash: Fire pits, live music, outdoor movies, food sales, photo ops, food and drinks for sale, and a few scary happenings. The haunted house is designed for guests as young as 5-12, but the Mystery Mansion experience appeals to Halloween fans of all ages. You can aslo opt for just the Bonfire Bash.
Hill-O-Ween Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC When: Friday, 5-8pm Admission: Free
Capitol Hill’s annual neighborhood event is legendary for little ones! The block of 7th Street SE next to Eastern Market is closed to traffic for one of the best community Halloween celebrations in the city. Enjoy live pumpkin carving, a DJ spinning tunes for a spooky dance party, face painting, photo booths, and more Halloween themed fun. The best part is seeing the masses of jubilant kids in all kinds of costumes indulging in the extravaganza.
Spooktacular Outdoor Movie Night
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Friday, 7pm (gates open at 6pm)
Admission: Free
Kick off Capitol Riverfront’s Halloweekend Festivities on Friday evening with a family-friendly screening of Hocus Pocus (1993). Even better, you can view ro where the DC United and Washington Spirit play soccer! Access to the pitch is limited on a first-come, first-served basis, and concessions will be available for purchase during the movie. Tickets are general admission both on the pitch and in the stands. Get your tickets here.
Air & Scare
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
The annual Air & Scare event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is back with activities inside and out! Details TBA, but past events have included trick or treat stations, creepy crafts, spooky experiments, and other Hallloween-themed activities; special story times and puppet shows; photo ops; and costume contests. [Note: The outdoor portion of the event is sold out, but there is plenty to enjoy inside.]
Halloween Scenes Where: Around Capitol Hill, DC When: Throughout the weekend Admission: Free
One of my favorite things about Halloween on Capitol Hill is the many houses decked out in decor for the holiday. And strolling (or biking or scooting) around to see them makes for a wicked fun family activity. The Hill is Home makes that easier with their Spooky Hill Map. Even if you don’t live here, it’s worth coming to the area to experience, especially since you can make a longer day of it and plan for a visit to the Library of Congress or the U.S. Capitol, some browsing at Eastern Market, or play time at one of the many parks or playgrounds.
Adams Morgan Apple Festival
Where: Unity Park | Adams Morgan, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
The 10th Annual Adams Morgan Apple Pie Baking Contest and the 15th Annual Licking Creek Bend Farm Heirloom Apple Tasting returns to Adams Morgan on Saturday. The 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. Highlights include an heirloom apple tasting and a homemade apple pie baking contest from neighborhood residents . Area bakers compete for the title of ‘Best Apple Pie’, and attendees can purchase slices for $6 each to support Jubilee Jumpstart, a neighborhood nonprofit that provides high-quality early childhood education with a focus on children and families with the least access.
Halloween Dance Party Where: Park Potomac | Potomac, MD When: Saturday, 10am Admission:
Put on your dancing shoes and Halloween costumes and head to Park Potomac for their annual Spooktacular Halloween event. Featuring Marsha and the Positrons performing their tunes, join them on the lawn for some Halloween fun! Come in your cutest, spookiest, best costumes.
Pumpkins in the Park
Where: Canal Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 11am
Admission: Free
The 10th annual Pumpkins in the Park will feature an array of fun and seasonal festivities — pumpkin decorating, a giant moon bounce, a mobile photo booth, live music by popular local Zydeco band Little Red & the Renegades, a roaming magician, and seasonal beverages* for purchase. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the first 150 registered guests to arrive will receive a free seasonal beverage (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available) and a fresh apple cider donut. All ages are invited to join. Pumpkins available on a first come first serve basis. Advance registration recommended.
Garlic Planting Party
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Help ward off evil spirits at the Arboretum’s annual Garlic Planting Party in the Washington Youth Garden. Celebrate our WYG community and the end of the growing season with garlic planting, face painting, fall art activities, food tastings, vegetable harvesting, and more. Wearing costumes is highly encouraged! Read more about the Washington Youth Garden in this KFDC post and view scenes from fall at the Arboretum here — it’s gorgeous this time of year!
Día de los Muertos Family Day
Where: American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family for live entertainment, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, an exhilarating mariachi performance, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Kids 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day as well as Día de los Muertos-themed crafts. All ages can have fun exploring the museum’s stunning exhibition, Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea in a Día de los Muertos scavenger hunt.
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Through October 30
Tickets: $25
With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life’s big questions through the eyes of the Peanuts gang as they play baseball, fly kites, struggle with homework, swoon over crushes, and celebrate the joys of friendship. Growing up is serious business! Recommended for all ages.
Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Through Sunday
Tickets: $15
Witch Wartsmith hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular, and you get to vote on the winner! Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some contestants change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike!
Fall Frolic
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free, but small cost for some activities
It’s a safe and fun Halloween event, where they focus on the arts-y & crafts-y more than the scary. Activities include decorating a Trick-or-Treat bag and other crafts, a festive fall photo-op, costume contest, and Trick-or-Treating at resident art studios and galleries. Costumes encouraged – even the scary ones!
All Ages Dueling Piano Show
Where: Bobby McKey’s | National Harbor, MD
When: Saturday, 3:30-6:30pm
Admission: $25-29.75
Tack this on to your Halloween fun at National Harbor! It’s a Family Show at Bobby McKey’s on Halloween weekend, so it’s likely to celebrate the spooky season, too (ie, go ahead and dress up!) Enjoy three hours of all request live piano music, plus food and drinks, and of course encouragement of singing along and wiggling in your seats! Bar is open for non-driving parents.
Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride Where: Around Capitol Hill, DC When: Saturday, 4-5:30pm Admission: Free
Join the first ever Hill Family Biking Halloween ride! It will be start at the Maury Elementary Parking Lot (C& 12th Pl NE), but the route will be a mystery until the day of the ride! They’ll be using the Spooky Hill is Home map to ride the scariest blocks on the Hill. (You can contribute to that map here.) The ride will end at Lincoln Park for some spooky fun including a costume contest with prizes donated by The Daily Rider.
The Tell-Tale Heart
Where: Synetic Theatre | Crystal City, VA
When: Through November 5
Tickets: $35-65
A good show for the Halloween season… Sanity and madness blur on stage as two unlikely companions find themselves intertwined in complete isolation, with chilling results. Synetic’s reimagined tale explores the pitch-black depths of the human psyche, spiraling into madness and torment —and we ask ourselves “Who is the crazy one?” With a mix of laughter, dread, and gleeful macabre, Synetic Theater sneaks into the world of Edgar Allan Poe’s famed, nightmarish tale, The Tell-Tale Heart. Recommended for teens and older.
The Wiz
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Through Sunday
Tickets: $59-139
This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Audiences get to enjoy the epic grooves of such beloved, timeless hits as “Ease on Down the Road,” which became the show’s break-out single, and the bona fide classic “Home” in this spectacular revival.
POTUS
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through November 12
Tickets: $56-105
When the Commander-in-Chief publicly calls his wife a “See You Next Tuesday,” all H-E-Double Hockey Sticks breaks loose. In this searingly funny Broadway hit, POTUS follows how seven women of dramatically different backgrounds minimize the damage done by male arrogance and political posturing, in an endearing homage to the women who keep things running behind the scenes. Recommended for teens and older.
Watch the Wizards
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: Tickets start at $16
The Wizards’ season just started so bounce on over to Capital One Arena and watch them play the Memphis Grizzlies. Plan on a pre-game dinner in Penn Quarter — there are plenty of family-friendly places to go in the neighborhood. Some recs: Jaleo, Carmine’s, and Shake Shack. See even more places here.
Día de los Muertos | Day of the Dead Celebration Where: National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to participate in activities including dance performances, papel picadoartist demonstrations, the unique art of sawdust carpets, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are also invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar), or commemorate them by writing their names on a butterfly and attaching it to the memorial arch. Note that some events will be ongoing, whereas others occur only at certain times.
Family Funday with King Bullfrog
Where: Hook Hall | Petworth, DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $5
Bring the kiddos for some dancing and singing with King Bullfrog at Hoook Hall on Sunday. They’ll have coffee and frozen drinks available for purchase for parents, and crafts for the kids to enjoy! Proceeds from the show benefit DC Action.
All the Fall Fests
Where: Around the DC region
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Fall festivals are in full swing at locales all around the area to celebrate the season 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.
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.
4. I’ve shared this before, but in the lead-up to the holiday season, it’s a good time to share again: Rakuten is an online service that gives you cash back when you shop stores within its network — and pretty much all major stores are part of it. You can even install a widget, so that a notification will pop up anytime you’re on a site affiliated with Rakutan (and it’s not annoying) to activate the cash-back opportunity. There’s no catch, just money back, and it adds up!
5. Whether or not you’re a Taylor Swift fan, this feature about attending a concert on The Eras Tour is outstanding! Written by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (the brilliant author of Fleishman is in Trouble), the piece is a deep dive into Taylor Swift’s discography, lyrics, and journey into pop stardom along with a funny, evocative account of the concert experience and how fans relate to Swift and each other. So good! I shared it via gift link, so it’s free to read.
This post is paid for by the Women’s Club of Chevy Chase, MD, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
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 encouraged! (Tickets sold out for Saturday, but Friday & Sunday currently still available.)
Halloween Movie Night
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 6:30pm
Admission: Free
Start the weekend with a free outdoor movie night. Bring the whole fam to picnic along the river and get into the spooky spirit with a jumbo size viewing of Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania. No registration required.
Art Safari
Where: Torpedo Factory | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
The Torpedo Factory’s annual Art Safari is back! The Alexandria tradition for more than a quarter-century offers a day of fun art adventures for kids and families. Dozens of resident artists will lead budding art enthusiasts through exciting and creative projects on all three floors of the Art Center. Guests can learn about printmaking and the pottery wheel through demonstrations, paint at an easel with brushes, create collages, experiment with clay, get faces painted and temporary tattoos, even learn about the historic Alexandria waterfront.
Market Days on the Hill
Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Enjoy a nice day out at Eastern Market’s outdoor weekend flea market. It’s a personal neighborhood fave any time of year, but especially pleasant to browse and stroll during the fall. Vendors sell a variety of wares — art, apparel, jewelry, home goods, and food. Inside the actual Eastern Market, food stalls offer all kinds of fresh fare, from meats and cheese to produce and baked goods to fish and flowers. Visit the market, grab a bite at one of many eateries (either right there or nearby), and take kiddos to the nearby Eastern Market Metro Park playground (Pennsylvania & 8th SE) or head down the street to the Library of Congress for their special event.
Saturday Morning at the National
Where: The National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am & 11am
Admission: Free
The National Theatre’s free entertainment series for children returns this weekend. On Saturday, take kids to see Milo the Magnificent, a highly engaging puppet show about an aspiring magician created and performed by award-winning duo Alex and Olmsted. There are two shows, both free, but be sure to register for a performance!
Look Both Ways
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through October 29
Admission: $20
This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen—they were all too busy. Washington, DC-area native, best-selling author, and Kennedy Center Next 50 leader Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales (1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings. Ten unique perspectives are brilliantly woven into one funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life. Recommended for ages 7+.
Can You Solve It? Family Mystery Day
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
This Family Day at the Library of Congress celebrates mystery stories in all their spine-tingling, curious forms. Enjoy two author events (for middle-grade readers in the morning and young adult book readers in the afternoon) , a mystery writing workshop, a day full of activities, and a scavenger hunt. Read more about the day’s activities on the website.
Kids Euro Fest Family Day
Where: MLK Library | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The annual Kids Euro Festival that used to run a few weeks presenting all kinds of international entertainment for children is now a big one-day affair with more than a dozen European embassies hosting numerous activities, workshops, and performances. Enjoy Danish LEGOs, Irish Dance, German theater, Italian children’s tales, Slovenian bee lessons, Estonian crafts, Cypriot puzzles, Polish multimedia presentations, Bulgarian dance, and more! Register here!
Arts for All! Children’s Fest
Where: Imagination Stage | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Join Imagination Stage for a free celebration of the arts with workshops, face painting, chalk art, and more. Activities will be hosted by several DMV arts organizations including the theatre, Salsa with Silvia, and VisArts. The festival will take place indoors and outdoors at 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda.
Halloween in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $5
Dress the whole family and enjoy a day of trick-or-treating, art activities, and more! Over 60 local businesses and organizations will be handing out treats for the kids, plus there will be fun and games, a DJ dance party, food trucks, and lots of other festivities. Read more about Annmarie here and here.
Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour
Where: Farms around Loudoun County, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The 30th 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.
Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair will celebrate the long history of whole-grain farming, milling, baking, and cooking in the Mid-Atlantic, and will feature some of the practitioners working to keep those traditions alive today. Organized by the Friends of Peirce Mill and the Common Grain Alliance, this free, family-friendly event will include a wide variety of farming, milling, and baking demonstrations, a whole-grain cooking classroom, hands-on activities, and live music.
Harbor Halloween
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Sunday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
National Harbor is hosting an afternoon full of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including Trick-or-Treating at select restaurants and retailers, a Halloween Movie, a Chef Pumpkin Carving Contest, and a Pet Pawrade. Visit the website for the full schedule of the day’s events.
Titanic. The Exhibition.
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Through December 10
Admission: $30/weekdays, $37/weekends, free/under 4
This immersive experience transports guests back to 1912 on the Titanic, telling the fated ship’s story through over 200 original objects, passenger testimonies, and re-creations of the interiors.
NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Sunday, 2pm & 4pm
Admission: $18-20
An October tradition! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians perform new and old classics to celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. Praised for his “easygoing and engaging podium presence” (Playbill), Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads this festive family concert. Recommended for ages 5+. [Note: Remaining tickets are limited, but you can try looking for seats here.]
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Where: Fryer’s Roadside | Silver Spring, MD
When: Sunday, 2-4pm
Admission: Free with purchase of food or beverage
Silver Spring roadside eatery Fryer’s is celebrating spooky season with a fun-for-the-family pumpkin carving contest to decorate their newly renovated patio. In addition to celebrating fall, participants will have the chance to win a Thanksgiving meal for four valued at $195. Contestants of all ages are encouraged to participate, though parents must accompany children under 10. All pumpkins and carving tools will be provided, but competitors are welcome to bring their own stencils to personalize their pumpkins and any additional pumpkins they wish to bring home. Send RSVPs to info@fryersroadside.com (but not required to participate). Fryer’s is located at 12830 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring.
More Halloween Fun
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Halloween may not be for a few more weeks, 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.
A Fairytale of a Farm
Where: Clark’s Elioak Farm | Ellicott City, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $8
Enjoy Clark’s Elioak’s many seasonal delights, like pumpkins, cider, and Halloween fun along with all of the fantastic, permanent fun. The sprawling grounds are adorned with installations practically straight out of a storybook (they were actually salvaged from The Enchanted Forest, an old Ellicott City amusement park). See Humpty Dumpty on the wall, peek in the Three Bears’ windows, check out Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, explore the Old Woman’s shoe. If that’s not enough, there are hayrides, cow train rides, slides, farm animals to pet, a pumpkin patch, the pine tree maze, and even more!
The Largest Fall Festival Around
Where: Cox Farm | Centreville, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $15/Fri, $25/Sat & Sun
This festival is enormous! So big I recommend giving the website a good look to help prepare and navigate your way around the sprawling grounds that contain multiple slides, swings, games, mazes, pumpkins, picnics, live entertainment, farm animals, and much more. Expect some lines, especially for the giant slides that take you swooping down several humps over a hillside. There is also a Kiddie Zone just for little ones aged 5 and under. Be prepared for a crowd.
Alllll the Fall Fests
Where: Around the DC Metro
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate the season — 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.
Leaf Peep on the Trail
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Take in the brilliant color spectrum of autumn and get a little exercise, to boot, on a family hike. From right here in the city to country locales, you’ve got your pick of places where you can enjoy the fall foliage and some time outdoors. This post about good area hikes has info about a bunch of them, but some recs for right now: The National Arboretum in Northeast DC, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean, Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Montgomery County, and Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.
