Things to do with kids in Washington, DC

Week of Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2026

Here's what's actually worth your family's time this week — each one checked against its source, with the registration windows and ages we could verify. We left out anything we couldn't stand behind.

Last checked Wed, Jul 29

This week's picks

All-Abilities Inclusive Playground & Tracked Train Rides
Thu, Jul 30 · 9:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Clemyjontri Park & Playground (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park & Playground
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Crafts at Smithsonian American Art Museum (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Free
- Ages 5–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Free
- Ages 3–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Mall)
- Free
- Ages 5–16
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Free
- Ages 0–8
Summer Horizon Activity: Wildlife at National Zoological Park (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · National Zoological Park (Smithsonian Zoo)
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Gardening at United States Botanic Garden (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · United States Botanic Garden
- Free
- Ages 2–10
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Visual Arts at Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Free
- Ages 4–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Drama Theater at Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall
- $
- Ages 5–13
Summer Horizon Activity: Reading Literacy at Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Nature Immersion at National Arboretum (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · National Arboretum
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at National Children's Museum (Jul 30)
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:00 AM · National Children's Museum
- $$
- Ages 1–12
Bilingual Spanish-English Family Storytime & Songs
Thu, Jul 30 · 10:30 AM · Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
- Free
- Ages 1–5
Summer Horizon Activity: Reading Literacy at Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at National Children's Museum (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · National Children's Museum
- $$
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Gardening at United States Botanic Garden (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · United States Botanic Garden
- Free
- Ages 2–10
Summer Horizon Activity: Drama Theater at Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall
- $
- Ages 5–13
Summer Horizon Activity: Nature Immersion at National Arboretum (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · National Arboretum
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Crafts at Smithsonian American Art Museum (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Free
- Ages 5–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Visual Arts at Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Free
- Ages 4–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Free
- Ages 0–8
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Mall)
- Free
- Ages 5–16
Summer Horizon Activity: Wildlife at National Zoological Park (Jul 31)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · National Zoological Park (Smithsonian Zoo)
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Free
- Ages 3–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Clemyjontri Park & Playground (Jul 30)
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park & Playground
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Kid-Friendly Working Farm Tour & Animal Meet-and-Greet
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:00 AM · Frying Pan Farm Park
- Free
- Ages 2–10
Friday Family Storytime & Early Literacy Music
Fri, Jul 31 · 10:15 AM · Arlington Central Library
- Free
- Ages 0–5
Q?rius Science Lab: Dinosaur Fossils & Minerals
Fri, Jul 31 · 11:00 AM · National Museum of Natural History
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Lotus & Water Lily Festival Family Day
Sat, Aug 1 · 9:00 AM · Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
- Free
Little Critters: Nature Play at Bird House
Sat, Aug 1 · 9:30 AM · Smithsonian National Zoological Park
- Free
- Ages 0–5
First Saturday: Kids' Play Space & Artmaking
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · National Gallery of Art
- Free
- Ages 2–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Free
- Ages 0–8
Summer Horizon Activity: Nature Immersion at National Arboretum (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · National Arboretum
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Free
- Ages 3–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Reading Literacy at Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Visual Arts at Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Free
- Ages 4–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Crafts at Smithsonian American Art Museum (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Free
- Ages 5–14
August Science Explorers Workshop
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · KID Museum - Bethesda
- $
- Ages 5–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Gardening at United States Botanic Garden (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · United States Botanic Garden
- Free
- Ages 2–10
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at National Children's Museum (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · National Children's Museum
- $$
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Mall)
- Free
- Ages 5–16
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Clemyjontri Park & Playground (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park & Playground
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Wildlife at National Zoological Park (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · National Zoological Park (Smithsonian Zoo)
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Drama Theater at Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall (Aug 01)
Sat, Aug 1 · 10:00 AM · Folger Shakespeare Library & Great Hall
- $
- Ages 5–13
Junior Ranger Forest Hike & Planetarium
Sat, Aug 1 · 1:00 PM · Rock Creek Park Nature Center
- Free
- Ages 5–12
Stargazing and Astronomy Night for Families
Sat, Aug 1 · 7:00 PM · National Air and Space Museum
- Free
- Ages 5–14
Inclusive & Sensory-Friendly Play Morning
Sun, Aug 2 · 9:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park
- Free
- Ages 0–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Nature Immersion at National Arboretum (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · National Arboretum
- Free
- Ages 4–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Clemyjontri Park & Playground (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Clemyjontri Park & Playground
- Free
- Ages 1–12
Youth Chess Club at Chevy Chase Public Library (2026-08-02)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Chevy Chase Public Library
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Mall)
- Free
- Ages 5–16
Family STEM Robotics Challenge at Shaw Watha T. Daniel Public Library (2026-08-02)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Shaw Watha T. Daniel Public Library
- Free
- Ages 6–14
Summer Horizon Activity: Visual Arts at Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Free
- Ages 4–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Outdoor Free Play at Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Free
- Ages 0–8
Summer Horizon Activity: Stem Workshops at National Children's Museum (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · National Children's Museum
- $$
- Ages 1–12
Summer Horizon Activity: Science Exploration at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Aug 01)
Sun, Aug 2 · 10:00 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Free
- Ages 3–14