TUESDAY
3
NOVEMBER
The Ember ListDC area
Things to do with kids in the DC area this week
632 things to do with kids in the DC area this week, November 3–9, 317 of them this weekend: story times, classes, family festivals, puppet shows and more. We reviewed 6,000+ Washington-area events to find them. The list covers Washington, Arlington, Alexandria, Sterling, Ashburn and 58 more towns. Last updated November 3, 2026.
All kids & family events in the DC area — November 3–9
Evening storytime at Twinbrook Library features diverse stories and language‑building activities, with pajamas encouraged, for children five and under.
PJ Story Time at Woodridge Neighborhood Library offers a 20‑30‑minute themed story and song session in the Children’s Reading Nook for ages 5–12.
WEDNESDAY
4
NOVEMBER
Stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays fill the Children’s Floor at Southeast Neighborhood Library in 20‑30‑minute sessions for birth‑to‑two children and caregivers, participation expected, for ages 5 and under.
Museum Educator reads a Native author or illustrator book, while caregivers and toddlers enjoy free play and sensory enrichment in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center, ages 0–2.
Storytime with songs, rhymes, then a toddler playdate exploring toys in Oakton Library’s Meeting Rooms 1 and 2, for children 18 months to 3 years with caregiver, free.
Stories, songs, and rhymes with a forest animals theme in the John Marshall Library meeting rooms, for ages 18–36 months.
Explore heating methods with story time, artifact displays, and a hands‑on art project at Tudor Place, ages 18 months–48 months; member child $5, non‑member child $10, adult free.
Inventors workshop at the American History Museum’s Spark!Lab invites ages 6–12 to create, collaborate, test, and experiment using STEM, art, and history.
Interactive storytime with songs, sensory play and socialization in a sensory‑friendly setting at Herndon Fortnightly Library meeting room, registration required, for ages 3 and under.
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Half-hour of stories, songs, and fingerplays at Greenbelt, nurturing reading love and creativity, for ages 5 and under.
Interactive Chesapeake Bay aquarium at Glen Echo Park offers timed‑entry exhibits and educators for personalized learning, $10 per person, ages 2 and up.
Read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards engage children 0‑5 and an adult, introducing listening skills and picture books, first‑come seating, for all ages.
Stories, songs, and mini‑hikes about squirrels and acorns at Brookside Nature Center for ages 18 months–2.
Active storytime at Rockville Memorial Library features diverse books, songs, and movement activities for ages 1–5; tickets required, limited to 60 participants.
Stories, songs, bubble activities for active little ones, with tickets limited and distributed 30 minutes before start; for ages 3–12.
Stunning virtual reality takes visitors to 1776, showing Patriots coordinating to thwart a British invasion at the American History Museum.
Toddler & Me dance class at Hill Center DC introduces music, movement, balance, and basic steps with a parent or caretaker, for ages 18 months–36 months.
LEGO Construction and Duplo Too! (Connie Morella Library) — Building sessions with supplied LEGO and Duplo pieces, imagination encouraged, ages 3–10, adult accompaniment required for under 8.
PJ storytime at Kingstowne Regional Library Meeting Room (E103) offers books, songs and rhymes while wear comfy clothes and bring a stuffed toy for ages 5 and under.
Storytime with diverse tales, then a play session using educational toys in the Large Meeting Room, for ages 10 and under.
Story time followed by an hour of free play in the upstairs meeting room, with air cleaning and toy sanitizing, free tickets required, for ages 5 and under.
Early Literacy storytime features stories, songs, and finger plays at Reston Regional Library’s Children’s Department, for ages 3 and under.
Music and stories featuring rhythm and rhyme at Brambleton Library for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
Preschool stories and songs in the Martha Washington Library meeting room, for ages 3–5 (18‑36 months with adult), registration required.
Music, dancing, storytelling and early literacy fill the 2nd‑floor reading area Tuesdays and meeting room Wednesdays, followed by playtime for ages 12 and under.
Stories, songs, and fingerplays fill a half‑hour at Laurel, nurturing reading love and creativity for ages five and under.
Interactive stories and movement at Rust Library, for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
Storytime Studio at Hirshhorn Museum’s Art School guides kids through a Giacometti sculpture tour, read‑aloud, and wire‑and‑tinfoil sculpture making, ages 6 and under.
Storytime at Davis Library offers books, songs, rhymes, and bounces for babies and toddlers on caregivers’ laps, ages 3 and under.
Stories, songs, rhymes and activities fill the Richard Byrd Library meeting rooms, building early literacy and school‑readiness for ages 3–5 with an adult.
Evening storytime at Connie Morella Library offers 25‑30 minutes of stories and language activities, pajamas optional, limited space, tickets at the info desk, for ages 10 and under.
Storytime at Quince Orchard Library features diverse books, songs, and movement activities for ages 1–5, with parents encouraged to participate and siblings welcome.
Music and stories featuring rhythm and rhyme at Ashburn Library, for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
A T. rex hides in Ashburn Library; participants locate it and claim a small prize at the children’s desk, for ages 10 and under.
30‑40‑minute story sessions filled with books and activities encourage families to engage together, promoting language and literacy skills, for ages 5 and under.
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Spanish-English bilingual storytime at Gaithersburg Library features wiggle‑along books, fingerplays, songs and rhymes promoting early literacy in both languages, ages 1–5.
Storytime at Little Falls Library offers 25‑30‑minute diverse stories and language‑building activities, followed by playtime, tickets first‑come, first‑served, for ages 5 and under.
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Interactive stories and movement; for ages 5 and under with a caregiver; visit and subscribe to the Loudoun County Public Library Online Programs YouTube channel for more programs.
Play hour at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library offers building blocks, musical instruments, and toy cars for socializing and motor skill development, for ages birth to 12, adult‑accompanied.
Family Storytime at Wheaton Library offers 25‑30‑minute sessions of diverse stories and language‑building activities, tickets handed out first‑come, first‑served; for ages 5 and under.
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Wonderplace (American History Museum, 1 West) — Hands‑on activities and touchable museum objects introduce history; first‑come, first‑served, free timed tickets; for ages 6 and under.
LEGO Construction Crew and Duplos Too (Marilyn J. Praisner Library) — Build with supplied LEGO and Duplo pieces in the meeting room, imagination required, ages 3–10.
Stories, music, and fun activities fill the Middleburg Library session, for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
Interactive stories and movement at Purcellville Library for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
After Preschool Storytime, children play with educational toys at Long Branch Library, practicing social skills and making new friends, ages 3–5.
Interactive nature stories change each session at Gulf Branch Nature Center.
Family Story Time (Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library) — Books, songs, rhymes, and movement promote early literacy; tickets at the Children’s Desk, first‑come, first‑served, ages 5 and under.
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Story time with books and activities at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library, tickets required, for ages 5 and under.
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Sing, talk, read, and move through books, songs, rhymes, and movement at West End Neighborhood Library — for ages 5 and under.
Parents and caregivers gather at Benning (Dorothy I. Height) Neighborhood Library to let babies and toddlers play with toys and make friends, for ages 5 and under.
Stories, songs, movement and activities build early literacy skills for preschoolers in the Kings Park Library meeting room, ages 3–5.
Explore STEAM concepts with tech toys, LEGO building challenges, crafts and rotating stations at Southeast Neighborhood Library, for ages 5–12.
Catch Pokémon hidden in the library’s children’s room and get a Pokédex stamp for ages 12 and under.
Baby & Toddler Music & Movement (Germantown Library) — Sing, wiggle, lap bounces, finger plays, shaker eggs, and scarves encourage gross‑motor skill building for ages 0–24 months.
Read‑aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards engage children 0‑5 and an adult at Shirlington Library’s Campbell Room.
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Family Storytime at Columbia Pike Library — Children's Area features read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and flannel boards for children 0‑5 and an adult, all ages.
Interactive stories and movement at Lovettsville Library, for ages 5 and under with a caregiver.
Interactive stories and movement at Sterling Library for ages 5 and under with a caregiver; subscribe to Loudoun County Public Library Online Programs YouTube channel for more programs.
Storytime at Long Branch Library offers 25‑30‑minute sessions of diverse stories and language‑building activities, fostering imagination and a love of reading, ages 5 and under.
Kensington Park Library hosts 25‑minute storytime featuring diverse stories and language‑building activities, fostering imagination and a love of reading, for ages 10 and under.
Building LEGOs with GeoSMART sets at Southwest Neighborhood Library, a 1‑hour activity for creative minds, ages 5–12; kids under 9 need a caregiver.
High‑energy ballet, tap, and jazz combo class mixes three dance styles in a 45‑minute session for ages 3–6 at Hill Center DC.
Design and build a wearable device to balance an apple on your head, then race across the room in a relay to keep apple from falling, for ages 5–10.
Classic bingo game with prizes at Cascades Library, Sterling, plus a YouTube channel for more programs, for ages 10 and under.
Sing, dance, and play during a weekly bilingual English‑Spanish story time at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library for ages 5 and under.
Hands‑on engineering, math and science projects like 3D printing, coding, robotics, electronics, telescopes, bridge building and egg‑drop challenges at Glenarden, for ages 5–12.
Homeschool Hangout (Upper Marlboro) — Socializing, games, and rotating craft or STEM projects, changing monthly, for ages 5–18.
LEGO Club at Northeast Neighborhood Library lets kids 5–12 build cars, candy, custom houses and test designs in the large meeting room.
Stories, songs, bubble activities for active little ones, with tickets limited and first‑come, first‑served, available 30 minutes before the session, ages 1–2.
Coloring Social at Germantown Library offers drop‑in coloring sheets and supplies for creative, low‑stress play, supporting fine motor skill development, ages 5–10.
Rhymes, songs, stories and activities for babies and caregivers in Dolley Madison Library meeting rooms, building early literacy; registration required, for ages birth‑18 months.
Tour the planets and moons visible in the night sky, then explore through telescopes at the Roll‑Top Observatory, weather permitting, ages 6 and up.
Native American History Rocks (Baden, Brandywine) — Exploring surprising ways Native Americans used stones in daily life, presented with the Jefferson Patterson Museum, ages 5–12.
Kids read aloud for 15 minutes to friendly trained dogs at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, signing up by phone or the Children’s Desk, ages 6–12.
Storytime on the 5th floor features reading and singing sessions, free tickets available at 10 am, space limited, for ages 10 and under.
A DC‑themed Pokémon Scavenger Hunt at Anacostia Neighborhood Library lets participants collect Ward 8 gym badge stickers on a card and earn a special prize, for all ages.
Read to a Dog (Twinbrook Library) — Practice reading aloud with a certified therapy dog, sharing a book for ten minutes each, ages 5–10.
Weekly STEM Challenge at Parklands‑Turner Neighborhood Library offers hands‑on LEGO, building cubes, circuits and craft projects for ages 5–12.
Read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards engage children in picture books at Westover Library’s Longfellow Room, first‑come, first‑served, for ages 3–6 and an adult.
Table tennis, bridge, mah‑jong, arcade games and a sensory lab are available at the Old Firehouse Center, free for all ages, with adults required for under‑18 participants.
LEGO bricks, KEVA planks and other building materials fuel hands‑on construction play in the Quincy Room at Central Library, ages 5–10.
Bilingual pajama storytime in the Quincy Room features read‑alouds, songs, rhymes and fingerplays, encouraging families to wear pajamas, for ages 0–5.
Freestyle lego building session offers plenty of pieces and endless possibilities for imagination to lead, held in Beltsville, for ages 5–12.
Freestyle lego building session at Surratts‑Clinton offers plenty of pieces for imaginations to lead, ages 5–12.
LEGO Club in the Children's room offers creativity and building amazing LEGO creations, ages 5–12.
Just Dance songs and routines projected in the Children’s Room for kids to follow along, providing aerobic exercise; ages 5–12.
Chess Master David Bennett leads strategy tips, techniques, and play sessions at the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library Chess Club, for ages 5 and up.
One‑on‑one reading session with a certified therapy dog at Davis Library, building confidence reading aloud, for ages 5–10.
Interdisciplinary exhibition at the Parren J. Mitchell Art‑Sociology Building showcases original artworks and science panels on six Maryland rare insects, inviting reflection and discovery, all ages.
Build, create, and explore with legos, using plenty of pieces and endless possibilities, letting imaginations lead in a freestyle building session for ages 5–12.
Maranatha Youth Music Academy orchestra performs a selection of music and demonstrates each instrument at Rust Library, ages 5 and up.
Hands‑on crochet workshop in Accokeek where participants learn techniques and create projects, for ages 5 and up.
Create a leaf‑design suncatcher with tissue‑paper supplies at Cascades Library for ages 5–10.
Quiet after‑school study lounge offers reading, studying and coloring in the library’s Children’s Story Time room, for ages 5–12 (8‑and‑under with caregiver).
Environmental STEAM session at Oakton Library's meeting rooms uses books, storytelling, and hands‑on activities to explore issues affecting people and animals, for ages 5–10.
Advanced Ballet Tap Jazz combo class adds complex steps and floor combos at Hill Center DC, for ages 6–9.
Free Zumba fitness class led by Tiny Zumba on the first floor of Hyattsville City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, with limited indoor spacing, all ages.
Hands‑on gardening program at Anacostia Neighborhood Library teaches plant care, sustainability and harvests fresh herbs and vegetables, all ages.
Learn to knit with experienced knitters, all supplies provided, meeting weekly on Wednesdays, participants may start any week, for ages 3–18.
Day of the Dead Celebration (H.J. Patterson Hall Atrium, University of Maryland) — altar decorating, traditional food and drink, crafts, music, and photo tribute for loved ones.
Make collage pieces on cigar boxes or paper with glue, ribbons, fabric, pens and paint, guided by Director Diane Kresh at Central Library — The Shop, all ages.
Local produce, eggs, honey, and flowers from within 100 miles sold at Crossroads Farmers Market, with SNAP/WIC matching, live music, lunch items, and community resources, for all ages.
Docents lead Highlights tours, gallery spotlight talks, and hands‑on cart programs across the museum’s floors.
One-on-one homework help and literacy tutoring with Northstar volunteers in the Large Meeting Room, Mt. Pleasant Library, for ages 5–19.
Sketchbook Club: Philip van Kouwenbergh’s Flowers in a Vase (National Gallery of Art) — Hands‑on sketching activities exploring van Kouwenbergh’s floral still lifes.
Homework help and reading practice for grades 1‑6 at Hyattsville, supporting English language learners and boosting confidence, ages 5–12.
Docent-led tour of the Asian Art Museum’s 46,000‑piece collection explores cultural, aesthetic and conceptual commonalities and differences.
Free film viewing and discussion in the Petworth Library auditorium, inviting movie fans to enjoy the movie together, ages 5 and up.
Morning Tai Chi class at Hunters Woods Plaza, led by Hunters Woods Fellowship House residents, free drop‑in session, moves indoors during inclement weather, for all ages.
Chess Master David Bennett leads a weekly chess class at Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, offering beginner basics and advanced strategy practice, ages 5 and up.
Lap rhymes, action songs, interactive stories and playtime at Cascades Library for ages 0–18 months with a caregiver.
Friendly chess matches and strategy sessions for beginners and experienced players at Glenarden, open to ages 5 and up.
Free guided tour at Asian Art Museum examines Whistler’s Peacock Room, a 150‑year‑old London dining room turned iconic artwork, featuring Asian‑inspired design and Chinese porcelain.
Shepherd Park Coat Drive (Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library) — Collect used coats, socks, gloves, hats, hand and toe warmers in donation box at the main desk, all ages.
THURSDAY
5
NOVEMBER
NASA Solar Ambassador Dr. Caitlin Ahrens and scientist Ramin Lolachi present a talk on human and robotic challenges of living on the Moon and Mars, for ages 5–10.
Cox Farms offers giant slides, hayrides through Imaginature Trail, a corn maze, farm animals, apple cider and pick‑your‑own pumpkins, all ages.
Ready 2 Read Art (Beltsville) — Native American Heritage Month stories about monarch butterfly rings followed by corn‑themed craft projects, supplies provided, register first, for ages 5 and under.
Code Ninjas Arlington teaches paper circuits at the Kids' Club in Westover Library's Longfellow Room, for ages 5–10.
Story time with books, songs, movement at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library offers 20‑30‑minute programs language and motor skills, tickets first‑come, first‑served, for ages 18–36 months.
Explore Eastern Woodland indigenous cultures and craft a corn husk doll at Shirlington Library’s Campbell Room, first‑come, first‑served, for all ages.
Questions
What kids activities and family events are listed for the DC area?
Story times, classes, family festivals, puppet shows and more, suited to toddlers through school-age kids. They come from local Washington-area sources, such as public libraries, parks and venues. Best picks is the short list; All shows every event.
How often is this calendar updated?
Every day. We rebuild the page each night, so past events drop off. We check our sources for new and changed events every week.
Are these events free?
Some are, and some charge. To see only free ones, choose All, open Filters and pick Free. That shows events listed as free, so check the event's page for any sign-up before you go.
How do I find things to do with kids this weekend in the DC area?
Choose All, open the Day filter and pick This weekend. Add the Age and City filters to narrow it by your kids' ages or your town.
Is there a weekly email with the best picks?
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