Things to do with kids in the DC area this week

5 PM – 6 PM·Baden · Brandywine

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.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM·Kensington Park Library

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.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM·Shirlington Library — Campbell Room · Arlington

Explore Eastern Woodland indigenous cultures and craft a corn husk doll at Shirlington Library’s Campbell Room, first‑come, first‑served, for all ages.

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM·Wheaton Ice Arena

Parent‑tot skate at Wheaton Ice Arena followed by a Turkey Time coloring craft in the party room, $10 includes skate rental, ages 3–4.

Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N Military Rd, 22207 · Arlington

Old‑fashioned fun at Gulf Branch fire ring with stories, animal guests, games, songs and provided S’mores, all ages.

9:30 AM – 3 PM·Purcellville Library

Model Railroad Extravaganza (Purcellville Library) — NTRAK model train show features N‑scale layouts by hobbyists, with freight and passenger trains gliding past towns, mountains and rivers, all ages.

10:30 AM – 12 PM·Reston Regional Library — Reston Meeting Room 1 , Reston Meeting Room 2

Deepavali stories, crafts, henna, and hands‑on activities at Reston Regional Library’s Meeting Rooms, for ages 10 and under and 13 and up.

10:30 AM – 12 PM·Hyattsville

Morning of Diwali culture and creativity in Hyattsville includes a children's book reading, rangoli design creation, chai and Indian snacks, all ages.

11 AM – 1 PM·Pohick Regional Library — Pohick Meeting Room 1, Pohick Meeting Room 2 · Burke

Local authors discuss works, sell books, and offer face painting while visitors enter a raffle for two $50 Visa gift cards at Pohick Regional Library, for all ages.

1 PM – 5 PM·Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library · Washington

Three original Pokémon movies screen back‑to‑back in the Children’s programming room, with a badge‑collecting game and scavenger hunt, at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, ages 19 and under.

10 AM – 12:30 PM·Natural History Museum · Washington

Celebrate National Bison Day with bison adaptations, specimen observations, and art activities at the Natural History Museum’s Q?rius science center, free, all ages.

1 PM – 1:45 PM·Clearwater Nature Center, 11401 Thrift Rd, Clinton, MD 20735

Hands‑on encounter with reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and other animal ambassadors at Clearwater Nature Center, featuring interactive learning about habitats and conservation, registration required, for all ages.

10:30 AM – 5 PM·American Indian Museum DC · Washington

Native American veterans honored at American Indian Museum with flag ceremony, film, code talker talk, quilt making, memorial flame lighting, and hands‑on activities, all ages.

12 PM – 4 PM·Dinosaur Park, 13100 Mid Atlantic Boulevard, Laurel, MD

Dinosaur Park Open House (Dinosaur Park, Laurel) — Orientation followed by surface fossil searching, with ASL interpretation; closed‑toed shoes required, no pets or tools, free.

11 AM – 11:30 AM·Germantown Library

Multisensory storytelling session with props, scent, sounds, and touch engages young listeners at Germantown Library, featuring original educational stories and inclusive messages, for ages 3–10.

2 PM – 3 PM·Lower Level Conference Room at Mary Riley Styles Public Library · Falls Church

Sean Gaskell performs West African kora music in the Lower Level Conference Room at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, for ages 5 and up.

1 PM – 3 PM·Agricultural History Farm Park · Derwood

Hands‑On History at Agricultural History Farm Park offers calligraphy, printing press building, wood carving, leather work, paper making, basket weaving, and card creation, for ages 3–13.

1 PM·Ballroom Back Room, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812

Live music and a caller guide circles, squares, longways, contras, waltzes, and ceilidhs in the Ballroom Back Room at Glen Echo Park, free, all ages.

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM·Central Library — Quincy Room · Arlington

Process-oriented art making, featuring dreamcatchers and marbled-paper collages, occurs in the Central Library’s Quincy Room, all ages.

5 PM – 6 PM·Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library · Alexandria

Make your own Diya and explore Diwali books inspired by American Girl’s Kavi Sharma at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, for ages 3–12.