OCT 26 – NOV 1 Washington, DC · The District

Things to do with kids in Washington, DC this weekend, found and checked for you.

Halloween lands on Saturday, when the National Postal Museum has a free costume parade and Mount Vernon opens the estate for trick-or-treating. Over at Arena Stage, Kidchella throws a dance party for kids 6 and under. Friday brings Hill-O-Ween at Eastern Market, and libraries around the area have costume parades all week. This week has 41 outings, 36 of them free and 24 indoors.

What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Hill-O-Ween on Capitol Hill, Costume Carnival at the Gateway Pavilion and Halloween Family Storytime (Central Library, Arlington), plus 3 more.

Last checked · 41 kids events and outings at 34 places · 36 free · 24 indoor · 1 sold out (still listed). Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose

Top 5 picks

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Saturday, sorted

Our plan for Saturday

Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Tap a stop for the details.

  1. MORNINGStamp & Scream Family Festival at the National Postal Museum11am–3pm · National Postal Museum · Free
  2. NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
  3. AFTER NAPFall Festival (Woodridge Library)12–5pm · Woodridge Neighborhood Library · Free

Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan

Every outing this week

Find your thing

Fri 4–6pmHill-O-Ween on Capitol HillEastern Market · WashingtonFree
Fri 5–7pmCostume Carnival at the Gateway PavilionGateway Pavilion at St. Elizabeths East · WashingtonFree
Sat 10am–noonKidchella: Halloween Edition at Arena StageArena Stage · WashingtonAdults $10
Sat 11am–3pmStamp & Scream Family Festival at the National Postal MuseumNational Postal Museum · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 10am–2pmSpooky Family Fun Day at Washington National CathedralWashington National Cathedral · WashingtonTickets required
Sat 2–5pmTrick-or-Treating at Mount VernonGeorge Washington’s Mount Vernon · Mount VernonAges 11 and under $26
Sat 10am–noonTudor Place Trick or TreatTudor Place Historic House & Garden · WashingtonNon-member child $20
Sat 1–4pmFall Frolic at Glen Echo ParkGlen Echo Park · Glen EchoFree
Sat 10am–5pmDía de los Muertos at the National Museum of the American IndianNational Museum of the American Indian · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sun 3–6pmCelebración Día de los Muertos at The WharfThe Wharf · WashingtonFree
9:30am–4:30pmHalloween Eye Spy Train at Wheaton Regional ParkWheaton Regional Park · Wheaton$9 covers the train and the carousel
Sat During library hoursTrick-or-Treat at MLK LibraryMartin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amStory Time for the Spectrum (Chevy Chase Library)Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 11–11:30amFamily Story Time (MLK Library)Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 11–11:30amFamily Story Time with ASL Interpreter (Northeast Library)Northeast Neighborhood Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 12–5pmFall Festival (Woodridge Library)Woodridge Neighborhood Library · WashingtonFree
Sat 3–5pmTrick-or-Treat (Petworth Library)Petworth Neighborhood Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 11am–12pmKids Drum Circle (Petworth Library)Petworth Neighborhood Library · WashingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11:30amHalloween Storytime and Costume Parade (White Oak Library)White Oak Library · Silver SpringFree
Sat 10:30–11:30amNot-So-Spooky Stories and Fun (Wheaton Library)Wheaton Library · Silver SpringFreeIndoor
Sat 3–4:30pmLearning Through Art: Día de los Muertos (Germantown Library)Germantown Library · GermantownFreeIndoor
Fri 10:15–10:45amHalloween Family Storytime (Central Library, Arlington)Central Library · ArlingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 10am–5pmHalloween Scavenger Hunt (Central Library, Arlington)Central Library · ArlingtonFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amHalloween Storytime (Aurora Hills Library)Aurora Hills Library · ArlingtonFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11amHalloween Storytime (Westover Library)Westover Library · ArlingtonFreeIndoor
Sun 3–6pmDía de los Muertos at The WharfThe Wharf · WashingtonFree
Fri 10:15–10:45amReady 2 Read Storytime: Ages 0–2 (Greenbelt Library)Greenbelt Branch Library · GreenbeltFreeIndoor
Fri 11am–12pmPlay and Grow: Ages 0–3 (Oxon Hill Library)Oxon Hill Branch Library · Oxon HillFreeIndoor
Sold outSat 11am–12pmPlayday at the Library: Monster Mash (Upper Marlboro Library)Upper Marlboro Branch Library · Upper MarlboroFree

Holiday season in DC

Around town

DC favorites

A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.

FEDERAL TRIANGLE, 1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW
National Children’s Museum
Hands-on STEAM play for small kids.
$18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1 eachunder 1Indoor
WOODLEY PARK, 3001 CONNECTICUT AVE. NW
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A free zoo in Rock Creek Park.
Free
NATIONAL MALL, 10TH ST. AND CONSTITUTION AVE. NW
National Museum of Natural History
Dinosaurs and the ocean hall on the Mall.
FreeIndoor
CAPITOL HILL, 100 MARYLAND AVE. SW
U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory
A free, warm glasshouse by the Capitol.
FreeIndoor
See the full Washington, DC guide →Visiting with little kids
On the horizon

Coming up

NOV 26Thanksgiving weekend3 outings for Thanksgiving weekend so far, including Trot for Hunger Little Turkey 1-Miler and Turkey Chase Tot Trot. Plus what’s open on Thanksgiving Day.See the list → FROM NOV 13Christmas lights6 light displays on our list so far. DowntownDC Holiday Market opens first, on Nov 13.See the list → NOV – DECSanta visits6 places to see Santa so far, with dates, times and prices.See the list →
Good questions

What to do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC: the FAQ

What can we do with kids this weekend in Washington, DC?

This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Stamp & Scream Family Festival at the National Postal Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Kidchella: Halloween Edition at Arena Stage (Sat, Oct 31); Hill-O-Ween on Capitol Hill (Fri, Oct 30); Spooky Family Fun Day at Washington National Cathedral (Sat, Oct 31). That’s four of 28 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.

What are kid-friendly things to do in Washington, DC this weekend?

This week we found 41 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, and 28 of them are this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Stamp & Scream Family Festival at the National Postal Museum, Kidchella: Halloween Edition at Arena Stage, Hill-O-Ween on Capitol Hill. See the full list.

Where are the Halloween events for kids in Washington, DC this week?

15 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Kidchella: Halloween Edition at Arena Stage, Hill-O-Ween on Capitol Hill, Spooky Family Fun Day at Washington National Cathedral and Costume Carnival at the Gateway Pavilion. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.

Are there free things to do with little ones in DC this week?

Yes, 36 of this week’s 41 picks are free, including library storytimes and Hill-O-Ween on Capitol Hill. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in Washington, DC in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in DC.

What are good indoor activities for kids in Washington, DC when it rains?

24 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in DC.

Where is storytime for little kids in Washington, DC this week?

8 storytimes are on this week’s list, including Story Time for the Spectrum (Chevy Chase Library) (Sat 10:30–11am), Family Story Time (MLK Library) (Sat 11–11:30am), Family Story Time with ASL Interpreter (Northeast Library) (Sat 11–11:30am) and Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade (White Oak Library) (Sat 10:30–11:30am). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in DC.

What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Washington, DC this week?

5 of this week’s picks are baby or toddler programs or made for ages 3 and under, including Baby Laptime (Southwest Library), Not-So-Spooky Baby Storytime (Quince Orchard Library) and Halloween Baby Lapsit Storytime (Central Library, Arlington). All of them are free, and 4 are indoors. See them in the list.

How do you pick what goes on the Washington, DC list?

We go through DC’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we choose and check listings.

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