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Monster Jam is back in town! Photo courtesy of Monster Jam
Monster Jam is back in town! Photo courtesy of Monster Jam
1/21/26 - By Stephanie Shipman

Looking for the best things to do in DC this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

I hope you've stayed warm all week and have dug yourselves out from the snow, because there are lots of fun events this weekend—perfect if your kids have had snow days and school holidays all week (cough, ME, cough) and everyone is going stir crazy.

Spy Museum is having its FREE Spy Fest. You can also attend Family Day at the Capital Jewish Museum for just $5.

Want to see a show? Check out Curious George: The Golden Meatball at George Mason Center for the Arts.

And if you missed the Washington, DC Auto Show last weelend, you have until Sunday to check it out! 

Want even more fun things to do this weekend? Our DC events calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the week— and you can filter by age, location, or even free events!

Not on our newsletter list yet? Subscribe for free and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

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The Time by Luxmuralis Light and Sound Installation is breathtaking. Photo courtesy of Washington National Cathedral
The Time by Luxmuralis Light and Sound Installation is breathtaking. Photo courtesy of Washington National Cathedral

Top Things To Do in DC This Weekend With Kids

Spy Fest: A Family Festival at International Spy Museum

Washington, DC - Friday, January 30
Free
Could you be a spy? Families are invited to find out how they measure up at the Museum’s annual Spy Fest! Learn tradecraft from experts in the field and participate in spy skill challenges that will give KidSpy® recruits and their handlers an insider’s peek into the shadow world of spying—and who knows, there just may be a spy or two in your midst… READ MORE

Washington, DC Auto Show

Washington, DC - Friday, January 30- Sunday, February 1
Explore a plethora of vehicle models and take free test drives at the Washington, DC Auto Show. Guests can even test drive an electric vehicle on the streets of DC! See more than 600 new car models from over 35 manufacturers. Enjoy tours led by automotive writers, an electric-vehicle exhibit with an indoor ride experience, and a luxury and exotic car display. This family-friendly event also has Ebike test rides, a bounce house, and an adoption event with dogs from local shelters. READ MORE

Stellar Star Show at Rock Creek Park

Washington, DC - Fridays - Sundays, through January 31
Free
Enjoy a 30-minute, ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service! The Stellar Star Show is all about the planets and the night sky. READ MORE

The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit (at the National Children's Museum)

Washington, DC - Daily (except Tuesdays), through May 10
The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit is full of laughs—a phone booth that makes you sound like Piggie, a catapult that launches hot dogs at The Pigeon, a fashion runway for the Naked Mole Rat, and more. Visitors can make art inspired by Mo Willems and learn about the social and emotional lives of the author’s popular characters, discovering what it means to be a good friend, express yourself, and navigate the hilarious challenges of growing up. READ MORE

Bowties & Ballgowns at Reston Community Center

Reston, VA - Saturday, January 31
This inaugural parent-child dance will be a true gem. Put on your best bowtie or ballgown and join RCC for a sparkling evening you won’t forget. Share the dance floor with your loved ones while enjoying dinner, refreshments, and endless fun. READ MORE

Curious George: The Golden Meatball (at George Mason Center for the Arts)

Fairfax, VA - Saturday, January 31
All-You-Can-Eat Meatball Day comes just once a year and George has been waiting excitedly for the big event. When it arrives, George and his friend Chef Pisghetti are ready to cook for a hungry crowd, but their audience is nowhere to be found, lured away by a speedier Meatballs-o-Matic machine. Determined to help his friend, George goes on a mission to enter Chef in the Golden Meatball Contest in Rome, learning along the way about the secret ingredient to cooking. READ MORE

Reston Summer Camp Expo at RCC

Reston, VA - Saturday, January 31
Free
Explore Reston’s summer camps and activities at one stop. Enjoy family-friendly music, games, prizes, and camp info. Take a break in the Sensory Room and zen space READ MORE

Sprout & Shine Craft Club at Quincy Park

Arlington, VA - Saturday, January 31
Craft Club is a weekly themed enrichment session designed for young children to explore, create, and have fun through hands-on activities. Each week features seasonal or holiday-themed crafts, interactive games, and play-based learning experiences that support fine motor skills, problem solving, social skills, and imagination. READ MORE

Family Day: Tu B’shevat at Capital Jewish Museum

Washington, DC - Sunday, February 1
Tree lovers of all ages and from all backgrounds are welcome to learn, connect, and create to celebrate all the wonderful gifts of the trees. Decorate a pot and plant seeds of parsley and new trees at 1:15pm or 3:15pm, dance and sing along with the Washington Revels at 2pm, create and enjoy a Tu B’shevat seder-inspired DIY trail mix snack, contribute to a “Thank You, Trees,” community art build, and find stories of conservation and community with a themed exhibition scavenger hunt.  READ MORE

The Hunt for Washington

Alexandria, VA - Daily, February 1-28
Free
The Hunt for Washington is a fun and educational game in which individuals and families traverse through Old Town Alexandria to uncover clues about George Washington. All you need to do is to download one of two Clue Sheets and begin exploring! Winners receive gift certificates to businesses in Alexandria. READ MORE

Sensory Sundays at B&O - Penguin Party

Baltimore, MD - Sunday, February 1
At the B&O, select Sundays are dedicated to Sensory Awareness. These days feature environmental accommodations and sensory-friendly activities like kids’ crafts, train rides, and tours. This February's theme is Penguin Party. Attendees will make winter suncatchers and going on a "Technology Changes" tour.  READ MORE
There's plenty of indoor fun to be had if it's too nippy outside. Photo courtesy of Climb Zone
There's plenty of indoor fun to be had if it's too nippy outside. Photo courtesy of Climb Zone

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There are lots of indoor opportunities for learning and play this winter. Photo by Anne Trenolone via Flickr
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