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St. Patrick's Day Day Weekend 2024 in DC: Parades, Purim Parties, and More Things To Do

Get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit at the Ireland at the Wharf Festival. Photo courtesy of the event
Get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit at the Ireland at the Wharf Festival. Photo courtesy of the event
3/13/24 - By Jennifer Swope

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

This weekend has a little bit of everything—St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Purim carnivals, Easter egg hunts, and more kid-friendly fun.

Ireland at the Wharf Festival is on Saturday, with Irish dancing, bagpiping, and viewings of the Six National Rugby Championship. Swimmers can dive into an underwater egg hunt in Reston. Washington Hebrew Congregation is hosting two Purim carnivals—one for young families on Saturday, and one for all ages on Sunday.

Whatever you do this weekend, we hope it's festive and fun!

More Things To Do in Washington, DC this Week with Kids:

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Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale at Imagination Stage breaks new ground in bilingual children's theater. Photo courtesy of the event
Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale at Imagination Stage breaks new ground in bilingual children's theater. Photo courtesy of the event

Best Things to Do this St. Patrick's Day Weekend in DC

St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Hunt

Colesville, MD - Friday, March 15, 2024
Search for leprechauns and hunt for their pots of gold at Maydale Nature Classroom in Colesville, Maryland.  READ MORE

Super Pet Expo at Dulles Expo Center

Chantilly, VA - Friday - Sunday, March 15-17, 2024
At Super Pet Expo, families can watch dogs play capture the flag in the lure course and romp in a ball pit, see a dog fashion show, watch champion stunt dogs perform Frisbee skills and stunts, and more. READ MORE

Ireland at the Wharf Festival

Washington, DC - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Free
Celebrate the Emerald Isle at the Ireland at the Wharf Festival featuring bagpipers, Irish dancers, live music, and a Guinness beer garden for adults. READ MORE

Easter Bunny Breakfast at Maggiano's Columbia

Columbia, MD - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Children can enjoy breakfast, decorate crispy rice treats, and make their own "bunny bait," in hopes that the Easter Bunny will bring them treats on Easter morning. Parents should bring their cameras for pictures with the Easter Bunny. READ MORE

St. Patrick's Day Parade - Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg, MD - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Free
The city of Gaithersburg hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade with Celtic dancers, bagpiper bands, school groups, clowns, fire trucks, horses, and more. READ MORE

WHC Purim Carnival for Families with Young Children

Potomac, MD - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Celebrate Purim at an event designed for children 5 and under. Kids with tickets can enjoy unlimited games and activities and receive a prize bag.  READ MORE

Cultural Explorers: Purim at Reston Regional Library

Reston, VA - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Free
Families are invited to a celebration of the Jewish holiday Purim. Participants can learn about this joyful holiday, including traditional costumes, sharing gifts of food and giving to charity, and planning a nice meal with family. Librarians read a story about Queen Esther. READ MORE

Families Unplugged: Candle Making at Lubber Run Community Center

Arlington, VA - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Light up the weekend with a family candle-making session. Explore all the steps to make a set of candles to take home and enjoy. Please wear clothes that can get dirty. READ MORE

Kids Fishing Derby at Runnymede Park

Herndon, VA - Saturday, March 16, 2024
At the Kids Fishing Derby, kids and their families can learn about fishing and experience a relaxing and successful day catching fish. All kids MUST be accompanied by an adult. Limited fishing poles and bait are available for use. READ MORE

St. Patrick's Day at Flight Adventure Springfield

Springfield, VA - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Come and find out during Flight Adventure's annual St. Patrick’s Day event. The day includes access to attractions, St. Patrick’s Day-themed coloring and craft stations, a Flight scratch-off ticket with the chance to win one month of free membership, and more. READ MORE

Underwater Egg Hunt at Reston Community Center

Reston, VA - Saturday, March 16, 2024
The Easter egg hunt tradition takes on an exciting aquatic twist as kids search for eggs floating in or on the bottom of the pool. Each participating child receives a goody bag after the event. READ MORE

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale

Bethesda, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, through April 7, 2024
What will happen to Cinderella at the ball … game? That's the surprising question in this contemporary Latin-American Cinderella musical that weaves subtle lessons on empathy, sportsmanship, and respect into an exciting, high-stakes story. This Imagination Stage original breaks new ground in bilingual children’s theatre. READ MORE

Easter Egg Hunts at Green Meadows Farm

Ijamsville, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, March 16-31
Enjoy Easter egg hunts all day at Green Meadows Farm. Hunts are sectioned off into two age groups: 4-12 (timed hunts) and 1-3 (not timed). After hunting for eggs, walk down the Easter Trail to meet the Easter Bunny. READ MORE

The Many Disguises of Robin Hood

McLean, VA - Saturday & Sunday, March 16 & 17, 2024
In merry ol’ England, the townspeople are overtaxed and unfulfilled. Lucky for them, the mysterious outlaw, Robin Hood, is outsmarting the rich with clever disguises and returning their funds to the poor. Frustrated by these tricks, the sheriff, his daughter, and the prince scheme to capture Robin Hood and maintain control of the taxes. Are Robin Hood and the band of outlaws ready for their riskiest deceit yet? This show is The Alden’s only self-produced production of the year.  READ MORE

JFamily Purim Celebration at Edlavitch Jewish Community Center

Washington, DC - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Celebrate Purim! This year’s party is indoors and features face painting, balloon artistry, arts and crafts projects, a special musical performance by Mr. Ari, and more. READ MORE

NSO Family Concert: Music of Duke Ellington

Washington, DC - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Take the A-Train to a special afternoon of music paying tribute to the beloved jazz composer and bandleader. Conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, the National Symphony Orchestra performs this swinging session as part of the Kennedy Center’s season-wide Ellington 125 celebration. READ MORE

Easter at The Stables

Gaithersburg, MD - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Families can enjoy a variety of spring-themed crafts, meet some of the farm animals, and take family photos against beautiful backdrops. Visitors can try Swiss egg dying and then decorate a nest to take the egg home in. Other craft stations include bunny- and egg-themed planters and more. READ MORE

Norouz Around the World: A Celebration of Persian and Central Asian Dance

Sandy Spring, MD - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Sandy Spring Museum hosts a celebration including dance performances from many countries that celebrate Norouz, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and more. There's also a presentation of the Haft Seen Table, which is the centerpiece of the home holiday decorations. This family-friendly program includes an intermission and culminates in a short workshop where the audience can learn a traditional Persian dance.  READ MORE

WHC Purim Carnival

Potomac, MD - Sunday, March 17, 2024
WHC's Purim Carnival returns this year! Enjoy a family-friendly celebration at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center. The carnival includes classic games and fun new activities to fit with the “Rock of Ages” Purim theme. READ MORE

WondeRoom: Sumi Ink Painting at Sandy Spring Museum

Sandy Spring, MD - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Teaching artist Jin Jeong shares the East Asian tradition of Sumi Ink Painting. Participants in this workshop learn how to make ink and paint animals, flowers, and bamboo. READ MORE

St. Patrick's Day Science at Hidden Oaks

Annandale, VA - Sunday, March 17, 2024
Come and explore some green leprechaun science that seems like magic. Discover what those tricky leprechauns have up their sleeves and make green snow, green slime worms, and other exciting explorations.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Rio Lakefront Shopping Center
Julia Bindeman Suburban Center
Lubber Run Community Center
Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Stables of Rolling Ridge
Julia Bindeman Suburban Center