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Best of November: Awesome Things To Do in DC with Kids for Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and More

Get some exercise before the big meal at the Vienna Turkey Trot. Photo by Melissa Maillett Photography
Get some exercise before the big meal at the Vienna Turkey Trot. Photo by Melissa Maillett Photography
10/30/22 - By Jennifer Swope

November brings plenty of things to do, as DC gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in DC this month.

Start off the month by smashing some pumpkins at Great Country Farms. Head over to Big Build to test your construction skills, celebrate Veterans Day at the Spirit Park Grand Opening in National Harbor, and get some Thanksgiving exercise at the Vienna Turkey Trot or America's Trot for Hunger. Then, get into the spirit of the winter holidays while meandering through the German Christmas Village in Baltimore, driving through the Bull Run Festival of Lights, or taking in the whimsy of Ice! featuring A Christmas Story.

For more fun things to do check out our lists of family-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving and fall day trips and weekend getaways from DC—and don't forget to book tickets for some holiday train rides!

We're adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don't forget to check it frequently.

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Artist John Lopez created Vigilance & Innocence for the new Spirit Park at National Harbor. Photo courtesy of Spirit Park
Artist John Lopez created Vigilance & Innocence for the new Spirit Park at National Harbor. Photo courtesy of Spirit Park

Top Things To Do in DC with Kids this November

Pumpkin Chunkin'

Bluemont, VA - Saturday & Sunday, November 5 & 6, 2022
Wondering what to do with those carved pumpkins after Halloween? Join in the Pumpkin Chunkin' fun at Great Country Farms and watch those orange faces fly! READ MORE

16th Annual Parade of Trabants

Washington, DC - Saturday, November 5, 2022
Celebrate the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with everyone’s favorite Cold War car—the Trabant. READ MORE

Side Yards

Washington, DC - Saturday, November 5, 2022
Side Yards is a family-friendly event in Yards Park featuring DC’s best performers. Multiple stages showcase the talents of contortionists, magicians, escape artists, sword swallowers, aerialists, lollipop lyra performers, and more. Attendees can also enjoy interactive activities including tarot card and palm reading, balloon artistry, glitter tattoos, and more. READ MORE

The Big Build

Washington, DC - Saturday, November 5, 2022
The Big Build is a hands-on festival exploring a variety of unique, interactive activities with roofers, plumbers, home remodelers, construction workers, carpenters, designers, and artisans. The Museum’s Great Hall will be filled with interactive booths including a nail driving contest and a structural engineering station with an earthquake simulation to discover how buildings can be built to be more stable.  READ MORE

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Olney, MD - Various dates, November 9, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Olney Theatre presents the classic Disney musical Beauty and the Beast, perfect for the whole family. READ MORE

Veterans Day at Spirit Park

National Harbor, MD - Friday, November 11, 2022
Spirit Park marks its first anniversary with a Veterans Day celebration. The day includes a walk/run that benefits The Check-6 Foundation, a performance by United States Air Force Band Max Impact, the sealing of a Patriot’s Value time capsule, and the lighting of National Harbor's holiday tree. READ MORE

Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights

Vienna, VA - Daily, November 11, 2022 - January 8, 2023
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights is an elegant garden trail decorated with thousands of sparkling lights. The half-mile walk through the enchanting Meadowlark Botanical Gardens features lighted nature themes and animated displays along a paved wheelchair- and stroller-accessible trail. Stay warm by sipping on a hot beverage (with or without spirits) while walking, and enjoy s’mores to finish out the evening. READ MORE

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Centreville, VA - Fridays - Sundays, November 11, 2022- January 8, 2023
Families can enjoy 2.5 miles of holiday light displays from the comfort of their own cars, then get out to visit the Holiday Village and carnival complete with rides, a visit with Santa, bonfires, and more. READ MORE

Zoo Lights at the Maryland Zoo

Baltimore, MD - Fridays - Sundays, November 18, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Walk through the Maryland Zoo's festival of wildlife-shaped lights. Enjoy hot chocolate and free carousel and train rides.  READ MORE

Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run

Alexandria, VA - Daily, November 18, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Ice & Lights offers a fun, outdoor family experience to see unique holiday lights, take family pictures or selfies with a variety of displays, and take a spin on the outdoor ice rink. The Village opens on November 17, 2023 and ice skating begins on December 1. READ MORE

German Christmas Village

Baltimore, MD - Daily, November 19, 2022 - December 24, 2022
Experience an authentic German Christmas market at West Shore Park at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. There are a variety of vendors, thousands of Christmas lights, live music, rides, food, and more. READ MORE

Run Under the Lights

Gaithersburg, MD - Saturday, November 19, 2022
Enjoy the beautiful holiday lights at Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park while participating in a 5k walk/run. READ MORE

2022 Vienna Turkey Trot

Vienna, VA - Sunday, November 20, 2022
Families can get some exercise before Thanksgiving by participating in the annual 5k, 10k, or kids fun run in Vienna. The event features music by the James Madison High School Band, fun prizes, refreshments, and a Finish Line Festival. READ MORE

Ice! featuring Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

National Harbor, MD - Daily, November 20, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Ice! is back at the Gaylord National. Visitors can experience the beloved holiday classic Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer through larger-than-life sculptures carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. Don't miss the chance to race down ice slides and travel through awe-inspiring tunnels. READ MORE

Kansas City Ballet: The Nutcracker

Washington, DC - Wednesday - Sunday, November 23-27, 2022
Kansas City Ballet’s seasonal tradition, The Nutcracker, returns to the Kennedy Center Opera House. The company’s production promises grandeur, laughter, and a snowfall of holiday magic as audiences relive their favorite moments. READ MORE

America's Trot for Hunger

Washington, DC - Thursday, November 24, 2022
The annual Trot for Hunger 5K presented by SOME (So Others Might Eat) is the largest Turkey Trot in the DC area and the only one in the District. The 5K starts at 9:40am, and a Little Turkey one-miler begins at 9:15am. Proceeds help end homelessness and poverty in DC. The fun begins at 8am and includes live music and games for kids. READ MORE

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