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Labor Day Weekend 2023 in DC: Festivals, Parades, and More Things To Do with Kids

Enjoy musical performances, competitions, and more at the Virginia Scottish Games. Photo courtesy of the event
Enjoy musical performances, competitions, and more at the Virginia Scottish Games. Photo courtesy of the event
8/30/23 - By Jennifer Swope

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

There are so many fun ways to celebrate Labor Day weekend with kids across the DC area. Some of the area's best festivals, including the Virginia Scottish Games & Festival, the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival, and the Maryland Renaissance Festival are happening this weekend. You can also head to free Labor Day parades in Gaithersburg and Kensington, Maryland.

Families can also mark the unofficial end of summer with one last visit to an outdoor water park or a free public swimming pool, or plan a last-minute day trip or weekend getaway from DC.

Don’t miss our list of places to go apple picking near DC or our story about Reclining Liberty on display in Arlington, plus bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more things to do every day.

More Things To Do near DC this Week with Kids:

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Nothing says “Labor Day” like a festival with rides and games. Photo courtesy of the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
Nothing says “Labor Day” like a festival with rides and games. Photo courtesy of the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival

Things To Do This Labor Day Weekend in Washington, DC with Kids

2023 Maryland Cycling Classic

Sparks, MD - Thursday, August 31 - Sunday, September 3
Free
The Maryland Cycling Classic is part of a four-day weekend of family-friendly community events. These  include regional elementary school visits by athletes featuring bike and helmet safety curriculum, a community bike ride for all ages near Patterson Park on Friday evening, the Team Introduction ceremony where fans can meet the riders, the Bridges of Hope ride (a charity ride benefiting the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation) on Saturday, and an interactive health and wellness festival with food and drinks during the race on Sunday afternoon. READ MORE

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest

Mount Airy, MD - Daily, through Tuesday, October 31
There are over 60 fun attractions for families at Gaver Farm's Fall Fun Fest, including giant slides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, playgrounds, jumping pillows, and more. READ MORE

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival

Greenbelt, MD - Friday, September 1 - Monday, September 4
Free
The Greenbelt Labor Day Festival includes carnival rides and games, a craft fair, live performances, food trucks, children's activities, and more.  READ MORE

Great Country Farms Corn Maze and Apple Harvest

Bluemont, VA - Daily, September 1-30
Celebrate everything delicious about the harvest season with apple picking, apple cider donuts, and a romp in Great Country Farms' 12-acre play area. READ MORE

Culture Queen Kids Hour

Washington, DC - Saturday, September 2
Free
Grammy-nominated children’s entertainer Culture Queen encourages diversity, community, and self-love through live performances, interactive community building, stories, crafts, movement, and more. Join her on the first Saturday of each month at the Anacostia Community Museum. READ MORE

Labor Day Arts Show at Glen Echo

Glen Echo, MD - Saturday, September 2 - Monday, September 4
Free
The 52nd Annual Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo Park, held in the historic Spanish Ballroom, is one of the largest art shows in the area. It features the work of more than 200 artists from the mid-Atlantic region in a wide range of artistic media, including sculpture, painting, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and more. READ MORE

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Annapolis, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, through October 22
(and Monday, September 4)
This massive annual Renaissance Festival includes live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, and more. Visitors are encouraged to wear family-friendly costumes to get into the spirit. READ MORE

Summers Farm Sunflower Festival

Frederick, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, through September 10
Take beautiful, Insta-worthy family pictures in the acres of sunflower fields at the Summers Farm Sunflower Festival. There are also dozens of activities at the farm for kids, including corn hole, jumping pillows, farmer golf, farm animals, and more. READ MORE

Workin' on the Railroad: Labor Day Weekend at the B&O

Baltimore, MD - Saturday, September 2 - Monday, September 4
Celebrate the legacy of American labor at the Birthplace of American Railroading. B&O workers laid the very rails that sparked the spread of industry across the US, and the nation would have never been the same without them. READ MORE

Virginia Scottish Games & Festival

The Plains, VA - Saturday & Sunday, September 2 & 3
Celebrating 49 years, the Virginia Scottish Games kick off Labor Day weekend with competitions, musical performances, dancing, and more from the Highlands. Watch athletes toss logs, learn about dogs of Scotland, or listen to the beautiful sounds of bagpipes. READ MORE

Joe Holiday Family Magic Show

Washington, DC - Sunday, September 3
Joe Holiday dazzles kids and families while keeping everyone laughing throughout his entire magic show, which is scheduled for 50 minutes. READ MORE

Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade

Gaithersburg, MD - Monday, September 4
Free
The 85th annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade returns to Olde Towne and features high school marching bands, dance groups, antique cars and fire engines, equestrian units, clowns, and more.  READ MORE

Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival

Kensington, MD - Monday, September 4
Free
Kensington celebrates Labor Day with a parade through town, beginning at St. Paul Park and ending at the grandstand at Noyes Children's Library. The parade features marching bands, equestrian show groups, dance groups, and floats.  READ MORE

Labor Day Car Show

Fairfax, VA - Monday, September 4
Free
The annual Labor Day Car Show in the City of Fairfax showcases more than 300 types of motor vehicles, including street rods, foreign, customs, antiques, trucks, muscle cars, motorcycles, and more. READ MORE
Hurry over to Candytopia before it closes to satisfy your sweet tooth! Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
Hurry over to Candytopia before it closes to satisfy your sweet tooth! Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Last Chance: Exhibits Closing in September

Wallace & Gromit™: Get Cracking! at Port Discovery

Baltimore, MD - closes Sunday, September 3
Step into the world of Wallace and his loyal and intelligent dog, Gromit, where visitors blast off in a rocket, launch porridge cannons, design a cracking contraption, and more. Young inventors can explore this new hands-on exhibit and test their problem-solving skills while learning about STEM.  READ MORE

Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!

Washington, DC - closes Monday, September 4
Introducing young children to the world of Curious George, this exhibit lets young visitors learn like George—through direct experiences and problem-solving—and encourages children’s natural curiosity as they explore early science, math, and engineering through hands-on play. READ MORE

The Dr. Seuss Experience

Tysons, VA - closes Monday, September 4
Wander through towering clover, swing from trees, and meet characters in this immersive journey into the wondrous world of Dr. Seuss. Visitors will delight in this interactive experience with opportunities to explore their favorite stories, such as The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who!, Oh, The Places You'll Go!, and more.  READ MORE

Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects® Made with LEGO® Bricks

Winchester, VA - closes Monday, September 4
This award-winning exhibition features works of art made from simple toy blocks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems, and humans’ relationship with nature. The exhibition includes 13 displays of Sean Kenney’s art. READ MORE

Dinos Alive: Immersive Experience

Washington, DC - closes Sunday, September 24
Dinos Alive is an immersive exhibition featuring over 80 life-sized animated dinosaurs. The experience offers a peek at the world as it was millions of years ago. Guests explore the dense jungles of the Jurassic era and see the dinos in their natural habitat with the help of the latest VR technology and a fully decorated venue. READ MORE

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Washington, DC - closes Saturday, September 30
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is a digital art exhibition that invites visitors to step into the universe of the Dutch genius and explore his life, work, and secrets as never before through cutting-edge, 360-degree digital projections, a one-of-a-kind VR experience, and a uniquely atmospheric light and sound show. The tour is traveling through cities around the world.  READ MORE

Candytopia

Tysons, VA - closes Saturday, September 30
Delight in an an interactive, delicious experience where candy becomes art and there's a sugary treat for all the senses. Guests walk through a candy wonderland and immerse themselves in different candy-themed environments. They also enjoy packaged candy samples. READ MORE

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