Summer Festivals Near DC for Families: Fairs, Carnivals, and More

See cultural groups like Fandango Obon perform at the Smithsonian Folk Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival
Summer is quickly approaching in the DC area, and with it comes so many new ways to have fun—splash pads and spraygrounds near DC, water parks in the DC area, mini golf courses in and near DC, and more are all open for families looking to make summer memories. And while many summer festivals, fairs, and carnivals were canceled in 2020 and 2021, most of them are back this summer with rides, games, food, and fun for kids and families.
Here are some fun summer festivals near DC to visit with kids in summer 2022, including summer fairs and carnivals. We've broken them down by month to help you plan, but keep checking our events calendar—you never know which new summer festivals and events will pop up!