Experience Tingle Bells at ARTECHOUSE. Photo courtesy of ARTECHOUSE
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Take a lighted trail walk at Reston's Winterfest. Photo courtesy of Winterfest
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Tackle the slides at Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Harbor
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Christmas vacation is the perfect time to catch Monet: The Immersive Experience before it leaves town in January! Photo courtesy of the experience
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Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens will dazzle the whole family. Photo by Tony Ventouris for Montgomery County Parks
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Take a stroll through the Marshall Pond Christmas Village in Burke, VA. Photo courtesy of Kristy Case, from the Marshall Pond Christmas Village Facebook page
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Photo courtesy of Canva
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The Holiday Boat Parade is visible from both the Wharf and the Alexandria waterfront. Photo courtesy of the Wharf DC
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Ring in the new year at First Night Alexandria. Photo by Geoff Livingston via Flickr 2.0
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Pull on a signature blue parka for Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort
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Enjoy snow every night at Winter City Lights. Photo by Kyle Lanzer courtesy of the Winter City Lights .event.
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Skate in the shadow of the National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes/CC BY 2.0
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The popular Sculpture Garden ice rink is back at the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr 2.0
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The DC Winter Lantern Festival dazzles through January 12. Photo courtesy of the festival
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The Washington Ballet gives The Nutcracker a historic twist at the Warner Theatre. Photo by XMB photography
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Child's Play has a great selection of toys, games, children's books, and more. Photo by Tony Ventouris Photography
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Enjoy storytime each Wednesday at the Hirshhorn. Photo courtesy of the Hirshorn Museum
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Young kids can enjoy free weekly play dates at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Photo by Kelly Verdeck, via Flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Young kids can enjoy free weekly play dates at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Photo by Kelly Verdeck, via Flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
12/29/23 - By Jennifer Swope

Washington, DC is known for its many free offerings, but did you know the depth of the free activities available? They extend well beyond the National Mall.

The holidays are over, and I know I don't want to spend one more dollar. The good news is that we live in an area rich in free museums, activities, and events. Many of those free museums have weekly storytimes and activity centers catered towards children.

There are also free theater productions this month, including the Wheaton Family Theatre Series and Saturday Morning Live! at the National Theatre. GALA Theatre is hosting a Three Kings Day celebration, too. And there are plenty of First Day Hikes and MLK Day events for families to enjoy.

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in January, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.

More Things To Do in DC This January With Kids:

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First Day Hikes are a healthy and free way to start off the new year. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks
First Day Hikes are a healthy and free way to start off the new year. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks

Fun Free Activities To Do in DC in January 2025

First Day Hike: Black Hill Regional Park

Boyds, MD - Monday, January 1, 2025
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. This hike starting at the Black Hill Discovery Center is 2-3 miles on natural surface terrain that includes a steep hill. READ MORE

First Day Hike: Meadowside Nature Center

Rockville, MD - Monday, January 1, 2025
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. This hike will be 2-3 miles depending on trail conditions and will either be around Lake Frank or on a local trail near Meadowside. An email will be sent with details to all registered participants. READ MORE

First Day Hike: Seneca Creek State Park

Gaithersburg, MD - Monday, January 1, 2025
Hikers are invited to take a self-guided hike around the Lakeshore Trail at Seneca Creek State Park. This 3.7-mile loop along natural surface trails offers scenic views of nature and the opportunity to observe winter wildlife. Maps, field guides, scavenger hunt activities, and trivia games are available. Friends of Seneca Creek State Park is providing coffee and hot chocolate as supplies last. READ MORE

First Day Hike: Leesylvania State Park

Woodbridge, VA - Monday, January 1, 2025
Park rangers lead guided hiking tours throughout the park from 11am-1pm. Some trails are not stroller-friendly. Kids can use the provided binoculars, magnifying glasses, bug-catching tools, and more during the hike. READ MORE

First Day Hike: Mason Neck State Park

Lorton, VA - Monday, January 1, 2025
Celebrate the start of 2024 with a ranger-led First Day Hike in Mason Neck State Park, which is offering hikes for all ages and skill levels. READ MORE

MCC - Old Firehouse Winter Block Party

McLean, VA - Saturday, January 4, 2025
The McLean Community Center is hosting a wintry block party to celebrate the new year with amusements, games, craft projects, food, and more for all ages. READ MORE

Baseball: America's Home Run at the National Postal Museum

Washington, DC - Daily, through January 5, 2024
This special exhibit explores the surprising ways that baseball and postal history are deeply intertwined. It features historic objects that have never before been on public display, including game-used uniforms and bats, jackets, hats, and memorabilia. It's a must-visit for anyone who loves the game. READ MORE

Three Kings Day (Fiesta de los Reyes Magos) at GALA Theatre

Washington, DC - Sunday, January 5, 2025
GALA Hispanic Theatre is holding a Three Kings Day celebration. This festive end to the holiday season features the timeless story of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, and free gifts for children. READ MORE

Community Day at National Museum of Women in the Arts

Washington, DC - Sunday, January 5 & Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Visitors are invited to explore the National Museum of Women in the Arts for free on the first Sunday and the second Wednesday of each month. READ MORE

Saturday Morning Live! at the National

Washington, DC - Saturday, January 11, 2025
Saturday Morning Live! returns to the National Theatre. Enjoy wow-inspiring children’s entertainment of all sorts, including interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music, all designed to light up imaginations and celebrate a world of wonder.  READ MORE

STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum

Washington, DC - Saturday, January 11, 2025
Through hands-on building challenges, young architects explore engineering and technology, thinking creatively and experimentally as they build with LEGO®, work with AI to plan a city, and use other methods to problem-solve, design, and create. READ MORE

Wheaton Family Theatre Series: Books Alive

Wheaton, MD - Saturday & Sunday, January 11 & 12, 2025
The new year at InterAct Story Theatre kicks off this weekend with Artistic Director Ali Oliver-Krueger leading kids and adults in exploring a folktale together through movement, drama, and song. READ MORE

The Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade

Washington, DC - Saturday, January 18, 2025
Coordinated by the Coalition for Peace, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Peace Walk is held annually on the MLK holiday. Over a thousand Peace Walkers join in the two-mile walk along MLK Ave in Southeast DC. READ MORE

MLK Service Cleanups with Montgomery Parks

Montgomery County, MD - Saturday - Monday, January 18-20, 2025
Recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day through a volunteer park cleanup at parks across Montgomery County. Participants can help clear litter from streams, beautify green spaces, and do other things to protect natural spaces and wildlife. READ MORE

MLK Birthday Celebration Especially for Youth (at Reston Community Center)

Reston, VA - Sunday, January 19, 2025
Children can rotate through a series of activities including a performance, an age-appropriate video, and arts and crafts. All activities are based on the history of Dr. King and the civil rights movement.  READ MORE

Mosaic Polar Plunge

Fairfax, VA - Saturday, January 25, 2025
Supporters of the Special Olympics take a chilly polar plunge at Mosaic District to raise money for Special Olympics athletes. Watch the costume contest and pool plungers, or register online to participate. READ MORE

A Day of Action at the National Portrait Gallery

Washington, DC - Sunday, January 26, 2025
Activate and uplift! Teens and young adults are encouraged to find their voices. Art is activism and portraiture is powerful. Honor the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to community action by joining the Portrait Gallery and its partners for A Day of Action.    READ MORE
There's lots for young children to explore at Wegmans Wonderplace. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
There's lots for young children to explore at Wegmans Wonderplace. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History

Ongoing Fun Free Activities To Do in DC

Portrait Gallery Kids

Washington, DC - Mondays (except January 20)
Children can learn, play, and create at the Portrait Gallery. Each Monday, participants explore a topic such as colors, emotions, STEM, and history. Through close looking at art, hands-on activities, music, and movement, Portrait Gallery Kids offers a fun way to engage with art and each other.  READ MORE

Play Date at NMNH

Washington, DC - Tuesdays (except January 21)
On most Tuesdays, early learners and their caregivers can explore a specific topic alongside museum educators. This drop-in play date has activities designed for younger children, but all ages are welcome.  READ MORE

Storytime at Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum

Washington, DC - Tuesdays
Enjoy a free drop-in storytime every Thursday morning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. READ MORE

Storytime at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Chantilly, VA - Tuesdays & Thursdays
Enjoy a free drop-in storytime with crafts at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.  READ MORE

imagiNATIONS Activity Center at National Museum of the American Indian

Washington, DC - Tuesdays - Sundays
The imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides young visitors a space to explore Indigenous peoples and culture. Today, many Indigenous innovations and inventions are part of daily life for millions worldwide. Visitors can explore some of these ingenious adaptations through hands-on activities such as basket-weaving, building a giant igloo, arts and crafts, "walking" in snowshoes, and so much more. Kids can also explore a tipi, walk through a replica of an Amazonian stilt house, solve puzzles, and relax in the cozy reading area. READ MORE

STORYTIME at the Hirshhorn

Washington, DC - Wednesdays
STORYTIME explores contemporary art through stories and movement. Each week features a fresh and fun theme. Young artists and their adults can explore a new artwork each week, enjoy an interactive read-aloud, and participate in a hands-on activity. READ MORE

Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History

Washington, DC - Wednesdays - Sundays
Create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment, invent. This is what children ages 6-12 can do at Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History. Activities pair science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with art, history, and creativity. READ MORE

Wonderplace at the National Museum of American History

Washington, DC - Wednesdays - Sundays
This 1,700-square-foot exhibit gives kids ages 0-6 a hands-on experience with elements taken from the adult exhibits, providing a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity. It features plenty of interactive elements, including a construction area, a climbing structure, a soft-play area for crawlers, a pretend farm and kitchen with play food and accessories, a mini portrait gallery, and more.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The R.I.S.E Center to Anacostia Park
Various Parks in Montgomery Country
Smithsonian Natural History Museum
National Museum of the American Indian National Mall
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden