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Best Free and Fun Things To Do in DC with Kids February 2024

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Photo courtesy of the DC Parade
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Photo courtesy of the DC Parade
1/28/24 - By Jennifer Swope

It might be the shortest month in the calendar—even when it's a Leap Year—but February is bursting with family fun, including celebrations of Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Black History Month.

Potomac Phil will let us know on Groundhog Day if we have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Lunar New Year events are abundant, including the DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on February 11. Our area is rich in Black history, and there are many events celebrating Black culture and contributions such as Black History Month Family Day in Sandy Spring. And don't miss Mardi Gras at the Wharf. Read on for details on these and other events throughout the month—many of them FREE!

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in DC this February—we're adding more events to the DC Events Calendar every day.

More Things To Do in DC This February With Kids:

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Black History Month is the perfect time to hike the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Photo courtesy of Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
Black History Month is the perfect time to hike the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Photo courtesy of Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park

Free Things To Do in DC with Kids this February

Lions of Industry, Mothers of Invention

Washington, DC - Thursday & Friday, February 1 & 2; Tuesday - Thursday, Febuary 27-29, 2024
This original, interactive play, written by Jacqueline E. Lawton, honors the creativity and genius of African American entrepreneurs and inventors – and inspires the achiever in everyone. Come and join a science fair of George Washington Carver’s inventions using the peanut, hear Booker T. Washington’s great oratory, and be inspired by the story of the world’s first female, self-made millionaire, Madame C.J. Walker. READ MORE

Groundhog Day at Dupont Circle Park

Washington, DC - Friday, February 2, 2024
Free
Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, predicts what the next six weeks have in store for DC. Will it be more winter or an early spring? Come out to the fountain and enjoy music, polka dancers, a puppet show, coffee, VIP celebrities, and more.  READ MORE

The Girl Who Became Legend

Washington, DC - Saturdays & Sundays, February 2-11, 2024
The town of Dustbin is known for two things: rules and dust, the kind you get when it doesn’t rain for years and years. One day, Raina spies a cloud in the sky—but no one believes her. Determined, the young girl embarks on a great adventure to bring the cloud back home. Along the way, she crosses paths with Calamity Jane, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, Rip van Winkle… and a thunderstorm! READ MORE

In Search of the Groundhog!

Rockville, MD - Friday, February 2, 2024
It’s Groundhog Day! Where are the groundhogs hiding? Hit the trail in this self-led scavenger hunt mystery to find the missing groundhog. Answer groundhog trivia during the hike and head back to the Nature Center for hot cocoa and a groundhog craft.    READ MORE

Junie B. Jones, The Musical

Glen Echo, MD - Wednesdays - Sundays, February 2 - March 30, 2024
It's Junie B.’s first day of first grade, and a lot has changed: Junie’s friend Lucille does not want to be her best pal anymore, and Junie makes friends with Herb, the new kid. Junie's teacher also thinks she may need glasses. Throw in a kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade has never been more exciting. Featuring a lovable character and fun-filled songs, Junie B. Jones, The Musical captures audience members’ hearts just as the books captivated an entire generation of students. READ MORE

NINJAGO at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C.

Springfield, VA - Daily, February 2 - March 2, 2024
Families can become Spinjitzu masters with powered-up activities, experiences, and LEGO builds during the all-new LEGO NINJAGO Dragon’s Rising. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at the National Museum of Asian Art

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 3, 2024
Free
It's the year of the dragon! Celebrate Lunar New Year at the National Museum of Asian Art with free attractions for all ages, including performances, chef talks, tours, hands-on activities, and more.  READ MORE

Weekend Workshop: Origami Fest: Fun Family Folding

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 3, 2024
Free
Families can learn about the art of origami, inspired by Queen Lili‘uokalani’s portrait, at the National Portrait Gallery. Whether you're a seasoned folder or just starting out, this event is all about sparking creativity, making memories, and turning pieces of paper into fantastic creations. READ MORE

All Aboard! Make a Street Car Valentine!

Colesville, MD - Saturday, February 3, 2024
Every first Saturday of the month, visit the National Capital Trolley Museum and enjoy a ride on a historic street car, then participate in a special family activity. This month: Make a Street Car Valentine! READ MORE

Families Unplugged: Valentine's Keepsake Box

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, February 3, 2024
Bring the family but leave the phone behind for this unplugged event and make a Valentine's Day keepsake box. READ MORE

Tysons Corner Lunar New Year Celebration

Tysons Corner, VA - Saturday, February 3, 2024
Free
Take the entire family to Tysons Corner Center for a celebration of the Lunar New Year. Enjoy live music and dances as well as family-friendly activities. READ MORE

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk (at GMU Center for the Arts)

Manassas, VA - Saturday & Sunday, February 3 & 4, 2024
Known for their modern circus incorporating mechanical marvels, Cirque Mechanics introduces the wildly astonishing Pedal Punk, set in a Steampunk-inspired world where cycling provides wondrous escape from pervasive obsession with technology. A 22-foot, pedal-powered performance platform (dubbed the Gantry bike) serves as the caravanning mobile centerpiece of this high-flying thrill ride, featuring spectacular storytelling and daredevil acrobatics. The awe-inspiring ensemble of aerialists, jugglers, and clowns—including a zany bike shop mechanic— interacts with the elaborate... READ MORE

Black History Month Celebration

Bethesda, MD - Sunday, February 4, 2024
Celebrate Black cultures and contributions at KID Museum. Explore the fascinating heritage of Nigeria through traditional regalia and hands-on making with cowry shells, join storytelling and art-making activities fit for royalty, and engage with talented STEM makers and more. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Family Celebration at SAAM

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon and ring in the Lunar New Year while learning about its importance across cultures. Featuring Chinese and Korean traditions, the festival includes performances, crafts, food, and more.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year Family Festival at the National Postal Museum

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the National Postal Museum's Lunar New Year Family Festival. The event offers fun for all ages with activity stations, crafts, book readings, and lion dance performances. READ MORE

Mardi Gras on The Wharf

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
The Wharf brings the spirit of New Orleans to DC with a community Mardi Gras celebration featuring a parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music on District Pier, and a special fireworks finale. READ MORE

Saturday Morning Live! at the National

Washington, DC -Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
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

The World and Me Family Program: Explore the Earth's Past in a Deep Time Exhibit Takeover! (National Museum of Natural History)

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
The World and Me team is going out into the museum for a special fossil-focused adventure. Experience the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils tailored to families with learners of all ages. Scientists and educators from the Smithsonian welcome families and anyone interested in exploring Earth’s deep past.  READ MORE

Black History Month Family Day

Sandy Spring, MD - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
Families are invited to visit Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park for a free self-guided tour to learn about Black history in Montgomery County. The visitor's center has take-home activities for ages 5-12 and trail maps to explore the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at Westfield Montgomery

Bethesda, MD - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Free
Families are invited to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Westfield Montgomery Mall with a dragon dance, a lion dance, live performances, kids' activities, giveaways, and more. READ MORE

The Art of Storytelling: According to Coyote

Washington, DC - Saturday & Sunday, February 10 & 11, 2024
Free
According to Coyote, an entertaining play about the antics of the trickster Coyote—an important figure in the stories of the Great Plains, Southwest, and Plateau Native nations—is perfect for the entire family. READ MORE

Wheaton Family Theatre Series: Dancing Our Way Through Books!

Wheaton, MD - Saturday & Sunday, February 10 & 11, 2024
Free
Kelly King, InterAct Story Theatre's teaching artist and founder of Contradiction Dance Theatre and The Movement Movement, guides audiences in a kid-friendly folk tale through creative movement and dance. Kids get to practice reading skills while moving, dancing, and sharing stories with their families and friends.  READ MORE

DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade

Washington, DC - Sunday, February 11, 2024
Free
The 2024 Chinese Lunar New Year parade includes traditional lion and dragon dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, live music and marching bands, and more, culminating in a firecracker finale starting between 3:45 and 4pm.  READ MORE

Family Concert: Harlem’s Little Blackbird

Washington, DC - Sunday, February 11, 2024
In this special program geared toward the young and young at heart, Chiarina presents the DC premiere of Harlem’s Little Blackbird, the story of Jazz-Age performer Florence Mills — set to the music of Scott Joplin and his contemporaries. READ MORE

Monet: The Immersive Experience (at Rhode Island Center)

Washington, DC - Wednesdays - Sundays, February 16 - October 2024
Embark on an astonishing journey through the incomparable universe of Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 19th century. Explore his life, his career, and his secrets like never before with the help of 360-degree digital projections and a unique virtual-reality experience. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Festival at DAR Museum

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 17, 2024
Free
This free, family-friendly celebration of Lunar New Year features games, activities, and performances. It's presented in conjunction with the Vietnam Society, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office, and the Fairfax High School Korean Club. READ MORE

National Portrait Gallery's Presidential Family Fun Day

Washington, DC - Saturday, February 17, 2024
Free
Celebrate Presidents Day and all things presidential at the National Portrait Gallery's annual Presidential Family Fun Day. Discover more about presidents during guided tours of “America’s Presidents”, enjoy storytimes, and participate in art-making and writing activities. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Celebration at Fair Oaks Mall

Fairfax, VA - Saturday & Sunday, February 17 & 18, 2024
Free
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with traditional dragons and lions on display, music, dance performances from countries around the world, martial arts demonstrations, and kid-friendly activities. READ MORE

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale

Bethesda, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, February 17 - March 2, 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

George Washington Birthday Parade (in Old Town Alexandria)

Alexandria, VA - Monday, February 19, 2024
Free
The nation’s largest George Washington birthday parade marches a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town. The parade features drum corps, color guards, bands, local organizations, and of course General Washington and Martha Washington. READ MORE

Kofi's African Village

Washington, DC - Wednesday - Friday, February 21-23, 2024
Join Ghanaian-drummer Kofi Dennis as he uses music, storytelling, and dance to bring the sounds and culture of West Africa to life. Kofi leads call-and-response songs, games, and movement in a high-energy exploration of African cultural traditions. READ MORE

Omnium Circus Presents "I'mPossible"

Tysons, VA - Saturday, February 24, 2024
Omnium Circus's "I'mPossible" features a diverse mosaic of brilliant performers including gravity-defying aerial acts, mind-blowing contortion, unbelievable acrobatics, hysterical comedy, dazzling dancers, and more. It’s a circus adventure where there are no limits, no boundaries, and no barriers. Omnium is the only circus in the world to be presented bilingually in English and American Sign Language.  READ MORE

Black History Month Family Days (at Josiah Henson Museum and Park)

Bethesda, MD - Saturday & Sunday, February 24 & 25, 2024
Reverend Josiah Henson worked tirelessly throughout his life to advocate for freedom and education. Visitors are invited to participate in educational, hands-on activities that demonstrate what a child’s life was like in Dawn, the settlement he created after taking his family to Canada via the Underground Railroad. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Discovery Theater – Ripley Center
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
George Mason University Center for the Arts
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
St Mark's Capitol Hill
Discovery Theater – Ripley Center