Prince William County Fair

Aug. 1-8. Northern Virginia's biggest fair returns with rides, festival food, animals and entertainment. It runs for eight days, so there is plenty of room to pick an evening that works for your family.

  • Location: 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA

The Summer of Sunflowers

Aug. 1-9. Pick-your-own sunflowers across 78 acres, with more than 30 varieties of cutting sunflowers plus fields of oil sunflowers planted in successive crops. Come early for the coolest picking, or stay late for the golden-hour photos. It runs throughout the month.

  • Location: Burnside Farms, 11008 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville, VA

CFTC Presents "Frozen: The Broadway Musical"

Aug. 2. The stage version of Disney's "Frozen," with all the songs from the film plus new music written for the theater. Anna and Elsa's story plays out with a 15-minute intermission, which is a helpful reset for younger viewers. Enter through Door 10.

  • Location: Katherine Johnson Middle School auditorium, 3801 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA

National Night Out

Aug. 4. Meet officers from the 2nd District police station, the B-CC Rescue Squad and the Bethesda Fire Department. Kids can tour fire trucks and ambulances, play free carnival games and enjoy face painting, balloon animals and crafts, with food and treats from local favorites. A low-effort weeknight outing that always lands well with younger children.

  • Location: Norfolk Avenue, between St. Elmo and Del Ray avenues, Bethesda, MD

2026 Family Fun Fair

Aug. 7. A free, family-friendly afternoon of games, crafts and hands-on activities, with local organizations hosting booths for kids of all ages. It runs alongside Sterling's Hot Dog Day, so you can easily make a full afternoon of it.

  • Location: Sterling Marketplace, Avenue A and W. Second Street, Sterling, VA

80th Howard County Fair

Aug. 8-15. Rides, animal shows, the Kids and Critters Barn, the Little Farmers Building, agricultural demonstrations, competitions, food and live entertainment. Children 12 and under get in free, adults 13 and over are $10, and seniors 62 and over are $5. A season pass is $40. This year's fair also celebrates the nation's 250th birthday.

  • Location: Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, MD

Storytime at the National Gallery of Art

Aug. 8. A bilingual read-aloud in English and Spanish, followed by creative play activities. The book is read twice, so wiggly toddlers get a second chance to settle in. All ages are welcome, especially the youngest visitors and nursing parents. Strollers can be parked at coat check. Free, and no registration is required.

  • Location: East Building Atrium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Sunday Storytime at Planet Word

Aug. 9. A monthly hour of songs and read-alouds led by children's librarians from the DC Public Library, ideal for ages 2 to 6. Storytime runs from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., and families are welcome to stay afterward for activities, to explore the museum, or to borrow books from the pop-up library wagon. Registration includes general museum admission.

  • Location: Planet Word, 925 13th St. NW, Washington, DC

Foam Party

Aug. 11. Families with children ages 0 to 6 are invited to cool off in the foam, with pizza and popsicles to go with it. Pack bathing suits and towels for anyone planning to get in.

  • Location: 8401 Grubb Road, Chevy Chase, MD

Culinary Arts for Kids: Pickling

Aug. 12. Kids learn how families in Colonial Maryland preserved food, then make and take home their own batch of refrigerator pickles. A hands-on history lesson that ends with something in the fridge.

  • Location: 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD

Arlington County Fair

Aug. 12-16. Billed as one of the largest free events on the East Coast, the Arlington County Fair returns for its 50th year with carnival rides, live entertainment, food vendors and an indoor exhibit hall. Admission is free, with rides priced separately, and a free shuttle runs from the Ballston garage. An easy-to-reach outing that packs in a lot for families.

  • Location: Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA

Movies Under the Moon

Aug. 14. A family movie night under the stars on an inflatable screen, held the second Friday of the month at City of Fairfax parks through September. Bring blankets, chairs and your own snacks. Start times can shift later in the summer, so plan for a flexible bedtime.

  • Location: 3800 Keith Ave., Fairfax, VA

"KPop Demon Hunters" Sing-Along

Aug. 15. An interactive sing-along and dance-along for fans of all ages. Lyric sheets are available for newcomers, though most kids will already have "Golden," "How It's Done" and "What It Sounds Like" memorized. Expect a loud, joyful room.

  • Location: 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD

Panda Fest DC 2026

Aug. 15-16. Panda Fest makes its D.C. debut with more than 90 Asian food vendors, over 200 street food offerings, cultural performances, 40-plus merchandise vendors and family-friendly activities. Pandas turn up throughout the festival in inflatables, games and food. Tickets are required.

  • Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 4th and 7th streets, Washington, DC

2026 National Book Festival

Aug. 22. The 2026 National Book Festival will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Aug. 22. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Some programs will be live-streamed, and recordings will be available shortly after the festival. Attendees can meet various bestselling authors, storytellers and illustrators.

  • Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC

Back to School Bonanza

Aug. 29. Springfield Town Center closes out the summer with a lively outdoor festival built for the whole community, with great food, shopping, live entertainment and plenty of fun before the school year starts. Presented by Kojam and sponsored by Washington Parent, it is free to attend and an easy way to shake off the back-to-school jitters. Scan the event QR code on the flyer or search Kojam events for the latest details.

  • Location: Springfield Town Center, 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA

Jennie the Cat: Jennie's Beach Day

Aug. 29. Jennie the Cat visits the beach for the first time and needs help packing, making friends, sharing and being brave. The puppet show features soft-hand puppets and original music, with plenty of opportunities for the audience to sing and dance along. Made for ages 2 to 8.

  • Location: 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD