Hispanic Heritage Month: "Corazón y vida: Lowriding Culture"
Now through Oct. 15. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the National Museum of American History, where families can check out a bilingual exhibit detailing 80 years of lowrider culture in Mexican American and Chicano communities. Snap photos of two showstopping Chevy Impalas—El Rey, a candy red 1963 beauty covered in murals and Gypsy Rose, a 1964 classic with hand-painted roses. Kids who love cars will make a beeline for these stars, and the English and Spanish signs make it a breeze for bilingual families. While you're there, don't miss 'Entertainment Nation,' another fully bilingual exhibit packed with pop culture fun.
Location: National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
SUBMERGE Project at ARTECHOUSE
Now open. ARTECHOUSE DC is back with a brand-new digital art show, SUBMERGE Project at ARTECHOUSE, featuring "Beyond the Render." Settle in for a 45-minute journey through 14 short, three-minute pieces projected on a massive, wraparound screen. Kids who get antsy during long shows will love the quick pace and ever-changing scenes — think underwater adventures and futuristic landscapes. After the show, families can dive into 18 interactive installations, from flamingos that move when you do to a droid that trades places with visitors and a wall of color that ripples with every wave.
Location: ARTECHOUSE DC, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC
Waterford Fair
Oct. 2-4. Step back in time at the Waterford Fair, where families can watch artisans craft everything from pottery to jewelry right before your eyes. Living historians, a juried art show and tours of historic homes fill the village with activity from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Kids 12 and under get in free, and little ones love watching the artisans work up close—it's way more exciting than your average craft show.
Location: Throughout the village of Waterford, VA
College Park Day
Oct. 3. College Park's biggest bash of the year takes over the aviation museum and airport from noon to 6 p.m. Families can enjoy free museum admission, sample treats from a variety of food vendors and take advantage of free parking and shuttles. The festival is just a short stroll from the College Park Metro on the Green Line, and the fun happens rain or shine.
Location: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD
Brunswick Railroad Days
Oct. 3-4. All aboard for Brunswick Railroad Days! This two-day festival celebrates the town's railroad roots with live music, local crafts, tasty food, model train displays and plenty of hands-on activities for kids. The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and shines a spotlight on local performers, artists and artisans.
Location: Throughout downtown Brunswick, MD
"Disney On Ice: Spotlight Magic!"
Oct. 8-12. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy take center stage in this brand new Disney On Ice adventure, featuring more than 30 favorite characters gliding across the rink. Showtimes are easy to fit into your schedule, with evening and morning options throughout the weekend. Want to make it extra special? The Magical Pass upgrade gets you premium seats and a character meet-and-greet before the show. Everyone age 2 and up needs a ticket.
Location: EagleBank Arena, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA
Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials
Oct. 8-11. Morven Park is one of just five places in the country to catch this top-level eventing competition, where you can cheer on national and international riders—including Olympians—in dressage, show jumping and cross country. Saturday is cross country day, and families can snag tailgate spots with a view of the action. Don't miss the vendor village packed with local artisans and food, and let the kids get up close to the horses for a truly memorable weekend.
Location: 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg, VA
City of Fairfax 50th Annual Fall Festival
Oct. 10. Fairfax's fall festival turns 50 this year, and families can celebrate with more than 400 art, craft and food vendors, plus kids' activities and live entertainment all over historic downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but if your kids love rides, grab a $30 wristband for unlimited fun or pick up single ride tickets for $3 or $5. Don't miss Sparky's Harvest Bash at Fire Station 3, where little ones can climb aboard a fire truck, meet volunteer firefighters and snap a photo with Sparky—all for free. The festival happens rain or shine, and free shuttles from George Mason University and Fairfax High School make parking a breeze.
Location: Downtown Fairfax, 10415 North St., Fairfax, VA
Springfield Fall Festival
Oct. 10. Springfield's outdoor fall festival is back for its fifth year, filling the Town Center with food vendors, local restaurants, costumed characters, live music, a magic show and performances by local youth groups from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids can jump into interactive activities and win prizes between acts, and parents will appreciate the easy access to restrooms and extra food choices inside the mall.
Location: Springfield Town Center, 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA
The Big Build
Oct. 17. The National Building Museum's annual STEM festival is all about hands-on fun — kids can grab real tools and try their hand at building. Check the museum's website for this year's hours and registration details.
Location: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Washington, DC
18th Annual American Indian Festival
Oct. 17. Celebrate Native American culture, heritage and traditions with a day of free fun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families can enjoy live music, dancing, crafts, Native food vendors, storytelling, archery and more. Additional lineup details are still forthcoming.
Location: Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD
Riversdale Harvest Fest
Oct. 17. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can dig into seed saving with the site's historic gardener, cozy up for story time and wrap up the morning with a harvest scavenger hunt — prizes included. It's a relaxed, easy outing that's perfect for pairing with a picnic on the lawn.
Location: Riversdale Historic Site and Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park, MD
Halloween Family Fun Day
Oct. 17. Reston Community Center's Halloween bash runs from noon to 2 p.m. at Hunters Woods. Kids 8 and under are invited to dress up and join in for games and family-friendly performances. Registration is required, and an adult needs to stay with each child.
Location: RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA
Turkish Festival
Oct. 18. Pennsylvania Avenue NW transforms into a Turkish street festival from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with delicious food, live music, folk dancing, craft vendors and a Turkish coffeehouse. Kids can dive into games and crafts in the children's tent, where past favorites have included mosaic making, coloring and face painting.
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Third and Sixth Streets, Washington, DC
Fall Harvest Family Days at Mount Vernon
Oct. 24-25. Step back in time at George Washington's farm, where colonial harvest fun runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main event is wheat treading at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. — watch horses separate grain from stalks inside a 16-sided barn. Kids can meet farm animals, play colonial lawn games and check out a Revolutionary War camp. There's also a storytime reading of "Farmer George Plants a Nation," followed by a farm scavenger hunt.
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA
Air & Scare
Oct. 24. Get ready for a spooky day at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Families can trick-or-treat for free candy and snacks, make creepy crafts, try out spooky science experiments and enjoy story times and puppet shows for little ones. Snap photos with Star Wars characters and check out the new costume runway show. No ticket is needed for indoor fun, but the outdoor activities require a free timed ticket (released Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.). Plan to spend about 90 minutes. Costumes are welcome for kids 15 and under, but leave costume weapons at home. Parking is $15, and lines can be long, so the Fairfax Connector bus 983 is a smart option.
Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA
Boo at the Pool
Oct. 24. Reston Community Center's Halloween swim party splashes into Hunters Woods from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Kids, ages 6 months to 9 years, can show off their poolside costumes, dive for treats and head home with a goody bag. The event is divided into four 30-minute sessions. A parent/caregiver must accompany non-swimmers in the water.
Location: Terry L. Smith Aquatic Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA
"At Home in Space"
Opens Oct. 30. The National Air and Space Museum's newest gallery lets families step into space exploration with hands-on exhibits tracing more than 40 years of living and working in space. Kids can check out a real space shuttle engine, see Sally Ride's tennis racquet, spot Guy Bluford's flight suit jacket, build with a prototype Women of NASA LEGO set and meet Robonaut 1A, a humanoid robot. Admission is free, but you'll need a timed entry pass for the DC museum. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC
Mystery Mansion
Oct. 30-Nov. 1. The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase transforms its clubhouse into a not-too-scary haunted house just right for kids ages 3 to 12, and parents are welcome to join the fun. Fairytale Isle tickets are $20; the Tunnel is a $5 upgrade requiring a Fairytale Isle ticket; Bonfire Bash is $10. All tickets include access to Bonfire Bash. Be sure to buy tickets in advance.
Location: 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD
Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Oct. 31. Celebrate Halloween at George Washington's home, where kids can trick-or-treat around the historic grounds from 2 to 5 p.m. with a special Mount Vernon treat bag (required). Little ones can join a costume parade at 4 p.m., catch 18th-century magician Peter Gardiner at 3 and 4:30 p.m., listen to fife and drum music at 2:30 p.m. and even meet George and Martha Washington.
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA
DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival
Nov. 7-8 and 14-15. Join over 200 vendors and 14,000 fellow chocolate and coffee lovers from DC, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond! Sample delicious treats, discover new favorites and enjoy a fun-filled day with family and friends at one or both festival locations.
Location: Nov. 7-8: Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse, 18031 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD; Nov. 14-15: Dulles Town Center, 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, VA
