Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer Swope

Best Holiday Activities and Christmas Events Near DC for Kids and Families in 2022

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 11/11/2022 - 8:13am

Enchant DC turns Nationals Park into a dazzling winter wonderland. Photo by @jny.prz, courtesy of Enchant DC

Is your family ready to get into the holiday spirit? There's an abundance of fun holiday activities and Christmas events near DC in 2022 where they can do just that. It's time to start planning those holiday calendars now, because many of these holiday activities and Christmas events near DC require advance tickets or registration. Whether it's a holiday boat parade, a drive-thru light show, or a Christmas market, there is something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.

We've rounded up the ultimate list of holiday activities and Christmas events near DC to help you with your holiday planning. For even more fun things to do this holiday season, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids. And remember, we're adding new events to our DC event calendar daily, so keep checking back for more holiday fun. Whatever you celebrate, we're wishing you all the wonders of the season!

Veterans Day Weekend 2022 in DC: Arlington National Cemetery, Art on the Avenue, and More Fun Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 11/09/2022 - 10:05am

Join the National Native American Veterans Memorial Dedication Celebration. Photo courtesy of the State Department

Looking for the best things to do in DC Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Veterans Day weekend includes three days off from work and school, with plenty of opportunities for kids and parents to enjoy some quality time together. Your family can honor veterans at events across the region, including a Veterans Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the National Native American Veterans Memorial Dedication and celebration, and the grand opening of Spirit Park in National Harbor.

If your family is ready for the holidays, several Christmas and holiday events kick off this weekend, such as Bull Run Festival of Lights, Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights, and National Harbor's Tree Light Show and Fireworks. You can also start your holiday shopping at Art on the Avenue in Alexandria and the Stars & Stripes Fair in National Harbor.

Don’t miss our review of Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, our list of Polar Express and Christmas trains near DC, and the best things to do in Washington, DC, in November with kids. Plus, bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more things to do every day.

Best of November: Awesome Things To Do in DC with Kids for Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and More

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 11:00am

Get some exercise before the big meal at the Vienna Turkey Trot. Photo by Melissa Maillett Photography

November brings plenty of things to do, as DC gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in DC this month.

Start off the month by smashing some pumpkins at Great Country Farms. Head over to Big Build to test your construction skills, celebrate Veterans Day at the Spirit Park Grand Opening in National Harbor, and get some Thanksgiving exercise at the Vienna Turkey Trot or America's Trot for Hunger. Then, get into the spirit of the winter holidays while meandering through the German Christmas Village in Baltimore, driving through the Bull Run Festival of Lights, or taking in the whimsy of Ice! featuring A Christmas Story.

For more fun things to do check out our lists of family-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving and fall day trips and weekend getaways from DC—and don't forget to book tickets for some holiday train rides!

We're adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don't forget to check it frequently.

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Halloween Weekend Things to Do in DC with Kids: Trick-or-Treat, Air & Scare, and More Fun Events

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 9:53am

Air & Scare is back at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! Photo courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Halloween is finally here! It's time to put those masks and costumes to good use at some kid-friendly Halloween events and activities in and around DC. Our events calendar is packed with the best places for princesses, monsters, and superheroes to show off their outfits all weekend long.

Start the weekend with a family-friendly friendly festival like Hilloween at Eastern Market or PumpkinPalooza at Alethia Tanner Park. Continue the Halloween fun at Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park, Air & Scare at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, or Harbor Halloween at National Harbor. And on Halloween itself, enjoy the Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular, go trunk-or-treating in Indian Head, or head to one of the best neighborhoods to trick-or-treat near DC.

Don’t miss our lists of the top Halloween events in DC for kids and families, the best pumpkin patches near DC, and the best things to do in Washington, DC in October with kids.

Best Free Halloween Events Near DC for Kids and Families

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 10/02/2022 - 10:20am

National Harbor turns spooktacular at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Facebook page

Halloween doesn’t have to cost money to be memorable. After all, you can put the kiddos in a sheet with holes (a la Charlie Brown) or another homemade costume and go trick-or-treating without spending a dime! But the fun doesn't have to last for only one night. There are so many free Halloween events near DC throughout the month of October to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank. From parades to trunk-or-treats to festivals, these free Halloween events near DC offer a ton of spooky, festive fun for DC families.

For even more spooky and not-so-spooky fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC and our roundup of top Halloween events in DC for kids and families. Happy hauntings!

Best of October: Halloween Events, Fall Festivals, and More Things To Do in DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 09/30/2022 - 9:18am

May the best pumpkin win at the Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival. Photo courtesy of the Montgomery Village Foundation

Time for all things pumpkins, apples, and ghosts! October is packing a spooky punch in DC with the return of Boo at the Zoo and Air & Scare, lots of Halloween events, and many other fun things to in DC with kids. There are also tons of fall festivals happening, including Old Bowie Celebrates! and the Turkish Festival.

If live theater excites your family, two shows are coming to Imagination Stage this month: In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson and S.P.I.E.S. 2: Flight of the Hawk. Looking for a chance to get into the Halloween spirit early? Watch Ghostbusters at Lincoln's Cottage.

Find more October fun in our fall bucket list for DC kids, our list of great places to go apple picking near DC, and our roundup of the best pumpkin patches near DC for kids and families.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters

Top Halloween Events in DC for Kids and Families in 2022

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 09/25/2022 - 10:35am

Show off your Halloween costumes at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of National Harbor

Bring on the candy, the jack o' lanterns, and the costumes—it's time for Halloween! With so many fun Halloween events in DC, there are lots of ways to celebrate this festive season. The DC area has everything from fall festivals and corn mazes to apple picking and fall train rides. There are also plenty of pumpkin patches near DC to find that perfect pumpkin to decorate your front porch.

But sometimes you want to go all-in on Halloween. When that happens, round up your young witches and ghouls and head out to one of these top Halloween events in DC in 2022. And don't forget to check out our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families for more autumn activities!

Best Harvest & Pumpkin Festivals Near DC, plus More Fall Fairs and Fests for Family Fun

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 9:04am

Enjoy loads of fall fun at the Cox Farms Fall Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

As September arrives in the DC area, pumpkin festivals, harvest festivals, and other fall fairs and fests begin. There are so many amazing fall festivals near DC, from farm festivals that last all of October (and parts of September and November) to daylong or weekend events that celebrate food, culture, art, and more. These festivals have lots to offer, from pumpkins and apples to crafts, games, live music, and so much more.

We've found nearly 40 harvest and pumpkin festivals in and around DC, plus other fall fairs and fests that you'll want to add to your family's calendar.

Don't forget to check out our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families for even more autumn fun, including our lists of the best pumpkin patches near DC and where to go apple picking near DC.