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35 Best Things to Do in DC July 2023 with Kids: 4th of July Events and More

Meet lots of cute animals at the Loudoun County Fair. Photo courtesy of the fair
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6/30/23 - By Jennifer Swope

Summer is in full swing! July in Washington, DC is all about 4th of July fireworks and parades, outdoor movies and concerts, festivals and fairs, and more summer fun.

The DC area really celebrates Independence Day. Local towns and neighborhoods like Takoma Park, Vienna, and Capitol Hill have hometown festivities while the city plays host to large celebrations such as the National Independence Day Parade and the big DC fireworks show on the National Mall.

July also brings many other reasons to be outside, including the Loudoun County Fair, the Summer of Sunflowers, free DC summer concerts, and free outdoor movies.

Find more top July fun in our lists of the best amusement parks near Washington, DC for kids and families, where to go berry picking near DC, and 50 awesome free things to do with kids near DC.

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

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Celebrate America's birthday at the National Independence Day Parade in DC.
Celebrate America's birthday at the National Independence Day Parade in DC.

Top Things To Do in DC with Kids in July: 4th of July Events

O Say Can You Play

Washington, DC - Saturday, July 1, 2023
Happy Birthday America! Tudor Place celebrates Independence Day with a family-friendly outdoor program with traditional outdoor games and an opportunity to make a historic toy to bring home. Visitors can get a sneak peek at rarely displayed objects from the Tudor Place Collection. READ MORE

SummerFest at Bohrer Park

Gaithersburg, MD - Saturday, July 1, 2023
Free
Celebrate July 4th at Gaithersburg's SummerFest with live music, family activities, food, a fireworks display, and a SummerGlo after-party. READ MORE

Community Independence Day Fireworks Celebration

McLean, VA - Saturday, July 1, 2023
Free
The city of McLean celebrates July 4th with an evening fireworks display, a DJ, and food trucks. Gates open at 6:30pm and fireworks begin around 9:15pm.   READ MORE

Independence Fireworks

Mount Vernon, VA - Saturday, July 1, 2023
Enjoy an evening of family fun and fireworks along with patriotic music at Mount Vernon to celebrate the nation's founding. READ MORE

Vienna's Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks

Vienna, VA - Sunday, July 2, 2023
Free
Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks at Yeonas Park. Enjoy a live performance by the US Navy Concert Band, food, games, fun, and a fireworks show. Fireworks begin at 9:30pm. READ MORE

July 4th at the National Archives

Washington, DC - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Celebrate the 247th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The day includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence, live music, presentation of the colors, and more. READ MORE

National Independence Day Parade

Washington, DC - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Families can watch marching bands, floats, military units, giant balloons, and more to celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic celebration of America's birthday. READ MORE

Washington DC 4th of July Celebration

Washington, DC - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
The National Park Service hosts its annual Independence Day fireworks celebration on the National Mall. The fireworks start at 9:09pm and launch from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. READ MORE

Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade

Washington, DC - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
The 21st annual Capitol Hill Community Fourth of July Parade is back in person on Barracks Row. READ MORE

Fourth at The Wharf

Washington, DC - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
The Wharf hosts a 4th of July celebration with music and views of the National Park Service fireworks launched from the National Mall.  READ MORE

Kensington's Annual Fourth of July Bike Parade

Kensington, MD - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
This annual bike parade is open to any and all. Join in with bikes, scooters, wagons, and strollers as the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department leads the parade. READ MORE

Rockville's Independence Day Celebration

Rockville, MD - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Celebrate 4th of July with live music and fireworks at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park for Rockville's annual Independence Day Celebration. READ MORE

Takoma Park 4th of July Parade and Evening Celebration

Takoma Park, MD - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Takoma Park's 4th of July parade returns for its 134th year and begins at 10am. The evening celebration features music, games, food and drinks, and other fun activities.  READ MORE

An American Celebration

Fairfax, VA - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Meet George Washington, watch made-for-daytime fireworks, listen to live music, watch a US citizenship ceremony, and more during Mount Vernon's annual Independence Day Celebration. READ MORE

Celebrate America - Manassas, VA

Manassas, VA - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Celebrate Independence Day in downtown Manassas with a fun festival with lots of activities for kids beginning at 3pm, followed by a fireworks display at 9:15pm. READ MORE

4th of July Hometown Celebration & Fireworks

Great Falls, VA - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
The city of Great Falls celebrates the 4th of July throughout the day with a parade and fun activities in the morning followed by a fireworks display at 9pm. READ MORE

Town of Herndon 4th of July Celebration

Herndon, VA - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Free
Families can celebrate July 4th with activities, music, games, and a fireworks display in Bready Park. READ MORE
Pick sunflowers at Great Country Farms during its Summer of Sunflowers festival. Photo by Maryam Shahid for Great Country Farms
Pick sunflowers at Great Country Farms during its Summer of Sunflowers festival. Photo by Maryam Shahid for Great Country Farms

More Great Things to Do in DC with Kids in July

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Washington, DC - Daily, through July 9, 2023 (except July 5)
Free
Through cultural performances, workshops, food, and more, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival aims to spark curiosity of various cultures and nurture human connection. READ MORE

UniverSoul Circus

National Harbor, MD - Thursdays - Sundays, through July 23, 2023
UniverSoul Circus celebrates urban pop culture with a thrilling circus at National Harbor. Performers reflecting cultural diversity from around the world showcase their talents in this interactive performance, which also includes circus arts, music, and theater.  READ MORE

All Aboard! Streetcars on the Homefront

Colesville, MD - Saturday, July 1, 2023
During the first and second World Wars, streetcars played important roles in the lives of US and Canadian citizens who wanted to do their part to help the war effort. Meanwhile, groups that had historically been discriminated against saw the opportunity to push for rights and employment in the streetcar industry—forever changing policies and practices across the continent. Learn more about these times of change through a special exploration of objects from the museum archive. READ MORE

Summer of Sunflowers

Bluemont, VA - Daily, July 1-31, 2023
Visit Great Country Farms to pick sunflowers, enjoy fun farm activities (and live music on weekends), and take great family photos. Pick-your-own sunflowers are $1 per stem, or you can purchase a bucket.  READ MORE

Behind the Music with Jastin Artis

Washington, DC - Wednesday - Friday, July 5-7, 2023
Jastin Artis, a multi-skilled musical artist, entrepreneur, and teacher, reveals the magic, fun, and power of music-making. He shares original music that fuses hip-hop, spoken word, gospel, and other styles. Jastin takes the audience through the anatomy of a song and the artistry and skills that transform a musical inspiration into an onstage reality.  READ MORE

The World and Me Family Program: Exploring Earth through Dance and Movement with Company | E

Washington, DC - Saturday, July 8, 2023
Free
Company | E and music ensemble Sound Impact celebrate Earth through music and movement as they present To Sail Around the Sun set to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Telling the story of springtime waves off the shores of Australia, the summertime rainforests of Argentina, the autumn leaves of Japan, and the wintry snows of Kazakhstan, the show takes families on an adventure around the world and through the seasons. READ MORE

USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, July 8, 2023
Families can celebrate the 247th birthday of the USA and the 274th birthday of the City of Alexandria with a host of activities at Oronoco Bay Park. Guests can expect music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, cupcakes, a cannon salute, and fireworks.  READ MORE

Silver Spring Arts & Crafts Summer Fair

Silver Spring, MD - Sunday, July 9, 2023
Free
Summer is in full swing at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring with arts and crafts, music, dancing, live performances, more than 80 vendors, and fun activities for kids and adults.  READ MORE

The REMIX with SOLE Defined

Washington, DC - Wednesday - Friday, July 11-14, 2023
The REMIX is an action-packed, rhythmic roller coaster that explores the five elements of percussive dance—rhythm, energy, musicality, improvisation, and the secret x-factor. This interactive performance melds global music together with tap dance and stepping. READ MORE

"Spanish is the Language of My Family" Book Festival

Washington, DC - Saturday, July 15, 2023
Free
The National Postal Museum hosts a family-friendly book festival alongside the release of Spanish Is the Language of My Family, written by Michael Genhart and illustrated by the museum's Guest Artist John Parra. The day's events include tons of fun games, interesting crafts, and entertaining live music for the whole family. READ MORE

Archaeology Family Day

Mount Vernon, VA - Saturday, July 15, 2023
Discover archaeology at Mount Vernon and learn about how archaeologists help shape what is known about George Washington, the evolution of the estate, and the lives of the enslaved people who lived there. Meet real Mount Vernon archaeologists and ask them questions about their work. READ MORE

All Together Now: An Electromagnetic Adventure with the Science Guys of Baltimore

Washington, DC - Tuesday - Friday, July 18-21, 2023
The Science Guys of Baltimore help young scientists explore what brings things together and what keeps them apart—what scientists call the laws of attraction and repulsion—through the force of  electromagnetism. Launch rings into the air with an electromagnetic pulse generator, test strength in an electromagnet tug of war, and watch sparks fly with a Van de Graaff generator. READ MORE

Beauty and the Beast

Glen Echo, MD - Thursdays - Sundays, July 20 - August 20, 2023
Enjoy the romantic tale of a handsome prince and his love, Beauty, set in a great forest in old Russia. Conflicts, hopes, wishes, dreams, and exciting adventures all make the happy ending that much sweeter. Imaginative settings and beautiful costumes support this large-scale marionette version of the classic love story.  READ MORE

Freaky Friday

Arlington, VA - Fridays, July 21 - Sunday, July 30, 2023
What happens if you live life as someone else? Freaky Friday, based on the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, tells the story of a mother and daughter at odds over their differences and how they learn to understand one another after magically switching bodies and living as the other person. READ MORE

SAAM Arcade

Washington, DC - Saturday, July 22, 2023
Free
SAAM Arcade is back in the Kogod Courtyard for a day full of new games from indie developers along with classic arcade and console games. This year's arcade highlights games that use music and sound design in engaging, experimental, and inventive ways, from rhythm games to musical instrument simulators to groundbreaking soundtracking. READ MORE

Purcellville Wine & Food Festival

Purcellville, VA - Saturday, July 22, 2023
This family-friendly festival in the heart of DC's wine country features live music, vendors, kids' activities, and of course food and wine. READ MORE

Taratibu!

Washington, DC - Tuesday - Friday, July 25-28, 2023
Experience the diverse and eclectic musical influences of the African diaspora. The Taratibu Youth Association (TYA), an ensemble of young artists, shares percussive dance styles from stepping to traditional, modern to hip-hop as they sing songs from South Africa, Tanzania, Haiti, and Cuba. READ MORE

Loudoun County Fair

Leesburg, VA - Tuesday - Saturday, July 25-29, 2023
Enjoy food, carnival rides, live entertainment, games, a petting zoo, a demolition derby, and more at the annual Loudoun County Fair. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Historic Downtown Manassas
Great Falls Village Centre
Discovery Theater – Ripley Center
Silver Spring Veterans Plaza
Discovery Theater – Ripley Center
Discovery Theater – Ripley Center
Discovery Theater – Ripley Center