Take a break from the candy eating and check out most of these sugar-free activities! Remember to turn your clocks back for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday and read our post on how to spend the darker afternoons.
Saturday-
9:00am-2:00pm: The Mount Pleasant Children’s Puppet Hour hosts Paper Lantern Making at La Casa
(3166 Mount Pleasant Street Washington, DC)
We create lanterns by collaging tissue paper and other things onto pre-built paper lanterns. It makes a good activity for even the youngest kids (with grown-up help!) but it also allows a lot of creativity and craft and is great for older kids and adults. Lantern-making supplies, including battery-powered lights – will cost $5 per lantern. Lantern walk is at 5:30pm, see below.
10:00am: John Henry the Guitar Playing Man will perform at Avalon Theater
Costume party and live children’s music! Performing for the 10th year in a row, John Henry once again brings his playful musical style to the Avalon’s annual Halloween party. Children of all ages welcome! $6.50 / $5 for Avalon members.
10:00am-5:00pm: Innovation Festival at National Air and Space Museum
(Independence Ave at 6th St, SW Washington, DC 20560)
Join us for a festival for the whole family that celebrates the accomplishments of American inventors and the spirit of innovation that has led to so many of today’s technologies. Exhibits, crafts, talks, and performances will showcase ingenuity at the Smithsonian and across America. Meet inventors and the patent examiners who worked with them on their inventions, hear directly from experts about how an idea is molded into a working product, and try your hand at making your own invention.
10:30am: Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
As every family with youngsters in the DC area knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005.
10:30am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Featured story today is Five Little Pumpkins. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Tickets can be purchased here.
1:00pm: Capital Maritime Music Fest at Naval Heritage Center
(701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20004)
Family-friendly activities include concerts, workshops, children’s activities and cameo performances featuring the music, folklore and history. Free admission but donations encouraged.
1:30pm-3:30pm: Halloween Workshop presented by The French Academy at The Baptist Church of Chevy Chase
They have prepared various activities for the children no matter their level: crafts, scary stories, creative acting… funny witches, nice monsters or other vampires are all welcome. Bring your costume too! $25.
1:30pm: Halloween Dueling Piano Show at Bobby Mckey’s
(172 Fleet St. National Harbor, MD. 20745)
Are you looking for an afternoon activity that is fun for the entire family? Want to take your kids to a performance where they’re encouraged to wiggle in their seats and dance in the aisles? Kids’ Day is the perfect outing for the whole family, and a great way to inspire your young ones to play a musical instrument. The dueling piano experience shouldn’t be reserved just for grown-ups, and that’s why we bring you our monthly family show.
2:00pm: Halloween Bash at Tenley-Friendship Library
(4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016)
Come in your favorite costume and celebrate Halloween with Games & Prizes, Photobooth, Crafts, Refreshments, Music and more fun!
2:30pm-3:30pm: Halloween Party at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
An Oh-So-Omm Halloween party for families with kiddos ages 2+! Come wearing your costume and join us for an afternoon of spirited yoga, dance, and movement with your friends from Lil Omm. Cost: $20/family up to 4.
(3258 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010)
Take back the hour! Join us for a lantern walk to mark the end of Daylight Savings Time and the onset of winter’s early darkness! We will make a procession around the neighborhood carrying lanterns of all sorts. Our route will include a woodsy section full of mystery and surprises! In case of rain, the walk will be on Sunday.
Sunday-
10:00am-5:00pm: Innovation Festival at National Air and Space Museum
(Independence Ave at 6th St, SW Washington, DC 20560)
Join us for a festival for the whole family that celebrates the accomplishments of American inventors and the spirit of innovation that has led to so many of today’s technologies. Exhibits, crafts, talks, and performances will showcase ingenuity at the Smithsonian and across America. Meet inventors and the patent examiners who worked with them on their inventions, hear directly from experts about how an idea is molded into a working product, and try your hand at making your own invention.
10:00am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Featured story today is The Little Blue Truck. Best for ages 1-3. Tickets can be purchased here.
4:00pm-7:00pm: Shining Stars Montessori Academy presents El Jardin Cubano at Chez Billy
(3815 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011)
A family-friendly fundraiser evening of Cuban Jazz featuring renowned pianist, composer, and arranger Yoel Diaz along with vocalist Jessica Phillips-Silver (one of SSMA mamas)! El Jardin Cubano will be an unforgettable evening of music, fun, and family fusing the rhythms of traditional Cuban music with contemporary Jazz.This is a family-friendly event for all ages in support of our academic programs.Tickets are $30 for adults and children are FREE! Join us for this unique and vibrant cultural experience! Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Bring your dancing shoes…se baila!
(1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101)
“The Amazing Max and the Box of Interesting Things” bursts with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation. Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics and performs miracles inches from spectators’ faces. This show is the wackiest, most interactive, highest energy magic show for families in town today.
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Animal Costumes: Dressing up babies in animal costumes is also a good idea.
Women's costumes also have a mix of the perennially popular along with a
surprise here and there. Put on the straw hat and rehearse a bit of makeup so that your experience
appears weathered.