Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy

  • Now-Oct. 18. Marking America's 250th anniversary, this exhibition gathers work from more than 30 contemporary American artists on themes of national identity, military service and the American Dream. The draw for families is the American Heroes Student Art Contest, which invited students in grades three through 12 across the country to create original artwork and essays for the anniversary. Kids tend to linger longer when they can see work made by people their own age.
  • Location: Art Museum of the Americas, 201 18th St. NW, Washington, DC

Theatre in the Park: "Woody Guthrie's American Song"

  • Sept. 4-6. Reston Town Center stages three free outdoor performances of "Woody Guthrie's American Song" in Reston Town Square Park, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Garage parking is free after 5 p.m. Better suited to elementary age and up than to toddlers, given the late start.
  • Location: Reston Town Square Park, 11900 Market St., Reston, VA

"Prince Caspian"

  • Sept. 4-Oct. 25. The Pevensie children return to Narnia to help the rightful heir claim his throne in this stage adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic. Performances run most days through the month, with 2 p.m. matinees on many weekend afternoons. A solid pick for families with readers who have already worked through the series.
  • Location: World Stage Theater, 400 4th St. SW, Washington, DC

Play Date at NMNH

  • Sept. 8 and 22. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History runs its monthly drop-in program for young children twice this month, starting at 10:30 a.m. each time. Volcanic Explorations lands on Sept. 8 and Dive into the Deep Sea follows on Sept. 22. Museum admission is free and no registration is required, which makes either date a reliable weekday morning option when the walls start closing in. The program is designed for ages 0-5.
  • Location: 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington, DC

NextNOW Fest 2026

  • Sept. 9-11 and 14. The University of Maryland's season opening arts festival spreads performances and installations across campus over four days, with start times shifting from late morning midweek to early evening on Friday and Saturday. Programming varies widely by day and happens all across campus, so check the daily schedule before you commit.
  • Location: 2101 Van Munching Hall, College Park, MD

Maryland Seafood Festival

  • Sept. 11-13. Ticketed. Sixty years on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, with seafood vendors, craft vendors, live music, Skipjack Heritage Days and children's activities at Sandy Point State Park. General admission includes a free ride on a working skipjack, and this year's anniversary brings Mama Duck, billed as the world's largest rubber duck. Rain or shine. Children 12 and younger are free.
  • Location: Sandy Point State Park, East Beach, 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis, MD

Bethesda Row Arts Festival

  • Sept. 12-13. More than 180 juried artists turn the Bethesda Row Arts and Entertainment District into an outdoor gallery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, with Best of Show and category winners announced Sunday morning. The show sits two blocks from the Bethesda Metro on the Red Line, and the Capital Crescent Trail crosses it at Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues.
  • Location: Bethesda Row, near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD

Stonebridge Fall Fest and Chili Cook Off

  • Sept. 12. Prince William County's fall festival takes over the streets of the town center starting at 11 a.m., with food and non food vendors, live music on multiple stages, food trucks and community exhibitors. Families can sample chili and vote for a favorite. The vendor mix usually includes local fire and rescue, which is a reliable win with younger children.
  • Location: Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 15201 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge, VA

Rosslyn Jazz Fest

  • Sept. 12. Now in its 34th year, this festival pairs live jazz with food trucks, local vendors and family-friendly activities. This year's lineup includes Plena Libre, Sally Baby's Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens and Dogo du Togo and the Alagaa Beat Band. Bring a blanket and plan to stay a while.
  • Location: 1300 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA

Lake Buddies: School is Cool

  • Sept. 12. September's edition of the Chevy Chase Lake's monthly community series is built around the Eric Energy Science Show. Seasonal activities and family entertainment fill out the morning. An easy two-hour outing that does not eat the whole Saturday.
  • Location: 8525 Chevy Chase Lake Terrace, Chevy Chase, MD

Kitchen Guild Cooking Demonstration: Underground Railroad

  • Sept. 13. Riversdale's historic cooks work over the open hearth to explore the Underground Railroad through foodways, connecting 19th century techniques and ingredients to stories of resilience and survival. The living history setting gives older kids a way into difficult history that a textbook does not.

  • Location: Riversdale Historic House and Museum, 6005 48th Ave., Riverdale Park, MD

  • Community Meet ups: Toddler Tuesdays at Pink Moon

  • Sept. 15. A monthly meetup for parents in the toddler stage, held the third Tuesday of every month in the playrooms at Pink Moon. No agenda and no pressure, just other adults in the same phase of life while the little ones play.

  • Location: 7610 Old Georgetown Road, Plaza Level, Bethesda, MD

2026 NCOS International Orchid Show and Sale

  • Sept. 18-20. The largest orchid show in the Mid Atlantic fills 5,000 square feet with flowering exhibits and vendors traveling from Ecuador, Brazil, Taiwan, Hawaii and beyond. Note the new location this year.
  • Location: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Building 6, Hall 3, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, MD

Family Fun: Chuseok

  • Sept. 19. The National Museum of Asian Art celebrates the Korean harvest festival with a scavenger hunt through the Peacock Room and Korean art gallery, courtyard story time featuring Korean folk and fairy tales, and pattern puzzles with objects from the hands-on collection. Starts at 11 a.m. No reservation required.
  • Location: National Museum of Asian Art, Courtyard, Gallery 12, Gallery 14 West Building, Washington, DC

Reston Multicultural Festival

  • Sept. 19. Reston Community Center and the Reston Town Center Association fill the town center with performances, food and community groups representing the cultures that make up Reston.
  • Location: Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St., Reston, VA

RisuCon

  • Sept. 26. Montgomery County's anime and cosplay convention runs vendors, anime screenings, cosplay contests, free themed group photo shoots, a game room with tournaments, an activity room, a cosplay maker space and panels. The event is billed for the whole family, with more than 28,000 square feet of vendor space and free parking at the fairgrounds.
  • Location: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, MD

Takoma Park Folk Festival

  • Sept. 27. Free. Six stages of music, a juried crafts show, international food, community nonprofit tables and children's games and activities, rain or shine, make up this family-friendly folk festival.
  • Location: 7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD

5K Christalis Superhero Run and Walk

  • Sept. 27. Capes and tights encouraged for a 9 a.m. 5K that welcomes walkers as readily as runners. Proceeds go directly to children in the Christalis programs, which gives families an easy way to talk about why they are out there. Finish here and you are a mile from the Takoma Park Folk Festival when it opens at 10:30 a.m.
  • Location: 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park, MD

Brunswick Railroad Day

  • Oct. 3-4. Brunswick Railroad Days returns to downtown Brunswick marking 43 years of celebrating the town's history as a hub of the B&O Railroad. The two-day festival features live music, local artisan crafts, food and model train displays, along with activities for kids and families. It's a community-driven event that spotlights the talent of local performers, artists and artisans.
  • Location: Throughout Downtown Brunswick, MD