Best Events for Kids in DC in October 2025

Top Things To Do in DC with Kids this October

Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Bluemont, VA
Daily, through October 31
Great Country Farms' fall festival includes hayrides to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, pig races, a ninja warrior course, jumping pillows, slides, playgrounds, and much more. Don't forget to meet P-Rex the Pumpkin Eating Dino and try freshly baked cider donuts. Visit the website here.

InterAct Story Theatre's Bobtail BONG BONG: A Monkey’s Tale
Silver Spring, MD
Friday - Sunday, October 3-5
In this play created just for early childhood audiences, kids and families follow Bob the Monkey’s madcap misadventures and help Bob figure out why they got in trouble monkeying around. Led by InterAct Story Theatre’s Artistic Director Ali Oliver-Krueger, audience members make suggestions about how Bob could do things differently, and watch Bob and friends role-play out their ideas. Can Bob make things better by making better choices? Does it work? What happens next? Visit the website here.

Old Bowie Celebrates! Festival
Bowie, MD - Free
Saturday, October 4
The Old Bowie Celebrates! Festival features live music and dance, food vendors with local and global cuisines, arts and crafts, and much more. Children can explore cultures through activities, earning stamps in their festival passports. Visit the website here.

Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival (at North Creek Community Center)
Montgomery Village, MD - Free
Saturday, October 4
Face off or watch as decorated pumpkins on wheels go head to head in this crazy pumpkin race. There are awards for best decoration and most innovative design, best themed pumpkin racer and driver duo, and other fun categories. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food, and lots of children's activities. Visit the website here.

Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Washington, DC - Free
Saturday, October 4
It’s that time of year to wear a dirndl or lederhosen for Oktoberfest. This annual event includes the Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash from 2-5pm, Polka on the Pier from 5-7pm, stein hoisting, German food, lively music, and more. Visit the website here.

Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts
McLean, VA - Free
Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5
Designed for all ages, this two-day outdoor festival transforms the streets of Capital One Center into a multi-block celebration of the arts featuring interactive installations, hands-on workshops, live music, and culinary experiences for every generation. There's also a Kids Zone and a beer and wine garden. Visit the website here.

Takoma Park Street Festival
Takoma Park, MD - Free
Sunday, October 5
Enjoy over 150 vendors, live music from 18 local bands, food trucks, and more fun activities at this popular street festival. Visit the website here.

The Magic of Rob Lake (at George Mason Center for the Arts)
Fairfax, VA
Sunday, October 5
Be amazed by the youngest winner of The Merlin Award, also known as the “holy grail of the magic world,” and America’s Got Talent quarter finalist Rob Lake! Named “The World's Greatest Illusionist” by NBC, Rob Lake will leave the whole family breathless with this “truly magical journey... a mind-boggling evening of theater” (Los Angeles Daily News)! Visit the website here.

Race the District at Union Market
Washington, DC
Thursday - Sunday, October 9-12
Race the District is here! Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled weekend at Union Market District with a unique go-kart racing experience powered by K1 Speed, the world’s premier go-kart racing operator. The weekend is packed with go-karting excitement for all ages (minimum height of 58”), from seasoned racers to complete beginners. Each 15-minute race accommodates six drivers, making every race a thrilling and enjoyable experience, perfect for creating fun memories with family and friends. Visit the website here.

Farm Day in Cherry Hill Park
Falls Church, VA - Free
Saturday, October 11
Farm Day in Cherry Hill Park has fall-themed family activities including a petting farm, pony rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making (bring your own long pants and a sleeved shirt), live music, tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn, blacksmith demonstrations, and more. Visit the website here.

Touch-a-Truck at McLean Community Center
McLean, VA - Free
Monday, October 13
If your children love vehicles, visit Touch-a-Truck! This free event allows kids to touch, sit in, and explore some of their favorite cars and trucks. Visit the website here.

Gabby's Dollhouse LIVE! at The Lyric
Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 18
In this a-MEOW-zing musical show, Gabby unboxes a special acorn that needs the magical touch of a rainbow to grow. But when CatRat causes a color cat-astrophe and breaks the rainbow, Gabby and the Gabby Cats must find the colors again to set things right. Visit the website here.

Fall Carnival and Fall Harvest Days at Frying Pan Farm Park
Herndon, VA - Free (parking $10)
Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19
Enjoy a weekend of fall fun including games, rides, and fair food. You can also explore the farm on Fall Harvest Day. Watch the cider press in action, milk a goat or a cow, shell corn, peel apples, meet the farm animals, and see traditional farm demonstrations. Visit the website here.

Turkish Festival
Washington, DC - Free
Sunday, October 19
Celebrate the Turkish Festival with Turkish foods, live music, folk dancing, arts and crafts, and kids' games. Visit the website here.

Wicked Corn Maze & Fall Festival
Gambrills, MD
Various dates, through November 2
Explore eight acres including a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkins, corn pits, pony rides, a petting farm, zip lines, slingshots, straw pyramids, jumping pillows, and so much more. Enjoy festival treats including fresh-dipped corn dogs, kettle corn, and snow balls. Visit the website here.

Halloween Events & Halloween Weekend in Washington, DC

Zoo Boo! at Maryland Zoo
Baltimore, MD
Fridays - Sundays, October 3-26
The Maryland Zoo's Zoo Boo! features lots of trick-or-treat stations throughout. Kids can wear costumes, collect candy, and visit the animals. There are also games, prizes, contests, and live entertainment. Visit the website here.

Goblin Golf at Burke Lake Park
Fairfax Station, VA
Saturdays & Sundays, October 4-19
Enjoy festive mini golf at Burke Lake Park with Halloween decorations, treats, and appearances by ghosts and goblins. Visit the website here.

Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns at Green Meadows Petting Farm
Ijamsville, MD
Fridays - Sundays, October 4-26
Put on a costume and head to Green Meadows Petting Farm's annual Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns to see glowing jack-o'-lanterns in all shapes and sizes. There's also a farm show, fire pits, trick-or-treating along the trail, and the chance to meet furry friends in the Animal Barn. Hayrides, glow necklaces, s'mores, and more are available for purchase. Visit the website here.

Workhouse Haunt
Lorton, VA
Fridays - Sundays, October 10 - November 1
The 2025 Workhouse Haunt features Apokalypse: Kingdom of Shadows, a themed walk-through experience leading guests on a frightening journey that brings them along abandoned, historic buildings where they will encounter terrifying characters and sights and sounds that are not for the faint of heart. Visit the website here.

Truck or Treat (at Gary J. Arthur Community Center)
Cooksville, MD
Saturday, October 11
Costumed kids can trick-or-treat at a variety of trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, and more while meeting their hometown heroes at this "wheely" fun event. Visit the website here.

Boo at the Zoo at the National Zoo
Washington, DC
Friday - Sunday, October 17-19
At Boo at the Zoo, kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute while viewing animals at the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Great Ape House, and Think Tank. Visit the website here

Halloween on the Farm (at Frying Pan Farm Park)
Herndon, VA
Friday, October 24
Come trick-or-treat on the farm! Visit with farm animals, create crafts, play games, tour the decorated farmhouse, and enjoy fall on the farm. Visit the website here.

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival
Baltimore, MD - Free
Saturday, October 25
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There's also a costume contest for kids. The parade includes illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. Visit the website here.

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Chantilly, VA - Free
Saturday, October 25
See the spooky side of air and space at the Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At this popular event, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, photo ops with Star Wars characters, and other Halloween-themed activities. Visit the website here.

Harbor Halloween
National Harbor, MD - Free
Sunday, October 26
Enjoy an afternoon of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including trick-or-treating at select stores and restaurants, kids' activities, a Halloween movie, a pet pawrade, and a chef pumpkin-carving contest. Visit the website here.

Del Ray Halloween Parade
Alexandria, VA - Free
Sunday, October 26
Del Ray’s annual Halloween Parade starts at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center play fields. Costumed kids, pets, and strollers can march in the parade. Visit the website here.

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular
Great Falls, VA - Free
Friday, October 31
The annual Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular on the Great Falls Village Centre Green features a pet parade and costume contest, a ghostly haunted house, live music, and more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with local merchants from 5-7 pm. Visit the website here.

Hilloween (at Eastern Market)
Washington, DC - Free
Friday, October 31
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. Enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. Visit the website here.

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