Things to Do with Kids -- Monthly and Weekend Events, Spring Festivals, Free Outdoor Movies
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Best FREE Splash Pads in DC
1. Dancing Fountains and Canal Basin & Waterwall — Yards Park
355 Water Street SE
Kids can just get their feet wet or be completely drenched at this fun spot. The Dancing Fountains have playful water jets and scrims, while the multilevel Canal Basin & Waterwall has water flowing from the upper level to the lower, creating a waterfall effect into a splash pool. At night, the fountain area is lit with color-changing lights.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: The Canal Basin & Waterwall's splash pool is less than a foot deep and safe for the youngest of splashers.
2. Georgetown Waterfront Park Fountain — Georgetown
Situated in the eastern section of the park near 31st Street, NW, and the Wisconsin Avenue Plaza
The focal point of Georgetown Waterfront Park is the fountain featuring large arcing water spray that reaches from the Wisconsin Avenue end to the Potomac riverfront. Kids can splash around in the iconic fountain while parents enjoy the waterfront scenery. The fountain is lit in the evenings, making it one of the best free summer activities DC has for warm nights.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: The Georgetown Waterfront also has a fun labyrinth, a gorgeous rain garden, and kid-friendly restaurants like Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers. See our list of more great things to do in Georgetown with kids.
3. Petworth Spray Park — Petworth
801 Taylor Street, NW,
Set in an otherwise traditional park, this splash pad is perfect for the smallest of splashers. Plenty of fountains large and small adorn the concrete space, which is enclosed to prevent little ones from wandering off. The Petworth Recreation Center also has two playgrounds, a basketball court, and a soccer field.
Best Ages: 1-5
Know Before You Go: Not a lot of shade is offered among the colorful sculptures spewing water, so bring an umbrella.
4. Canal Park Fountain — Capitol Riverfront
200 Main Street SE
Splash pads don't always need all the bells and whistles to be fun. Take Capitol Riverfront's Canal Park Fountain—its two dancing fountains always draw crowds of gleeful, splashing kids.
Best Ages: 1-7
Know Before You Go: Canal Park also has a large green space that's perfect for picnics and lawn games.
5. Turkey Thicket Splash Pad — Brookland
1100 Michigan Avenue, NE
This fun splash pad features a lighthouse and boat, a climbing hill, musical instruments, shade structures, and more. Turkey Thicket's playground focuses on two themes: a mini village with mountains, playhouses, and a farmers' market; and a transportation section with trains, cars, and boats.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: A parking lot, picnic area, and bathrooms inside the recreation center make this splash pad a convenient choice.
6. Palisades Splash Park — Foggy Bottom
5200 Sherier Place, NW
The splash pad offers a water slide, a fountain, and three raised fish that dump water onto the children. Palisades alao has a playground themed around the Potomac and the American Indians who once lived in the area. From a mountain-climbing wall to slides and swaying bridges, the park is perfect for preschool-aged children. Leave it to the nation's capital to turn everything into a history lesson!
Best Ages: 1-5
Know Before You Go: The park provides a shaded pavilion, restrooms, and free lot parking.
7. Joseph Cole Community Center Splash Pad —NoMa
1299 Neal Street, NE
The splash pad at this community center is simple but large, with four huge, colorful bands that spray kids. Families can also explore the large park, which offers two sections separated by age groups.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: The parking lot is located on the Neal Street side, while street parking is available on the Montello Avenue side of the park.
8. 14th and Girard Street Spray Park — Columbia Heights
While not as fancy as some of the others listed, this easily accessible spray park provides quick relief from the city heat. In addition to the spray area, the facility offers picnic tables, chess tables, and—most importantly—clean bathrooms.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: This cool-down spot is perfect for those traveling by Metro—it's just a quick stroll from the Columbia Heights Metro stop.
9. Chevy Chase Recreation Center Splash Pad
5500 41st Street, NW
This splash pad is small, but it's perfect for toddlers and younger kids because it's full of ride-on toys and other outdoor playthings that families have left behind. It's also fenced in, and there's a shaded playground for kids to enjoy when they tire of the water.
Best Ages: 1-5
Know Before You Go: Restrooms are available inside the rec center.
Top Splash Pads and Spraygrounds in Maryland
10. South Germantown Splash Park — Boyds
18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD
This is one of those popular splash pads that's not to be missed. Kids can explore the 280-jet water maze with a waterfall, water-bucket drops, a slide, and spraying animals. There are also smaller fountains for younger splashers. With plenty of shade and the option to pay for a round of mini golf at the adjacent course, this cool-down spot provides all-day fun.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: There is an admission fee for everyone ages 2 and up.
11. Downtown Interactive Fountain — Silver Spring
923 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD
This colorful, mosaic-patterned fountain contains jets that shoot water at different intervals and at heights that thrill even the shortest of splashers. The plaza often hosts live music and other special events for families. Check the Downtown Silver Spring website for a schedule.
Best Ages: 1-7
Know Before You Go: This fountain is a favorite in the downtown area, so it can get crowded, especially on weekends. Unlike other fountains, this one turns on mid-spring and stays open through the fall.
12. North Barnaby Splash Park — Oxon Hill
5000 Wheeler Road, Oxon Hill, MD
This awesome splash park has so many fun water features, including a kids' pool, a water slide, an aqua climbing wall, and a tipping-buckets waterfall. Showers and locker rooms allow families to wash off and put on dry clothing.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: There is an entry fee of $3-$8 per person (as of 2026), with lower prices for Prince George's and Montgomery County residents, those who make a reservation online, and kids.
13. Hamilton Splash Park — Hyattsville
3901 Hamilton Street, Hyattsville, MD
Kids will have a blast at this outdoor pool and splash park featuring an aqua climbing wall, water slides, a tipping-buckets waterfall, and other fun stuff. Locker rooms and showers make it convenient to change out of wet bathing suits.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: There's a fee to get in, but it's cheaper for kids, Prince George's and Montgomery County residents, and those who make a reservation online. As of 2026, no one pays more than $8 to get in.
Top FREE Splash Pads in Northern Virginia
14. Potomac Yard Park Interactive Fountain — Alexandria
2501 Potomac Ave, Alexandria, VA
Potomac Yard Park's splash area features 36 water jets that shoot H2O between two troughs, which also have lights for evening playtime. The fountains are programmable, with sensors that control the height of the water while taking wind speed into consideration. A water-treatment system keeps things clean and supports the Eco-City Initiative by treating and recycling the water, which means your kiddos can stay cool and Earth-friendly!
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: The interactive fountain is situated between two playgrounds for when kids need a break from the water.
15. Virginia Highlands Park — Arlington
1600 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA
The splash pad at this nearly 20-acre park has fun features like a water cannon, mini waterfalls, and bucket splashers. It was also designed with conservation in mind: a built-in recirculation system saves 82,000 gallons of water a month, making this spot one you can feel good about while enjoying a break from the heat.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: The park also offers plenty of additional fun for families, including a playground, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, and more—plus bathrooms!
16. Fairfax City Splash Pad — Fairfax
10415 North Street, Fairfax, VA
This splash pad in Old Town Square is no-frills, but the location can't be beat—the City of Fairfax Library and Woody's Ice Cream are steps away, so you can really make a day of it.
Best Ages: 1-7
Know Before You Go: The splash pad is open daily from 8am-10pm, except on certain Fridays, when it closes at 3pm for the free Rock the Block concert series.
17. Drew Park — Arlington
2310 South Kenmore, Arlington, VA
This park next to Charles Drew Community Center includes a splash pad with water that shoots up from the ground. Hoops also spray water at alternating intervals, which means kids can spend their time guessing from where they will get soaked next. A tall flower soaker shoots water at different intervals. After children are done cooling off, they can enjoy the swings or rope-climbing at the playground.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: Free parking is available!
18. Our Special Harbor Spray Park — Alexandria
6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia, VA
This large, fully accessible, Chesapeake Bay-themed sprayground is full of fun features for splashers of all ages. They include a spraying osprey nest, misting sunflowers, a computerized water maze, a dumping crab basket, and a beach area with soft bubblers and a water table for younger kids. Even better: Our Special Harbor is right next door to Chessie's Big Backyard, one of our favorite playgrounds in the DC area.
Best Ages: All ages
Know Before You Go: For safety, kids 15 and younger must wear aquatic shoes or sandals with a back strap, except for non-standing and non-mobile babies. Our Special Harbor is first come, first served, so expect lines. The earlier you arrive, the better!
19. Mosaic District Splash Pad — Fairfax
2905 District Ave., Fairfax, VA
This splash pad in Mosaic District's Strawberry Park doesn't have any bells and whistles, but little ones will love being able to run around on the huge green space after getting soaked by the jets that shoot up from the ground. Strawberry Park sits smack in the middle of the action in Mosaic District, with kid-friendly restaurants like Ted's Bulletin and Matchbox, a movie theater, and a huge Target surrounding it.
Best Ages: 1-7
Know Before You Go: There are several free parking garages in Mosaic District, making this splash pad a convenient place for water play in DC. Slip-resistant footwear is required.
20. Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park Splash Pad — Aldie
22831 Hanson Park Dr, Aldie, VA
This splash pad is huge, but not so huge that you can't keep sight of your kids. There are smaller splashers perfect for toddlers and younger kids, while the large bucket that dumps water is a hit with older kids.
Best Ages: 1-10
Know Before You Go: Pack a lunch to eat in the shaded pavilion area and visit the playground when kids tire of water play.