Pick the biggest pumpkin at Butler's Orchard. Photo courtesy of the orchard

Fall Bucket List for Kids Near DC: Outdoor Fun

1. Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

Nothing beats picking the perfect pumpkin from the patch—especially when you can pull it right off the vine! Head to one of the best pumpkin patches near DC for kids, many of which have other fun activities like hayrides, corn mazes, slides, jumping pillows, petting zoos, and more. Check out our review of Great Country Farms to see why it's one of our favorites!

2. Go Apple Picking

Apple picking is another favorite fall activity for many families. Check out our list of the best apple picking orchards near DC, then use your finds to make one of these six easy apple recipes with your kids.

3. Visit an Animal Farm or Petting Zoo

Fall is a great time to head to an animal farm or petting zoo. That's because cooler temps often make the animals more active, and many of these farms also have fall festivals and pumpkin patches for families to enjoy. Check out our list of animal farms and petting zoos near DC, and read about our editor's experience at South Mountain Creamery.

4. Head to a Fall Festival

Fall is the most popular season for fairs and festivals in the DC region. From farm festivals to multicultural fairs to Renaissance and art festivals, there's a festival to suit any family's interests in our ultimate guide to fall festivals in 2025 for DC families.

5. Visit a National Park for Free

Want to enjoy the fall foliage in Great Falls Park, Shenandoah National Park, or another national park near DC without reaching into your wallet? Saturday, September 27 and Tuesday, November 11 are the last two Free Entrance Days in the National Parks for 2025.

Catch the Washington Nationals before their season ends. Photo courtesy of baseball.com

6. Root for the Home Team One Last Time!

There's still time to catch a baseball game before the regular MLB season ends. The Washington Nationals' last home game is on Sunday, September 28, 2025, while the Baltimore Orioles play at home through Thursday, September 25, 2025.

7. Catch Thrills at an Amusement Park

As if the rides and attractions aren't enough, amusement parks near DC host family-friendly Halloween festivals in the fall that make visiting even more fun. Try Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg with brave tweens and teens or Tricks and Treats at Kings Dominion with younger kids. It's also the last year to enjoy BOO Fest By Day at Six Flags America—the park closes for good at the end of this season!

8. Play at a Destination-Worthy Playground

Now that the oppressive heat and humidity are gone, kids can return to the DC area's amazing playgrounds to climb, swing, and play to their hearts' content. Try one of our favorite destination playgrounds in the DC area or one of the best tot lots and toddler playgrounds near DC.

9. Take a Fall Hike

The DC area is bursting with color in the fall, making it the perfect time to go on a family hike to see the foliage. Try Great Falls Park, Rock Creek Park, or one of our other favorite fall hikes near Washington, DC for families.

10. Celebrate Oktoberfest...

Pull on your dirndl or lederhosen and head to Oktoberfest at The Wharf on October 4, 2025, a family-friendly event that includes Polka on the Pier, German food, the Wiener 500 Dachsund Dash, and more fun.

11. ...and Día de los Muertos!

Return to the Wharf on November 1, 2025 to celebrate the Day of the Dead with live music, face painting, sugar skull decorating, and more at Día de los Muertos at the Wharf. Or, head to the Día de los Muertos Benefit Festival on the National Mall.

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Fall is the perfect time to go camping! Photo courtesy of Cherry Hill Campground

12. Go Camping

Fall is a great time to take the kids on a camping adventure because you can sleep outdoors, sing campfire songs, and tell ghost stories without the summer heat, humidity, and bugs. Try one of our favorite campgrounds near DC.

13. Hit the Beach—Really!

We're not kidding—the beach isn't only for summer. Fall can be a great time to spend a day or weekend at the beach because temperatures are often still mild, prices are lower, and crowds are thinner. Plus, many beach towns have fun fall festivals happening. See our list of the best family-friendly beaches near DC, including the Delaware beaches, Virginia Beach, and the Outer Banks, NC.

14. Visit a Kid-Friendly Beer Garden or Brewery

Fall is the perfect time to visit a beer garden or brewery in the DC area. The weather is perfect, seasonal beers are on tap, and many places host Oktoberfest celebrations. And with so many family-friendly beer gardens and breweries near DC, you don't even need to hire a babysitter!

15. See One Last Outdoor Concert...

Outdoor concerts are a summer staple in the DC area, but some of them go through September or even October! And without the summer humidity, stickiness, and bugs, you can enjoy the music much more. Enjoy one last outdoor concert at Lakefront Live at Rio in Gaithersburg on Friday, September 26, 2025 or at Fairfax City Rock the Block on Friday, October 24.

16. ...or One Last Outdoor Movie

There are still some outdoor movies happening as well! Head to National Harbor for Movies on the Potomac on Sunday, September 28, 2025 to see Dora and the Lost City of Gold. The Wine Bin in Ellicott City is showing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Saturday, October 4. And on Saturday, October 17, you can watch Shrek at Sunset Cinema at Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church.

17. Go Go-Karting

You've never been go-karting quite like this before! K1 Speed brings an outdoor go-kart track to Union Market at Race the District from October 9-12, 2025. Kids and adults 58 inches and taller can take a 15-minute race with only six cars on the track at a time. It'll be a fun adrenaline rush!

Find fun Halloween events all over the DC area. Photo courtesy of National Harbor

Halloween Events and Activities Near DC for Families

18. Get in the Spooky Spirit at a Halloween Event

DC loves Halloween—just check out our list of the best Halloween events in DC in 2025 for kids. It includes favorites like Boo at the Zoo at the National Zoo and the Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns at Green Meadows Petting Farm. But families don't have to break the bank to enjoy Halloween. From parades and parties to carnivals and trick-or-treat events, there are loads of free Halloween events near DC throughout October.

19. Go Trick-or-Treating...

Trick-or-treating on Halloween is a rite of passage for kids, and many DC neighborhoods and suburbs go all out with the Halloween decorations and spirit. Try one of these awesome trick-or-treat neighborhoods near DC.

20. ...or Trunk-or-Treating

Neighborhood trick-or-treating lasts only one night, but trunk-or-treats happen throughout October! You'll find a ton in our calendar, but a couple to look out for are Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat in McLean, Virginia and Truck or Treat in Cooksville, Maryland.

21. Work Your Way Through a Corn Maze

Corn mazes have become a Halloween tradition for many families, and there are some pretty great ones near DC that seem to get bigger and better each year. See our list of the best corn mazes near DC for kids and families. If you've got a Wicked fan in the family, your must check out the Wicked Corn Maze in Gambrills, Maryland!

22. Play Some Creepy Mini Golf

Burke Lake Park's mini golf course gets a spooky twist on the first three weekends of October with Goblin Golf, complete with decorations, treats, and appearances by ghosts and goblins. On October 24 and 25, you can also play Haunted Mini Golf at Oakmont Rec Center, then enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games, and more. 

23. Go on a Spooky Scavenger Hunt on the Rails

Hop aboard a Halloween Eye Spy Train at Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park, where each rider receives an "Eye Spy" card with seasonal items to look for along the tracks. Little train lovers will especially enjoy it!

24. Catch Some Frights at a Haunted House

Is your tween or teen brave enough to take on one of the DC area's seriously creepy haunted houses? Find out at Laurel's House of Horrors, Workhouse Haunt, or one of many others. 

25. Have a Halloween-Themed Museum Day

Several museums around the DC area host Halloween events where families can have some seasonal fun before or while exploring the exhibits. Try Halloween Family Day at the National Museum of the Corps or Trolley-ween at the National Capital Trolley Museum, among others.

26. Take a Ghost Tour

A ghost tour is a unique and fun way to learn more about DC's spooky history. And while most ghost tours near DC are offered throughout the year, doing them during Halloween season adds an extra layer of creepiness. Check out our list of the top ghost tours near DC, and see what we thought of one of them in our DC Ghost Tour review!

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The LEGO Discovery Center offers hours of LEGO fun. Photo by the author

More Things To Do in DC this Fall with Kids

27. Have a Monster Party at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC

As if LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC isn't fun enough (just read our review from when it opened), every day from September 25 - October 31, 2025, it is throwing a brick-tastic Monster Party! Kids can enjoy monster games, brew up a potion at the Potion Kitchen, watch a Halloween-themed 4D movie, and so much more. 

28. See a Family-Friendly Show

Lots of kid-friendly shows are popping up in theaters throughout the DC area this fall. Don't miss The Sound of Music at the Kennedy Center through October 5, 2025, The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Imagination Stage through October 12, or Cirque du Soleil: LUZIA in Tysons through October 19.

29. Meet a Kindie Rock Star

Laurie Berkner is one of the most popular entertainers for toddlers and preschoolers in the US, and you can see her perform live! The Laurie Berkner Band is playing two shows at the George Mason University Center for the Arts on October 18, 2025. You can also purchase a ticket for a meet-and-greet after each show.

The DC area is full of wonderful places to spend a fall day. Photo courtesy of Maryland PG Parks

30. Take a Fall Day Trip or Weekend Getaway

The long weekends coming up in October and November are the perfect time to take the family on an exciting day trip or weekend getaway. Whether you're looking for history and culture, outdoor fun, or theme-park thrills, you'll find the perfect adventure on our list of great fall day trips and weekend getaways from DC. And find out why Loudoun County is one of our favorite places to spend a fall weekend here. 

31. Have Family Fun at Washington National Cathedral

The world's sixth-largest cathedral is hosting a Family Fun Day on November 8 with special activities just for kids and families! Learn about Cathedral art forms like carved stone and stained glass, explore Cathedral features on a themed scavenger hunt, take a break at the coloring station and pop-up library cart, and visit the incredible LEGO® exhibit to see progress and donate to add bricks to a LEGO® Cathedral model.