Stephanie Shipman

Latest posts by Stephanie Shipman

Top Things To Do to Celebrate Diwali 2025 in DC with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Sun, 10/05/2025 - 10:22am

There are many ways for kids to celebrate Diwali in the DC area. Photo courtesy of Shwas Dance Studio

Diwali, an Indian celebration commonly known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. Diwali symbolizes the story of good triumphing over evil, light taking over darkness, and knowledge winning over ignorance—and we love stories like that!

This year, Diwali falls on October 20, 2025, but celebrations take place throughout the month. There are many family events at libraries, including at the Montgomery County Connie Morella Library and Chantilly Regional Library. Looking for evening fun? Head to Family Diwali Night at Casey Community Center or DMV Diwali in Ijamsville, Maryland.

Read on for more ways to celebrate Diwali with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in DC: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:08am

Lil' Pumpkins Fest is an early chance for kids to show off their Halloween costumes! Photo courtesy of Black Rock Center for the Arts

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

With schools closed on Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day, it's a long weekend—and that means more time for fun! Disney fans can see two great shows, Disney on Ice "Jump In" at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA and Disney's MOANA Live-to-Film Concert in North Bethesda, MD.

Got a kiddo who loves trucks? There are two events for them this weekend, too: Truck or Treat in Cooksville, MD and Touch-a-Truck in McLean, VA

There are also various cultural celebrations this weekend! Try The Boro's Oktoberfest in McLean, VA; DMV Diwali in Ijamsville, MD; or Pueblo Unido Day in Sterling, VA.

See our DC activity calendar for even more fun things to do with kids. We add new events every day!

29 Best Things To Do in DC with Kids October 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 11:34am

Pumpkin Race Photo courtesy of the Montgomery Village Foundation

Spooky season arrives with October, and we have the best family-friendly events for little ghosts and goblins all month long.

Halloween events and fall festivals will keep your family busy this month as you celebrate the harvest season, pick pumpkins, and dress up for trick-or-treating.

Need a break from all things autumn? Ride go-karts at Race the District in Union Market, get artsy at Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, see Gabby's Dollhouse LIVE! in Baltimore, or attend a touch-a-truck in McLean!

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in October, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.

Top Free Halloween Events in DC 2025: Festivals, Parades, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:00pm

Light up the night at Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance

A family friendly Halloween doesn’t have to cost money to be memorable. There are many free Halloween events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia throughout the month of October to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. From Halloween parades and festivals to trunk-or-treats and trick-or-treat events, these free Halloween events offer a ton of spooky—and not-so-spooky—fun for DC families.

For even more Halloween events, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, which includes our ultimate roundup of the best Halloween events near DC for kids and families. Happy hauntings!

Best Halloween Events in DC 2025 for Kids and Families: Halloween Festivals, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Sun, 09/21/2025 - 12:00pm

National Zoo's Boo at the Zoo is one of the DC area's most popular Halloween events. Photo by Juan-Carlos Briceno, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Bring on the pumpkins, candy, and costumes—it's time for some spooktacular Halloween events near DC! There are lots of ways to celebrate this festive season in the DC area, from pumpkin patches to corn mazes to ghost tours.

Here are our picks for the top Halloween activities and events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2025. Round up your ghosts and ghouls and head to these Halloween festivals, haunted houses, trick-or-treat events, and more.

Find more spooky—and not-so-spooky—fun in our Halloween Activities Guide for DC Kids. And remember, we are constantly updating our events calendar with more Halloween events and other fun things to do all over the DC area!

21 Things To Do in Anchorage, AK with Kids: A Family-Friendly Itinerary

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Sat, 09/06/2025 - 12:00pm

You'll see plenty of brown bears at Katmai National Park!

If you're up for an Alaskan adventure with kids, Anchorage is a great city to visit. Because it's a big city with an international airport, Anchorage is relatively easy to get to (flight time and time change from the East Coast not withstanding). There are also so many fun things to do in Anchorage with kids.

After enjoying my own family vacation in Anchorage, I've put together a list of kid-friendly things to do in Anchorage. It includes outdoor Anchorage activities for kids, museums and other indoor Anchorage attractions for families, day trips from Anchorage with kids, and kid-friendly Anchorage hotels and restaurants.

Want to visit some other cool places in Alaska while you're there? Our Alaska Family Travel Guide is chock full of info about family travel to Alaska, from tips on visiting Denali National Park with kids to our list of free things to do in Seward, Alaska (a common Alaska cruise stop). You won't regret visiting the 49th state!

Ultimate Guide to Fall Festivals in 2025 for DC Families

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Sun, 08/31/2025 - 12:28pm

Loads of autumn activities await at the Cox Farms Fall Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Aaahhhh, autumn in the DMV... goodbye stickiness and humidity, hello colorful leaves, cider donuts, and fall festivals in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia! From DC harvest festivals that last all of October (and parts of September and November) to daylong or weekend events that celebrate food, culture, and art, these amazing family fall festivals have so much to offer. There are pumpkins and apples, crafts, carnival rides, games, live music, and so much more.

We've found nearly 40 fun festivals in and around DC this fall so you can soak up all the cozy family vibes. For more autumn fun, check out our Fall Activities Guide. And remember, we are constantly updating our events calendar with more fun things to do all over the DC area.

20 Best Things To Do in DC with Kids September 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on Fri, 08/29/2025 - 12:00pm

Kids will love seeing the colorful balloons at the Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Back-to-school doesn't mean family fun has to stop! September is packed with fabulous, family-friendly things to do in DC and all month long.

We jump into fall this month, and with the start of September comes harvest fairs, pumpkin festivals, and other fall festivals across our area.

There are also some fun and unique events happening throughout the month, such as the Kensington Train Show, Homecoming at President Lincoln's Cottage, and the Clemyjontri Park Open House. And you won't want to miss two new shows—The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Imagination Stage and Cirque du Soleil: Luzia in Tysons Corner!

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in September, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.

Latest posts by Stephanie Shipman

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