Free things to do with kids today

Free places to visit with kids in Northern Virginia plus free events happening today, with parking, bathrooms, paid extras, and official source links.

• Ashburn Library with Kids, Ashburn Library, Ashburn, VA. A free indoor backup with a children's section, books, and educational computers for ages 3 to 8. Storytimes appear as dated program entries with their own age and time. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Clemyjontri Park, Clemyjontri Park, McLean, VA. Large accessible playground with wide paths, year round restrooms, and a strong mixed-age setup. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Frying Pan Farm Park, Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA. Free farm park outing with animals, paths, and easy parking; paid only for select programs or rides. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Our Special Harbor and Chessie's Big Backyard, Franconia Park, Alexandria, VA. Start at the free accessible spray park, then walk over to Chessie's Big Backyard for dry playground time before getting back in the car. The map documents a permanent year round restroom, and picnic tables are available under two pavilions. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Workhouse Arts Center, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA. A free historic art-campus visit with galleries, artist studios, public restrooms, accessible single-level buildings, and generally free parking. A hands-on child class is not a standing daily activity and needs its own current program listing. Free general admission, stroller friendly Official source
• City of Fairfax Regional Library with Kids, City of Fairfax Regional Library, Fairfax, VA. A free indoor backup with children's books, multilingual collections, internet stations, and a covered 199-space garage. Storytimes and other programs appear as dated events with their own age, time, registration, and room limits. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Van Dyck Park, Van Dyck Park, Fairfax, VA. A free 36 acre City of Fairfax park with a playground, paved trail, basketball, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, a skate park, gardens, picnic tables, benches, pavilions, a Throne restroom, and onsite parking. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Bles Park, Bles Park, Ashburn, VA. A free Ashburn park with a recently updated inclusive playground, restrooms, six picnic pavilions, sports fields, paved and natural trails, and river access. Choose the playground or one short trail instead of trying to cover the whole park. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, Aldie, VA. Two playgrounds, an inclusive play area, splash pad, nature center, sensory trail, and bathrooms in one large Loudoun park. No admission fee posted, stroller friendly Official source
• Burke Lake Park, Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station, VA. Large destination park with playgrounds, seasonal rides, a lake trail, and 100 wooded campsites for tents or small RVs. Free park entry, stroller friendly Official source
• Lake Fairfax Park, Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA. Free playground, trails, and picnic areas with tent and RV camping, plus the paid Water Mine in summer. Free park entry, stroller friendly Official source
• Gulf Branch Nature Center, Gulf Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA. Free Arlington nature center with live animals, natural history exhibits, pollinator gardens, a restored log cabin, and wooded trails. Free Official source
• Long Branch Nature Center, Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA. Free Arlington nature center with a children's Discovery Room, live animals, seasonal exhibits, gardens, a viewing pond, and nearby trails. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Lubber Run Park, Lubber Run Park, Arlington, VA. Preschool and school age playgrounds, hill slides, climbing nets, sandbox, swings, picnic space, and accessible restrooms. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Upton Hill Regional Park, Upton Hill Regional Park, Arlington, VA. Free playground and trails with optional mini golf, climbing, batting cages, and Ocean Dunes Waterpark in season. Free park entry, stroller friendly Official source
• Trailside Park, Trailside Park, Ashburn, VA. Loudoun playground and park listing with restrooms, parking, and room for a simple weekday outing. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Drew Park Sprayground, Drew Park, Arlington, VA. A free seasonal Arlington sprayground with limited street parking and a community center lot. The center restroom is not available during most daytime or weekend sprayground hours. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Hayes Park Sprayground, Hayes Park, Arlington, VA. A free seasonal Arlington sprayground with a restroom, onsite parking, and overflow across the street. School access and posted restrictions can change overflow availability. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Lyon Village Park Sprayground, Lyon Village Park, Arlington, VA. A free seasonal Arlington sprayground for a short visit. There is no restroom, parking is limited, and food or drinks must stay outside the spray area. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Virginia Highlands Park Sprayground, Virginia Highlands Park, Arlington, VA. Daily summer sprayground in Pentagon City with restrooms, a playground, paved park access, and nearby Metro service. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Mason District Park, Mason District Park, Annandale, VA. A free Annandale park with a playground, tot lot, permanent restroom, fields, natural area, hiking trail, tennis courts, and summer children's entertainment. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Potomac Yard Park and Interactive Fountain, Potomac Yard Park, Alexandria, VA. A free Alexandria park with two playgrounds around a 36-jet seasonal fountain, four pickleball courts, two tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, picnic space, and lit trails. The fountain has no lifeguard and children 12 and under need adult supervision. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Beatley Central Library Children's Area, Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, Alexandria, VA. A calm free backup with a children's area, reading garden, and current baby, sensory, science, and family programs on the library calendar. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Neabsco Regional Park and Boardwalk, Neabsco Regional Park, Woodbridge, VA. A free wetlands boardwalk and trail outing. Rippon Landing adds a playground, grills, a small pavilion, and a portable restroom for a more kid-focused stop. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Locust Shade Park, Locust Shade Park, Triangle, VA. A large free park day with three playgrounds, nature trails, and a pond. Decide before leaving whether you are doing the free park or adding paid mini golf, batting cages, boating, or a program. Free park · paid attractions, stroller friendly Official source
• Playdate Cafe, Thomas Jefferson Library, Falls Church, VA. Playdate cafe is our regular weekly time for kids and adults to enjoy free-play and socialize in an informal setting - blocks, cars, puppets, music... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Little Artists, Lovettsville Library, Lovettsville, VA. Explore a variety of art styles and crafts. Activities are geared for different ages and abilities that encourage developmental skill building. Get... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Mini Makers, Purcellville Library, Purcellville, VA. Self-directed activity stations for exploring, building, and learning at your own pace. We love a fun Friday at the library! Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Preschool STEAM Play at Courthouse, Courthouse Library, Arlington, VA. For families with Preschoolers Join us for open play featuring a mix of games and activites that explore the STEAM- based concepts of Science, Tech... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Family Storytime at Central, Central Library, Arlington, VA. For families with young children Family Storytime is for children 0-5 years and an accompanying adult. This fun and interactive program combines ac... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• My Gym, Burke Centre Library, Burke, VA. Develop your child's large motor skills with physical exercise and games. Age 1-3 years with adult. NEW! Tickets for both the 10:30AM and 11:15AM s... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Playdate Cafe, Martha Washington Library, Alexandria, VA. Come and chat with other parents while the kids play together. If you have questions about the appropriate age for a program, its content, or ac... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Playdate Cafe (ages 0-6), Great Falls Library, Great Falls, VA. Enjoy free-play and socializing in a casual setting. Light refreshments provided. Ages 0 - 6 with adult. Registration encouraged, but not required.... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Preschool Storytime, Reston Regional Library, Reston, VA. Enjoy books, songs, rhymes and movement activities while building language and pre-literacy skills. Ages 3-5 with adult. Registration preferred but... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Sensory-Friendly Storytime with ITC, City of Fairfax Regional Library, Fairfax, VA. A welcoming space! Our friends from the Infant and Toddler Connection will join us for a Sensory-friendly Storytime full of books, songs, and rhyme... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Family Storytime at Westover Library, Westover Library, Arlington, VA. For families with young children Family Storytime is for children 0-5 years and an accompanying adult. This fun and interactive program combines ac... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• My Gym: Siblings, Burke Centre Library, Burke, VA. Develop your child's large motor skills with physical exercise and games. Age 1-5 years with adult. NEW! Tickets for both the 10:30AM and 11:15AM s... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Baby Lapsit Storytime at Westover Library, Westover Library, Arlington, VA. For families with babies 0-12 months Bond with your baby through songs, rhymes, and games! Stay after the program to connect with other parents and... Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Builders Free Play, Lovettsville Library, Lovettsville, VA. Drop in to build with LEGO bricks, Lincoln Logs, K'nex, Magna-Tiles and other kits. Free, stroller friendly Official source
• Kilimanjaro Climb: Family Quest, McLean Community Center, McLean, VA. Become a STEAM Team during the Family Engagement event, Kilimanjaro Climb on Believe It or Not Island! Families will learn about Mount Kilimanjaro's five unique climate zones and discover how plants, animals and temperatures change with ele Free Official source