Looking for family fun this fall that’s totally free? Here are 49 free events in September that will keep the kids happy. From fall festivals to movies, there is plenty of fun to fill your fall days in the Baltimore-Annapolis-Washington, D.C. area.
2 Friday
Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
Sept. 2-5. Amusement rides, carnival games, live bands, entertainment, food, sports, art and photo contests, used book sale, Labor Day parade and more. Free. Hours vary daily. Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt. greenbeltlaborday.com
Lakefront Movie
Showing of “The Martian,” rated PG-13. Free. 8:30pm. Downtown Columbia Lakefront, Columbia. 410-715-3127, columbiaassociation.org
3 Saturday
Solomons Island Kite Day
Celebrate kites with Wings Over Washington Kite Club. Bring your own kite or make one. Free. 10am-4pm. Glascock’s Field, Solomons. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com/233/Annual-Events
4 Sunday
Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival
Arts and craft show featuring local and regional artists, live music, dance, street performers, food and more. Free. 11am-5pm. Calvert and West streets, Annapolis. firstsundayarts.com
People’s Party in the Park
Old fashioned Labor Day celebration. Music, food, old car show, children’s activities and more. Free. Noon-6pm. Fountain Park, Chestertown. 410-778-3500
Quiet Waters Park Concert
Flatland Drive Band performs. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Free. 5:30-7:30pm. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis. 410-222-1777, aacounty.org/RecParks/concerts.cfm
Family Movies on the Potomac
Watch “Tomorrowland,” rated PG. Shown on the plaza screen. Bring chairs. Free. 6pm. National Harbor. nationalharbor.com
5 Monday
Paws to Read
Improve children’s reading skills alongside a canine tutor. Registration required. Free. 3:30pm. Crofton Library. 410-222-7915, aacpl.net/location/crofton
6 Tuesday
Imagine Mars
Learn about Mars and NASA’s plans to send people to Earth’s “sister planet.” Activities and crafts. Ages 5-12. Free. 4-7pm. Largo-Kettering Library, Upper Marlboro. 301-336-4044, pgcmls.info/website/branch/location/LargoKettering
7 Wednesday
Wearable Tech
Make a high-tech fashion bracelet using felt, LEDs, conductive thread and your imagination. Free. 4-5:30pm. Crofton Library. 410-222-7915, aacpl.net/location/crofton
8 Thursday
Teen Advisory Board
Teens can earn service hours and help improve the library by working on teen-centered projects and programs. Includes snacks. Ages 13-18. Free. 4:30-5:45pm. Hyattsville Library. 301-985-4690, pgcmls.info/website/branch/location/Hyattsville
9 Friday
Homeschool Kung Fu Class
Improve strength, flexibility, coordination and more. For homeschoolers. Registration required. Ages 5 and older. Free. 11am-noon. Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Arnold. nacy@jingying.org, jingying.org
10 Saturday
Summer Sendoff
Food, drink specials, live music, relay races, kids activities and more. Free; fee for some activities. 5-10pm. Downtown Cambridge. 443-477-0843, cambridgemainstreet.com
11 Sunday
Police Pace
Family-friendly 5K with all proceeds benefitting families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. Displays of police equipment, motorcycles and K9s. Face painting, balloon animals and more. Spectators, free. 8:30am. Centennial Park, Ellicott City. 410-313-3200, policepace.com
Arts Festival
Live performances, art and food vendors, and children’s activities. Free. 3-8pm. Fairwood Community Park, Bowie. pgparks.com
Family Movies on the Potomac
Watch “Wreck it Ralph,” rated PG. Shown on the plaza screen. Bring chairs. Free. 6pm. National Harbor. nationalharbor.com
12 Monday
Full Steam Ahead
Interact with books, crafts and experiments while exploring science, technology, engineering, art and math. Ages 4-8. Free. 6:30-7:30pm. Calvert Library Prince Frederick. 410-535-0291, calvert.lib.md.us/pf.html
13 Tuesday
Boys Read: Sports Edition
Led by former NCAA Division I athlete, this program will give boys the chance to read about sports, learn to work as a team, and gain academic and life skills. Free. 4-5:30pm. Glenarden Library. 301-772-5477, pgcmls.info/website/branch/location/Glenarden
14 Wednesday
Maryland Horse & Pony Show
Sept. 14-18. A-rated horse and pony show. Free. 8am. The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro. 301-952-7900, showplacearena.com/page68199.aspx
Dot, Dots, Dots
Listen to the story “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds, sing songs, create art and more. Ages 3-5. Free. 9:30am. Annapolis Library. 410-222-1750, aacpl.net/location/annapolis
15 Thursday
Teen Movie Night
Hang out for movie night. Popcorn provided. For teens. Free. 6:30-8pm. Prince Frederick Library. 410-535-0291, calvert.lib.md.us/pf.html
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