Celebrate Fairfax
June 7-9, Times vary
Round up the whole family to celebrate Fairfax at this carnival event. If you’re little ones aren’t quite tall enough to reach the 48-inch height requirement, don’t fret. Fairfax City’s annual festival has its littlest guests in mind with rides for all ages (and sizes), at the KidWay MidWay area at the Inova Children’s Hospital Avenue. Parents can grab some ribbon fries and funnel cake as the kids navigate their ways through the petting zoo, ride the trackless train and test their driving skills at Wiggle Car Village. // Fairfax County Government Center: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax; $4-$32
First Friday Kids Sip & Paint
June 7, 4-5:30 p.m.
No wine and cheese necessary, this sip and paint event is stocked with plenty of Oreos and juice boxes for kids 5 to 15 to enjoy while they express their creativity through color, composition and creativity. Instructors Catalina Sanchez and Mary Jennings have a few cool painting tricks up their sleeves to teach attendees to help them achieve their artistic masterpiece, and the colorful canvases can be taken home to be promptly placed on the fridge. // Arlington Artists Academy at Gallery Clarendon: 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 800, Arlington; $25
Kids Market at Fredericksburg Farmers Market
June 8, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stopping by the local farmers market on a weekend is a must when so many fruits and vegetables are currently in season. Instead of having the kids pick out their own local produce or carry a basket full of goodies, they can buy or sell their own goods at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market this Saturday for the Kids’ Market. Sellers can register online and are encouraged to make their own baked goods from family recipes or create their own crafts for visitors to browse and buy. // Hurkamp Park: 500 Williams St., Fredericksburg; free
Kidz Korner at Old Town Square
June 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Families and friends can spend Saturday mornings throughout the summer with a wide array of interactive kids programming at Old Town Square in Fairfax, and this weekend is no exception. Good Gollie it’s Mollie, with her life-size bubble wands and even more bubbly spirit will have your kiddos singing, dancing and twirling their way to more fun than watching Saturday morning cartoons. And the fun doesn’t end there, the kid-friendly splash pad is open until 10 p.m. // Old Town Square: 10415 N. St., Fairfax; free
Gone Fishing
June 8-9, 1-4 p.m.
Remember that old tiny tackle box you used to drag to the pier with your dad on weekends in years past? Maybe it’s time to pass down the tradition at Cabela’s Gone Fishing event, featuring a catch-and-release fishing pond for kids to develop their skills with demonstrations, training and equipment for all ages. The event will also offer fishing-related crafts, seminars, giveaways and keep your kids’ content, hook, line and sinker. // Cabela’s: 5291 Wellington Branch Drive, Gainesville; free
Beauty and the Beast
June 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Opening night at the theater is always something to look forward to. It is filled with the same magic and excitement as getting to see your favorite Disney stars up close and in person. Take the opportunity to experience both at Creative Cauldron’s classic adaptation of the Tony Award-nominated Beauty and the Beast this summer. The musical will run for two hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Tiaras not required to attend. // Creative Cauldron: 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church; $16-$32
Films in the Park
June 9, 7-9 p.m.
Movie nights just got better. Instead of endlessly searching Netflix or having to flip a coin to choose which film the family should watch together, pack a picnic dinner and head to the Mosaic District. Every Saturday night through the summer will feature a new family-friendly film, ranging from ’90s classics such as Homeward Bound, to 2018 blockbusters like Mary Poppins Returns. This week’s showing is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. // Strawberry Park: 2910 District Ave., Fairfax; free
Read with Pride
June 8, 2 p.m. and June 9, 4 p.m.
Pride events are taking place across NoVA throughout the month of June. Kids ages 3 and older are invited to participate in a picture-book reading of Julián the Mermaid, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo and other pride-friendly books at Hooray for Books! in Alexandria. Find more pride events happening across the city here. // Hooray for Books!: 1555 King St., Alexandria; free
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