DC’s Best Live Shows and Theater for Toddlers Summer and Fall 2025 (Bluey, Moana & More!)

Olivia Marie
Jun 25
3 min read

If you’re looking for screen-free fun that will leave your toddler wide-eyed with wonder, look no further than the stage! This 2025 theater season, the Washington, DC metro area is bursting with exciting, toddler-friendly live shows and theater experiences—from beloved characters like Bluey and Elmo to the magic of Disney brought to life on stage (and even on ice!). Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure at Wolf Trap or a musical moment at the Kennedy Center, these live shows are designed to entertain, engage, and enchant little ones. Below, you’ll find all the details you need to plan a memorable outing for your family.

Bluey’s Big Play — Kennedy Center, Eisenhower Theater

Dates: Currently Postponed (I will update this post when new dates are posted)
Why it’s great: Live adaptation of the beloved preschool cartoon—features Bluey, Bingo, Bandit & Chilli in a bright and energetic show packed with giggles, playfulness, and relatable family moments.
Tickets: From ~$465 on resale platforms; matinee & evening show options available. You can find availability on Ticketmaster or TodayTix dc.theater +1washington-theater.com +1bluey.tv.
Buy Here: [Ticketmaster listing](via Ticketmaster) or [TodayTix listing](via TodayTix).

Disney’s Moana Live-To-Film Concert — Music Center at Strathmore (North Bethesda)

Date: October 12, 2025 (2 p.m. & 6 p.m.)
Why it’s great: Includes a full screening of Moana while a live orchestra, vocalists, and Polynesian rhythm masters perform the soundtrack—immersive and enchanting for all ages.
Tickets: Strathmore offers seats under $30 through its community-access program; standard seats via Ticketmaster and StubHub (starting around $34–$64) washington.org +1tickpick.com +1strathmore.org.
Buy Here: [Strathmore event page](via Strathmore) or [Ticketmaster “Moana” listings](via Ticketmaster).

Disney on Ice — EagleBank Arena (Fairfax, VA)

Dates: October 9–14, 2025 (evenings & weekend shows)
Why it’s great: Skate-show spectacular featuring beloved characters—from Encanto, Moana & Maui, Frozen, Ariel & Belle, to Rapunzel—with colorful costumes, sing-alongs, and interactive cheer moments disneyonice.com.
Tickets: Start around $32–$43, with add-ons like preshow Character Experiences available eaglebankarena.com +9seatgeek.com +9seatgeek.com +9.
Buy Here: [Official site & Disney On Ice “Find Your Hero” schedule](via Disney On Ice) or [SeatGeek & Ticketmaster listings](via SeatGeek).

sesame street the musical promotional graphic

Sesame Street The Musical — Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

Dates: July 10 – August 31, 2025; several morning & afternoon shows
Why it’s great: Interactive, puppet-filled musical featuring favorites like Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby—full of songs, dance, and Sesame-style fun tailored for early childhood engagement disneyonice.com +3disneyonice.com +3disneyonice.com +3kennedy-center.org +1sesamestreetmusical.com +1kennedy-center.org +1kennedy-center.org +1.
Tickets: From about $34–$84 depending on seller and date. Vivid Seats shows average around $65, SeatGeek starts around $84 vividseats.com +3seatgeek.com +3vividseats.com +3.
Buy Here: [Kennedy Center’s “Young Audiences” page](via Kennedy Center) or platforms like TodayTix, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats.

Children’s Theatre‑in‑the‑Woods — Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA)

Dates: June through mid-August; typically weekday & weekend morning performances
Why it’s great: Outdoor children's theater series featuring music, dance, puppetry, storytelling, and interactive fun—perfect for toddlers to experience live performance in a relaxed woodland setting dullesmoms.com +12wolftrap.org +12kennedy-center.org +12vividseats.com +1fxva.com +1dullesmoms.com +3wolftrap.org +3nps.gov +3.
Ticket Info:
- Under $12 per person for individual shows
- Buy 3+ shows, get $2 off each
- Great group discounts (10‑49: 10%; 50+: 20%) and free parking kennedy-center.org +6wolftrap.org +6wolftrap.org +6
Buy Here: [Wolf Trap’s online tickets & calendar](via Wolf Trap) or call 1‑877‑WOLFTRAP.

Tips for Making Your Theater Trip Magical

Tip	Details
Timing	Go for matinee or early shows for best toddler energy management.
Prep	Read show synopses or watch clips in advance—helps little ones feel familiarity.
Pack light snacks	Especially for outdoor shows like Wolf Trap—picnic post-show is a hit!
Arrive early	Great parking at Wolf Trap; arrive 30+ mins early for patriotic children's seats.
Look for extras	VIP/Character Experience add-ons (Disney on Ice) and keep an eye on community-access tickets (Moana).

Final Thoughts

From an outdoor puppet adventure at Wolf Trap to Zooming across the ice with Disney heroes, this lineup offers a wide variety of engaging, interactive, and age‑appropriate live entertainment for toddlers. Whether sitting snugly inside the Kennedy Center or dancing near the meadow’s edge, these shows will create summer memories you and your little ones will cherish!