The Military Children World Expo 2024 is coming to Pentagon City to honor and celebrate the resilience of military children.
The event — scheduled for Saturday, April 27 at the Pentagon City mall (1100 S. Hayes Street) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — is free to the public and promises a lineup of family-friendly activities, such as face painting, art and sculpture exhibitions, musical performances, contests, workshops and scavenger hunts, per the expo’s website.
The theme of the event, hosted by the D.C.-based nonprofit Military Six Children’s Foundation, is “Resilience — The Unstoppable Power,” a reference to the challenges faced by children of military members.
The expo’s website highlights the roughly 1.7 million military children across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Nearly half of these children are dependents of active-duty service members, with the remainder being children of guard or reserve units. Children of veterans or individuals over 18 are not included in the figure.
Notably, about a third of military children are under five.
“The Expo on April 27 will be a testament to their shared experiences and a celebration of their collective identity. It’s a place where stories of courage and adaptation are shared, where every handshake and smile is a testament to their shared journey,” per the website.
The United States Marine Band, which performs for the President and Marine Corps, will perform on the main stage starting at 1 p.m., followed by a panel discussion of advocates with the military community at 2 p.m.
Additionally, the expo will function as a resource for military families, offering workshops focused on caregiving and advocating for their children during transitions to new schools, among others.
Beyond spotlighting the unique challenges military children face, the expo also celebrates National Military Caregivers month and Military Appreciation month, both recognized in May.