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Foggy Bottom Events
January
Chinese New Year Celebration
Held New Years Day
Chinatown, Washington, DC
202-789-7000
Admission Free
Annual parade of marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other entertainers.
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance
Held on January 17
Lincoln Memorial
202-727-6306
Admission Free
Wreath laying ceremony accompanied by a recorded presentation of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, local choirs, speakers and military color guard.
Orchid Show
Held in mid-January
U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, DC
202-226-4082
February
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday Observance
Held in mid-February
Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC
703-619-7222
Admission Free
Concerts by military bands, wreath laying and a dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address.
Washington's Birthday Ceremony
Held in mid-February
Washington Monument
202-619-7222
Admission Free
Observance with 202 speeches and music.
March
Cherry Blossom Festival
Late March - early April
1500 Maine Avenue
Washington, DC 20003
202-484-0206
Making their appearance in late March or early April, the beautiful pink and white lacelike flowers surround DC's Tidal Basin. This yearly sign of spring is one of Washington, DC's natural highlights. The two-week festival features concerts, special exhibits, a street festival, a parade, the Smithsonian Kite Festival, performances, athletic competitions and other events at various DC locations.
Washington Boat Show
Held in mid-March
Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
804-425-6556
Admission Charged
Showcasing sailboats and motorboats.
Washington Flower and Garden Show
Held in mid-March
Convention Center, Washington, DC
703-569-7141
Admission Charged
Featuring blooming flowers and gardening tips.
April
Earth Day
Held in mid-April
Variety of venues
Admission Free
Annual event raising environmental awareness.
Smithsonian Craft Show
Held in mid-April
National Building Museum
401 F Street NW
Washington, DC
202-357-4000
Admission Charged
Exhibition and sale of contemporary American crafts from more than 100 artists.
Thomas Jefferson's Birthday Observation
Held in mid-April
Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
202-426-6841
Admission Free
A commemoration with military drills and a wreath-laying ceremony.
White House Easter Egg Roll
Held at Easter Time
White House, Washington DC
202-456-2200
Admission Free
Annual event for children, ages 3 to 6, accompanied by an adult, on the South Lawn. Eggs and entertainment are provided.
White House Garden Tour
Held in mid-April
White House, Washington DC
202-456-2200
Admission Free
Tour the garden and public rooms of the White House.
May
Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
Held in early May
Venues throughout Washington, DC
202-727-3120
Admission Free
Georgetown Garden Tour
Held in early May
Georgetown, Washington, DC
202-965-1950
Admission Charged
Tour beautiful public and private historic gardens.
Goodwill Embassy Tour
Held in early May
Held at the various embassies in and around Washington
Admission Charged
Tour of Washington, DC's embassies.
International Flower Mart
Held in early May
National Cathedral, Washington, DC
202-537-6200
Admission Free
Annual flower market with flower booths and entertainment.
Memorial Day at the Women's Memorial
Held during Memorial Day weekend
Women's Memorial Ceremonial Entrance, Arlington National Cemetery
800-222-2294
Formal ceremony honoring all the men and women who defended this country.
Memorial Day Ceremony
Held during Memorial Day weekend
Vietnam Veterans Memorial and US Navy Memorial
202-426-6841
Admission Free
Events include speeches, military bands and keynote addresses.
Memorial Day Concert
Held during Memorial Day weekend
West Lawn of the Capital Building
202-225-6827
Admission Free
Concert includes the National Symphony Orchestra, actors and various bands.
Filmfest DC
Held in mid-May
4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-244-0882
Tickets, popcorn, and politics: It's all in a night at the movies at Filmfest DC, where political landscapes and inventive cinema come together in late April. The international festival offers 12 days of more than 100 feature, documentary and short films from around the world in theaters throughout the city.
Taste of DC
Held over Memorial Day Weekend
Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530
Admission Free
DC's annual culinary celebration is one of the areas most attended events. Pennsylvania Avenue between Seventh and 14th streets N.W. is brimming with live music, kids' activities, chef demos and booths selling food and drinks at the three-day outdoor festival. Take time out from all the edible entertainment to check out what else is going on, from kids activities to crafts. The biggest inedible hit is always the multiple stages that are taken over by loads of musical acts throughout the afternoon.
June
Capital Jazz Fest
Early June
Held in the D.C. suburbs
Jazz lovers get an outdoor treat: The Capital Jazz Fest, which slants towards contemporary jazz but manages to keep just about everyone happy. The weekend festival typically includes a headline act with more than a dozen other musicians jamming throughout the weekend.
Capital Pride
Held sometime in June
DC's Capital Pride, which started in 1975 as a small block party, is now one of the largest pride festivals in the country. Highlights of the weeklong event include the street festival, a parade, a pageant, drag contests, film screenings, panel discussions and parties.
DC Caribbean Festival
Held at the end of June
Admission Charged
The DC Caribbean Carnival brings out the Washington-area Caribbean community and other cultures for dancing in the streets and an eye-popping parade. Performances at Crossroads Entertainment Complex in Bladensburg, Md., about a mile from the DC line, kick off the week, with a steel band jamboree featuring nationwide performers. On "Dimanche Gras" ("Big Sunday"), elaborate and flamboyant parade costumes are displayed and judged, and later in the week, calypso concerts take the stage. On both Saturday and Sunday, a street festival keeps everyone grooving.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
15th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-426-6841
Held in late June - early July
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage presents a living tapestry across the National Mall, introducing visitors to the grassroots cultures of different American regions and their cousins abroad. The festival typically focuses on one to four countries or regions. After festival exhibits and food vendors close for the day, free concerts are held in the evenings. Events geared toward children are also part of the festival.
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