Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events
How many times have you seen photos of the president emerging from the massive portals of the Washington National Cathedral, surrounded by Secret Service and cabinet officials? Imagine attending Christmas Eve services in that same house of worship, surrounded by the very newsmakers you’ve glimpsed on CNN. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, rest assured that in Washington, D.C., you’ll have plenty to do and see. Year-round you’ll find parades, festivals, and ceremonies, many of which you may have seen on television—like the annual lighting of the national Christmas tree.
Many who come to Washington plan their trips around special celebrations and exhibitions. From the exuberance of the Chinese New Year to the ceremonial splendor of the Marine Color Guard on parade, Washington visitors and residents can choose from an endless variety of fascinating, amusing distractions. The beauty of touring the area is that some of the most exciting and well-known events are free and open to the public.
Here you’ll find a month-by-month calendar of events in the Washington Metro area. In the monthly categories you’ll find geographic subdivisions: Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Suburban Maryland. Most events are free, but some have admission or ticket fees associated with them. Please note that for the most part we have not included dates and times because they so often change from year to year. Instead, you’ll find contact numbers for people and organizations who can provide a wealth of information. For an up-to-date listing of annual events, view the events calendar at www.washington.org.
1. Martin Luther King Jr.’S Birthday Observance
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Local choirs, guest speakers, and a military color guard salute the memory of the influential civil rights leader. Student programs are held at the Lincoln Memorial throughout the month.
2. Washington, D.C. Restaurant Week
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 789-7000
Description: Break your New Year’s resolution with this dining extravaganza, held each January and August when Congress is out of session (and thus, expense account lunches with lobbyists die down). More than 100 of the top restaurants in the Metro area offer special three-course lunch and dinner menus priced to correspond with the year.
3. Washington Boat Show
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (703) 823-7960
Address: 801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Description: Surrounded by rivers, and with the Chesapeake Bay just a short drive away, Metro Washington is boat-crazed. This five-day event has become a tremendous draw in a town where people have the money to spend on grown-up toys. It showcases next year’s models of hundreds of boats, from dinghies to motor yachts. If you’re a serious buyer, you can often snag great buys at the show. Flash your wallet and representatives from the big boat makers will be ready to negotiate. If you’re not in that league, you can still purchase nautical accessories and pick up brochures from yacht charter companies. Admission fee applies.
4. National Cherry Blossom Festival
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 661-7585
Description: Perhaps Washington’s most visible fete, the National Cherry Blossom Festival honors the extraordinary blooming of the city’s 3,000 Japanese cherry trees—surely one of the most beautiful sights in America. The capstone event is the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade (usually the first Saturday in April), but scores of related parties and ceremonies begin the last week of March. The trees bloom anywhere from late March to early April, depending on Mother Nature. A word to the wise: If at all possible, take Metrorail into Washington and walk to the Tidal Basin. It’s a short jaunt from most stops downtown, and you’ll save yourself the agony of trying to find a parking space.
5. St. Patrick’S Day Parade
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Salute the Irish and sport the green in style during this always-festive downtown parade that features traditional dancers, bagpipers, and floats galore. The parade, which lasts about three hours, has been a major Washington event for more than 30 years. Afterwards participants and spectators alike spill into the bars and eateries that flank the parade route. High school bands from around the country join in, as well as bands from Ireland. It’s not nearly as big as the one in New York, but it manages to clog traffic for most of the day, so take the Metro.
6. Smithsonian Kite Festival
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Now part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Kite Festival is another much-heralded signal of spring, as colorful kites dip and soar next to the Washington Monument. Kite makers and flyers of all ages compete for prizes and trophies. In 2009, this event celebrated its 43rd anniversary.
7. Washington Home & Garden Show
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (703) 823-7960
Address: 801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Description: This extravaganza of color and scent features gardening experts, landscape designers, and, of course, masses of flowers and plants. This four-day show features almost 600 exhibitors in a space larger than two acres. Over half of that space is filled with gardens that have been forced into bloom—breathtaking gardens that can include waterfalls and bridges, magnificent statuary, and dramatic trees. The home show component includes decorating and remodeling exhibits and information. Admission fee applies.
8. Smithsonian Craft Show
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (888) 832-9554
Address: 401 F Street NW
Description: Some 100 juried exhibitors show their crafts at this prestigious juried event, which features fiber, ceramics, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, paper, textiles, and wood. Admission fee applies.
9. Walkingtown, Dc
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 661-7581
Description: Each April and September or October, Washington, D.C.’s tour guides create a free day of walking tours in neighborhoods throughout the city, led by tour guides and knowledgeable local experts.
10. Washington International Film Festival
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 234-3456
Description: Washington is the focus of the cinematic world during this two-week festival of international and American film. Washington is one of the top U.S. movie markets and one of the most filmed cities in the world. Films are shown at venues throughout the city.
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
12. White House Spring Garden And House Tours
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 456-7041
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Description: The spectacular gardens of the presidential home are open to the public during these annual tours (usually for two days during the second week of the month). Highlights include the Jacqueline Kennedy Rose Gardens and the spectacular West Lawn Gardens.
13. Historic Garden Week In Virginia
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (804) 644-7776
Description: The finest in Virginia homes and gardens are spotlighted during this week-long festival. Our favorites include the gardens at such area plantations as Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall, and Oatlands. Call to find out more about tours in Northern Virginia. Admission fee applies.
14. Georgetown Garden Day
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 965-1950
Description: The private gardens of this famous neighborhood are on display in this inspiring tour. You’ll be surprised by the extensive landscapes hidden behind Georgetown’s walled courtyards and gardens. Some go an impossibly long way—you’d never guess it from the outside. Guided and self-guided tours are available. Admission fee applies.
15. Memorial Day Ceremonies
City: Washington, DC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (202) 619-7222
Description: Speeches, military bands, and a keynote address are the centerpieces of this solemn event. Directories help you find names on the walls, and you can request a name rubbing.