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Washington D.C. Special 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.
February
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.
April
Earth Day
Held in mid-April
Variety of venues
Admission Free
Annual event raising environmental awareness.
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.
May
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.
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.
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.
National Capital Barbecue Battle
Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530
Visitors won't want to miss out on the area's biggest barbecue event of the year. Every June, the National Capital Barbecue Battle takes over the streets of DC for one smokin', fun-filled weekend all in the name of barbecue. Plus, there are tons of other activities for all ages and interests. And if that's not enough, the Barbecue Battle hosts top national and regional rock, reggae, R&B, jazz and blues musicians.
July
Independence Day Parade
Held on July 4 at 11:45 am
Parade featuring floats and entertainment, traveling down Constitution Ave. at 7th St.
July 4th along the George Washington Memorial Parkway
703-289-2500
Admission Free
Celebrate July 4th along the shoreline of the Potomac River in Virginia, including fireworks.
August
National Frisbee Festival
Held in late August
Washington, DC
World Frisbee champions and disc-catching dogs take part in this festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument.
September
Constitution Day Commemoration
Held in mid September
National Archives, Washington, DC
866-272-6272
Admission Free
The original US Constitution is displayed with a naturalization ceremony and concert.
DC Blues Festival
Washington DC
Held in early September
202-828-3028
Admission Free
Annual festival with a variety of blues music.
October
DC 101 Chili Cookoff
Independence Avenue and 12th Street
Admission Charged
Add a little spice to your life: Grab your favorite spoon and head downtown to DC101's annual Chili Cook-Off. What has proven to be one of DC's best street parties of the year keeps kicking it up a notch. Vendors from the city's best restaurants line up to hawk samples of their zesty recipes. Grab a bowl or two and cruise the streets with fellow revelers to check out some of today's hottest bands on DC101's main stage.
White House Fall Garden Tours
Held in late October
White House, Washington, DC
202-208-1631
Admission Free
Annual tour includes Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and South Lawn of the White House.
November
Army Ten Mile Run
Held the second weekend in October
One of the nation's largest ten-mile road races and rated as one of the Top 100 races in the nation by Runner's World Magazine. Starting in Arlington, VA, the flat, fast course travels through scenic Washington, DC, passing some the most famous monuments and memorials in the United States. The field is limited to 16,000 runners.
December
The National Christmas Tree
Held in early December
703-237-5993
Admission Free
Thousands of spirited patriots turn out for the annual lighting ceremony of the National Christmas Tree in early December, and thousands more make a trip to the Ellipse to see the tree throughout the rest of the month. The festivities are all part of the Christmas Pageant of Peace. The National Christmas Tree, with a large-scale model train running around it, is a must-see for Washingtonians and tourists alike. Fifty-six smaller trees representing the 50 states, five territories and DC surround the main tree, each decorated by state-sponsored organizations. A Yule log burns nightly to keep warm, and local groups put on shows on a performance stage. It's a fabulous way to celebrate the holidays in our nation's capital.
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