Our ultimate DC events calendar is your guide to things to do in Washington, DC all year long. And believe us, there’s loads on offer when it comes to events in DC, with festivals, cultural celebrations, street parties, parades, kids activities and more popping up all annually over the city—and in the midst of some of the most iconic sights and attractions. So whether you’re looking for Easter egg hunts at the White House in spring, Independence Day concerts at the Capitol in summer, national book festivals in fall or holiday fun in winter, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best events and things to do in Washington, DC in spring, summer, fall and winter.
Events in DC all year round
Check out these annual events in DC, from festivals to concerts, parades, fairs, tour days and more
Winter events in DC
Martin Luther King Day celebrations
Chinese New Year
Black History Month
Famous birthdays
Spring events in DC
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Annual White House Easter Egg Roll
Around the World Embassy Tour
Every May, nearly 40 foreign embassies fling open their door the public for a free look-see. Concentrated on Massachusetts Avenue, the stately mansions are usually accessible only to dignitaries and ambassadors on-duty. Prepare to be fully immersed in each country’s culture, including food, art, dance fashion and music. Transport: Dupont Circle and Van Ness Metro.
Blossom Kite Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Memorial Day
Memorial Day Jazz Festival
Black Pride
Capital Pride
Summer events in DC
Marine Band’s Summer Concert Series & Evening Parades
Capital Jazz Fest
Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium Walk Weekend
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
DanceAfrica DC
National Capital Barbecue Battle
http://bbqdc.com. Transport: Metro Archives-Navy Memorial.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Fall events in DC
Adams Morgan Day
For over a quarter of a century, thousands of DC residents have come out to celebrate this community, home to large Latino, white, African and African American populations. Musicians, crafts and ethnic foods are in ample supply. he longest-running street fair in DC, Adams Morgan Day includes local artists, bands and restaurants that bring 18th Street and Columbia Road to life. Transport: Dupont Circle or Woodley Park Metro.
National Book Festival
Sponsored by the Library of Congress, the Book Festival features dozens of authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers, all reading, performing and signing in block after block of pavilions themed around “Fiction and Imagination,” “History and Biography,” “Mysteries and Thrillers” and so on. Admission is free. Transport: Archives-Naval Memorial or Federal Triangle Metro.
Annual High Heel Race
Dupont Circle residents and gawkers from across the city swarm to 17th Street to catch this ultimate drag race, which features outrageously costumed contestants promenading up and down—then sprinting down a two-block stretch in the heart of the capital’s gay community. The event itself lasts mere minutes, but the street-party atmosphere is festive and the scenery fabulous. Don't even get us started about the afterparties. Transport: Dupont Circle Metro.
Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Festival
For more than 10 years, Crafty Bastards has served as a showcase for over 100 emerging and established local makers to show off goods like knitted cats and macramé wall hangings. It’s grown so large that a few years ago, it upgraded from a lot in Adams Morgan to Dock 5 at Union Market, a sprawling warehouse-like space in Northeast DC. Bring a list and get your holiday shopping done early. Or just do the more obvious thing and shop for yourself. Transport: NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro.
Marine Corps Marathon
The “Marathon of Monuments” draws around 30,000 runners from around the world, and no wonder: The Marine Corps Marathon course winds along the banks of the Potomac, through Georgetown and Rock Creek Park, past the city’s most famous sites and monuments, finishing at the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington. Spectators and supporters turn the route into a 26-mile street party.
A solemn ceremony with military bands, in honor of the country’s war dead. Ceremonies are also held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Mount Vernon (1-703 780 2000) and the US Navy Memorial. Transport: Arlington Cemetery Metro.
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