We’ve sure had our share of April showers in D.C. this year, and with peak bloom well behind us we are fully in spring. Take a walk outside and you’ll see that the world is really waking up: school groups are touring the museums in full force, tulips and other flowers are blooming all over the city and the outdoor patios are packed with people who aren’t wearing puffer jackets. This is the time to gear up for much busier days ahead.
April is a special time in D.C. because it’s the last respite before the craziness of summer, when the sweltering heat makes every venture outside into an undertaking. The coming months will bring many more tourists plus events with crowds that’ll reach the thousands like Passport DC and WorldPride DC 2025. Why not take advantage of the last gasp of mild weather and (relatively) small crowds to explore more of the city at a leisurely pace?
The best things to do this month in D.C. are perfect venues for just that—the kind of events where you grab a friend or two, and have a small adventure that won’t completely tire you. The final events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival will be a spectacle, but more chill events like a film festival and a leisurely bookstore crawl provide balance to the chaos. Ready to soak in the last bit of calm before the storm? Read on for the best things to do in Washington, D.C. right now.
D.C.-based writer Helen Carefoot updated this guide to reflect the best things to do in April and to refresh the listings with new tips and recommendations for spring. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
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