Washington, DC is a grand mecca of various cultural, sports, political, and other great events. Year ‘round you can find a plethora of activities to participate in throughout our nation’s capital. Whether you’re a foodie seeking a culinary adventure or a music lover wishing to explore local artists, DC has something special for you. This great city is constantly brimming with excitement and no matter what time of the year, you better believe there’s always some hot action going on. It would take a whole book to detail all of the events that take place in the city throughout the year; so instead, we’ve decided to share with you our top picks of DC’s annual events.
Tantalize your palate with spectacular culinary delights from across the globe without ever leaving DC. This multi-day culinary and cultural event takes place on Pennsylvania Avenue with foods from many local restaurants, great drinks, live entertainment, artists, and more.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival
Every year, sometime between March and April, thousands flock to Washington, DC from around the world to get a glimpse of the beautiful cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin. This annual tradition began when the United States received a gift of 3000 Cherry Blossom trees from Japan in 1912.
The White House Easter Egg Roll
Every year kids get to hunt for eggs on the White House lawn. Festivities include races, games, storytelling, and even a visit with the Easter Bunny.
There’s no better place to show your gratitude and respect for those who have fought for our freedom than our nation’s capital. Throughout the city, you can find various parades, concerts, and more, along with a huge fireworks display Washington Monument. You can also see thousands of bikers show their support in the Rolling Thunder parade, which goes from the Pentagon through Arlington Cemetery, and beyond.
Great for the whole family, many gather for the Air Show at Andrews Air Force Base to view the amazing aerial feats of the Blue Angels and the Golden Knights.
Bringing a splash of color, pizzazz, and an unrelenting flair for style, the Annual Capital Pride Parade has been voted as DC’s best parade by Washington City Paper readers. With floats, dancers, drag queens, drag kings, and more, all coming out to show their great support for the thriving LGBTA community in DC and our whole country.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Every summer, DC celebrates cultural traditions from around the world at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Enjoy great food, dancing, music, crafts, storytelling, and more. There are also some craft and cooking demonstrations, as well as discussions of cultural issues.
Jazz lovers come in droves to have opportunity to relax and enjoy more than 100 performances over the course of 10 days at the DC Jazz Festival. The melodious sounds of jazz can be heard throughout all of the neighborhoods of DC during this time and there are even Family Fun days, so the children can get down too.
Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
Celebrate the Chinese New Year in style at our nation’s capital. Here, you can see a colorful parade featuring the Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Fox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram. The parade begins in Chinatown and festivities include the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations, live music and more.
The National Cinco de Mayo Festival
Dubbed as the “Latin American Family Reunion”, the National Cinco de Mayo Festival is a fun filled day featuring live dance music, arts and crafts, food, games and activities for the whole family. The festival is a great celebration of the rich history, culture, and ethnic diversity of Latin Americans in the US.
Every year thousands gather to protest the war on drugs and in support of the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. The day is filled with live music, entertainment, and of course the munchies, taking place at Lafayette Park, just across the street from the White House.
Of course, when heading out to DC for any of these events, it’s best to plan ahead for your parking. There’s nothing worse to spoil a great day of fun and festivities than to come back to a ticket on your windshield or even worse, to find that your car has been towed. No worries, SpotHero has you covered. We offer great discounts for parking at hundreds of parking garages throughout DC and within walking distance to your destination. Visit SpotHero to find and reserve guaranteed parking, so you can relax and enjoy the best our great nation’s capital has to offer.