Washington DC

Festivals and Annual Events

Chinatown is witness to the joyous celebration that takes place on Chinese New Year’s Day. The celebrations include an annual parade of marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other entertainers.

Showing 1–15 of 15 festivals

City guide section

Festivals and events in Washington DC

Showing 1–15 of 15 festivals

Plan around 15 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.

Chinese new year celebration

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed with a wreath laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial where orators recite King’s “I have a dream” speech.

Orchid Show

Held in mid-January at the U.S. Botanic Garden, this show is a visual treat for flower lovers.

Restaurant Week

Mid-January, the city puts on a gourmet festival called Restaurant Week with more than 100 of Washington DC’s finest restaurants offering three course lunches at a discount.

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

Washingtonians honor Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday on 12 February with a Presidential wreath laying ceremony and a dramatic reading of the ‘Gettysburg” Address at noon at the Lincoln Memorial on Constitution Avenu

Mardi Gras

This festival is originally from New Orleans but celebrated with as much fervor in Washington, with all night partying and parades and special family days.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Hundreds of thousands of city residents and visitors from across the globe make it a point to visit the city at this time to witness the spectacular blooming of the cherry trees around the Jefferson Memorial, m

Smithsonian Kite Festival

The Smithsonian Kite Festival, traditionally part of the Cherry Blossom Festival, also takes place late this month when kite designers, flyers and competitors gather on the Mall to celebrate spring.

St. Patricks Day

The Parade is an Irish community endeavor that was started by the Irish American Club and is now held in cooperation with the National Capital Park Service.

Easter Egg Roll

One of the oldest and most unique traditions in presidential history, the annual Easter Egg Roll takes place on the Monday after Easter, hosted by the First Lady for children aged between 3 -6, at the south law

Memorial Day

Memorial Day ceremonies including speeches, military bands and keynote addresses take place late May. Wreaths are laid at the Kennedy graveside and Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exposition of living cultural heritage annually produced outdoors on the National Mall by the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Her

Independence Day

4th of July, Independence Day, of course, is a grand event that takes place annually on the fourth of July with troop’s parade, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, day long concerts and activities,

Adams Morgan Festival

Celebrated on the 14th of September, the Adams Morgan festival has a rich and vibrant arts and cultural community which is recognized for its diversity in cultures, countries, indie businesses and neighborhood.

Lighting of the National Christmas Tree

On the Second Thursday in December, the President illuminates the national Christmas tree and lights a menorah on the Ellipse and there’s outdoor partying on New Year’s Eve at the Old Post Office.