Home to the corridors of power and a pantheon of white-marble monuments, the US capital packs some serious cultural punch, but that’s only half the story. Take a closer look and one of the country’s most diverse cities reveals deliciously cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, home to vibrant arts, food and music scenes.
Just as eclectic is the city’s calendar of events. Washington is a destination for all seasons, but a visit during one of its lively celebrations is a brilliant way to discover the city’s personality. Whether it’s to learn more about Indigenous American heritage, get a flavour of local jazz or experience the beauty of cherry blossom season, there’s a reason to visit all year long. Here are six of the most unmissable dates for your diary this year.
Spring is in the air during DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival. By day, picnic under the trees with a special, cherry-inspired basket from a local restaurant and by night, watch fireworks illuminate the sky during Petalpalooza.
Photograph by Destination DC
1. National Cherry Blossom Festival
20 March to 14 April
The most-anticipated event in the city’s calendar, the
National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the donation of 3,000 cherry trees from the Mayor of Tokyo in 1912. For just a few weeks each spring, the city is ablaze with pink and white blooms.
Strolling along blossom-strewn avenues is a spectacle in itself, but there’s a raft of events to mark the occasion, too. Ornate, Edo-style Japanese kites are just one of the displays of the Blossom Kite Festival (30 March), while Petalpalooza (6 April) is a day of family-friendly activities and entertainment on the banks of the Anacostia River, finishing with a spectacular fireworks display. The Sakura Matsuri Street Festival (13-14 April), meanwhile, is the largest celebration of Japanese culture in the United States and offers revellers the chance to try everything from martial arts to taiko drumming.
Held on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral as a part of Passport DC, Flower Mart includes more than 80 booths offering gardening items, handbags, jewellery and more.
Photograph by Destination DC
2. Passport DC
1-31 May
Explore the world during Passport DC, when embassies throw open their doors for the Around the World Embassy Tour (6 May), allowing guests to get hands-on with international cultures, from meeting alpacas at the Peruvian Embassy to karate lessons with the Japan Information and Culture Centre. EU Open House (11 May), meanwhile, is a day full of tastings and live demonstrations celebrating European cultures.
Not to be missed is Fiesta Asia! (20 May), when over a thousand exhibitors and performers representing 20 cultures gather for one of the country’s biggest Asian heritage festivals. Running between 3rd and 6th Streets, the block will be abuzz with live music and martial arts, a shopping bazaar, craft stalls and vendors serving Pan-Asian fare. Alternatively, swing by the Flower Mart between 3-4 May. Now in its 85th year, the show dazzles with its horticultural displays, a second-hand sale and a 19th-century carousel.
With its annual Pride parade, festival, and community events, Washington, DC embraces its role as a hub of the LGBTQ+ community.
3. Capital Pride
31 May to 9 June
More than half a million friends of the LGBTQ+ community will fill the streets this summer when Capital Pride returns to DC. Among the highlights are the Pride Block Party (8 June), when 17th Street will be transformed by a raft of food trucks and vendors, and the Pride Parade, which will set off from 3pm on the same day in a colourful celebration of love, diversity and inclusion.
The free Pride Festival, meanwhile, will close this year’s Pride on 9 June with a party on Pennsylvania Avenue — the full programme is still under wraps, but expect a whole day of advocacy, live music and entertainment across three stages, with plenty of food and drink to keep the party going. All eyes will be on Washington in 2025, too, when the city will have the honour of hosting World Pride (23 May to 8 June).
4. Smithsonian Folklife Festival
26-30 June and 3-7 July
Held each year on the iconic National Mall, the
Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been a firm fixture on the DC cultural calendar since 1965, celebrating traditions from across the US and the wider world. Created in partnership with the National Museum of the American Indian, this year’s event focuses on Indigenous voices and their traditions. Visitors can gain insights into ancient ways of life and how they entwine with the modern day; learn about the importance of ancestral grains in cookery, the origins of Indigenous sports or how today’s youth are reclaiming Indigenous languages through hip-hop.
Combine the festival with another Independence Day (4 July) celebration, including all the marching bands and flag-waving fanfare of the National Independence Day Parade. Alternatively, catch the Capitol Fourth concert, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the White House, where previous performers have included everyone from Aretha Franklin to the Muppets. Be sure to linger after dark, too — the fireworks display over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is an unforgettable sight.
The two-day JazzFest at The Wharf has a stellar lineup of live performances and is a great excuse to roam the waterfront neighbourhood.
Photograph by Destination DC
5. DC JazzFest
1 August to 31 September
One of America’s greatest musical gifts to the world, jazz takes centre stage this autumn at the DC JazzFest, when venues across the city come alive with foot-tapping rhythms and bluesy tunes. As well as promoting plenty of homegrown talent, the festival draws big names from the jazz world, too — Grammy Award winners Gregory Porter and Kenny Garrett topped the bill in 2023, while this year’s artists-in-residence include legendary bassist Ron Carter.
A programme of concerts, interviews and events will offer an eclectic taste of the genre, while the festival’s headline event — the two-day JazzFest at The Wharf — kicks off on Labor Day weekend (31 August to 1 September). With its boutique shops and restaurants, this lively stretch along the Potomac River is a beautiful spot for live music, with the Washington skyline providing a stunning backdrop.
Embrace winter in Washington, DC with its dazzling light displays and seasonal activities.
Photograph by Destination DC
6. Downtown Holiday Market
End of November to the end of December
While every Washington, DC season has its charms, winter in the US capital is undoubtedly special, with its kaleidoscopic light shows and seasonal events. Chief among them is the annual Downtown Holiday Market. Located in the historic neighbourhood of Penn Quarter, this free, open-air retail village aims to support small businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, including various Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.
This November marks 20 years of the beloved market, and, while the line-up is yet to be announced, many returning favourites and local vendors are predicted. Shoppers can expect to peruse a variety of stalls selling everything from handmade housewares to artisanal jewellery, vibrant art and quirky knick-knacks, while foodies can sample a variety of sweet, seasonal treats and international bites from the many food stalls. What’s more, a rotating line-up of regional performers and entertainers are anticipated to take to the event’s live stage.
7. Restaurant Week
Summer and winter
As well as boasting some local classics — don’t leave without trying a chilli half-smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl, a DC institution since 1958 — Washington’s food scene is just as cosmopolitan as its people, from spicy Ethiopian chicken doro wat to pupusa, a dish that originated in El Salvador featuring flatbread stuffed with cheese and refried beans.
Held twice a year in summer and winter, Restaurant Week is the best time to tuck in: more than 150 restaurants across the metropolitan area participate in the seven-day event, offering generous discounts for diners — with multi-course dinner menus from $40-$60 (£32-£47) per person, or lunch and brunch deals from $25-$35 (£20-£28). Keep an eye out for restaurants offering wine and cocktail pairings, or splash out in one of 24 award-winning restaurants, many of which create special menus for Restaurant Week.
Plan your trip
American Sky offer a three-day tour of Washington, DC, including flights and accommodation, from £999 per person. For more information, visit americansky.co.uk
This is paid content for Destination DC as a joint initiative with Brand USA and American Sky. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs.
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