| JANUARY ACTIVITIES |
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| Robert E. Lee's Birthday Celebration |
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The Lee-Fendell House in Old Town Alexandria, which was home to Lee's family from 1885 to 1903, celebrates the birthday of Robert E. Lee (January 19) and his father, Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee (January 29) each year with period music, refreshment and house tours. |
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| FEBRUARY ACTIVITIES |
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| Chinese New Year Parade |
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Scheduled in early February or early March (the dates are determined by the lunar calendar), you will find marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other performers in this parade through the Chinatown section (H Street between 6th and 8th Streets, NW, in Washington, D.C. The parade is part of the larger 10-day Chinese New Year celebration. |
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| Abraham Lincoln's Birthday |
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A wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on February 12 commemorates the birth of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. A dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address is part of the event. |
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| George Washington Birthday Celebration |
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Held the third weekend in February, Mount Vernon hosts a celebration of our first President's birthday with parades, a wreath-laying ceremony and a sample of Washington's favorite breakfast, "hoecakes swimming in butter and honey." Best of all, there's free admission.
Throughout the month of February, Mount Vernon also plans a number of events marking Black History Month. They include special features on slave life at Mount Vernon, including constumed interpretations, as well as a wreathlaying at the Slave Memorial located on the site. |
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| Frederick Douglass' Birthday |
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Events at Cedar Hill, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, on February 14th, include a wreath-laying ceremony and other activities to mark the birthday of the abolitionist leader. |
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| MARCH ACTIVITIES |
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| Washington St. Patrick's Day Parade |
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Held on the Sunday before March 17th, the parade features dancers, bagpipers and marching bands in salute to Ireland and all things Irish. Parade route runs along Constitution Avenue, NW, from 7th to 17th Streets. |
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| Smithsonian Kite Festival |
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Each March, the Smithsonian Institution hosts a free festival on the National Mall with competitions in kite design, performance and other categories. For 2010, the Festival is scheduled for March 27. |
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| National Cherry Blossom Festival |
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The exact dates of the Festival depends on when the cherry blossoms bloom, but it is generally late March into early April. In 2010, the Festival is planned for March 27 through April 11. The more than 3,000 cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are the centerpiece for this annual festival and were a gift from the people of Japan, which includes a parade that goes down Constitution Avenue. Idaho's Cherry Blossom Princess, chosen each year by one of the Congressional offices, will be part of the parade. |
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| APRIL ACTIVITIES |
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| National Cherry Blossom Festival |
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The exact dates of the Festival depends on when the cherry blossoms bloom, but it is generally late March into early April. In 2010, the Festival is planned for March 27 through April 11. The more than 3,000 cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are the centerpiece for this annual festival and were a gift from the people of Japan, which includes a parade that goes down Constitution Avenue. Idaho's Cherry Blossom Princess, chosen each year by one of the Congressional offices, will be part of the parade. |
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| White House Easter Egg Roll |
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This annual activity dates back to 1878 when the first White House one was held. It is set for Easter Monday each year; in 2010, that will be on April 5. Children can color eggs and enjoy various activities, including egg rolling, in the South Lawn of the White House. In 2009, ticket distribution moved from physical distribution the weekend before the event to online application with a lottery. Approximately 30,000 tickets were handed out online to people from 45 states. Tickets will be available online starting February 25 through 28, 2010. The lottery will be held on March 1, 2010, with the results available on March 4, 2010. |
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| White House Spring Garden Tours |
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Since 1972, the White House has hosted a Fall Garden Tour which includes the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn. Military bands perform from a White House balcony.
Ticket distribution will begin at 8am on both tour days at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, 15th and E Streets. All attendees, including small children must have a ticket, which will be distributed one ticket per person. Check the White House website for the dates of the current year tour. |
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| Georgetown House Tour |
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Held the last Saturday in April (April 24, 2010), the tour will take you through eight to ten private homes in the Georgetown area of D.C. Tickets must be purchased to participate. |
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| Thomas Jefferson's Birthday |
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A wreath-laying ceremony, a military honor guard and speakers highlights a birthday commemoration for our nation's 3rd President. Held at 12pm on April 13 at the Jefferson Memorial |
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| Mount Vernon Garden Party |
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Activities include colonial folk music, colonial games and wagon rides. Held in mid-April. |
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| Shakespeare's Birthday Open House |
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At the Folger Shakespeare Library, this annual open house features children's activities, tours of the theater, dramatic readings, medieval crafts, jugglers and jesters and other entertainment. This is the only day of the year that the Folger's reading rooms are open to the public. The event is scheduled for April 25, 2010, 12 to 4 p.m. No admission is charged to the event. |
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| MAY ACTIVITIES |
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| Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk |
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Held the first Sunday of the month. The 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge eastbound span is closed to vehicles for a pedestrian crossing. |
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| Passport DC |
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This annual event presents a rare opportunity to see inside the embassies located throughout Washington, DC. Many of the embassies are in beautiful historic buildings, which are not generally accessible to the general public. The event usually spans a period of time days, but the Saturday openhouses at the embassies in the northwest quadrant of Washington, DC are a highlight. With more than 175 foreign embassies and related Cultural Tourism DC sponsors the showcase and the performances, talks and exhibits. In past years, embassies from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East and the Americas have opened the doors to visitors. There is no admission/ticket charge, and free shuttle service is provided at various locations. Passport DC 2010 will run from May 1 through May 22. |
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| Joint Service Open House and Air Show |
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Andrews Air Force Base hosts this event in mid- to late May each year. It includes aerial demonstrations, a mass paratroop drop and ground displays of various vintage and modern airplanes. Admission is free; guests should park at FedEx Field where shuttle buses provide transportation to Andrews. Shuttle service also available from the Branch Avenue Metero Station (Green Line). |
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| NSO Memorial Day Concert |
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The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on the last Sunday of May each year. |
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| Memorial Day Ceremonies |
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Commemorative wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled at several locations in the Washington, D.C. area, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Women in Military Service for American Memorial. The sitting President usually attends one of these events, generally the wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. |
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| Memorial Day Parade |
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Held on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, this parade includes marching bands and veterans units from all 50 states. The parade route goes along Constitution Avenue. |
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| Memorial Day Navy Band Concert |
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The U.S. Navy Band performs a free concert at the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets. |
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| JUNE ACTIVITIES |
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| Smithsonian American Folklife Festival |
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Held in late June or early July on the National Mall between 7th and 14th Streets, this two-week annual festival celebrates the food, music, arts and culture of at least one state or territory and one foreign country. Scheduled for June 24-28 and July 1-5, 2010. |
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| JULY ACTIVITIES |
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| Fourth of July Celebration |
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While the fireworks on the National Mall is the most visible celebration of our nation's birthday, there are events throughout Washington, D.C. to commemorate the day. Those include the National Symphony Orchestra's "Capitol Fourth" concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. |
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| Screen On The Green |
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Each Monday night from mid-July through mid-August, outdoor screenings of classic movies are held on the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets. Films are shown beginning at dusk, around 8:30-9:00 p.m., but people start claiming their spots on the lawn as early at 5 p.m. For the summer of 2010, the films are "Goldfinger" (1964), "The Goodbye Girl" (1977), "12 Angry Men" (1957) and "Bonnie and Clyde (1967). |
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| AUGUST ACTIVITIES |
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| Screen On The Green |
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Each Monday night from mid-July through mid-August, outdoor screenings of classic movies are held on the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets. Films are shown beginning at dusk, around 8:30-9:00 p.m., but people start claiming their spots on the lawn as early at 5 p.m. For the summer of 2010, the films are "Goldfinger" (1964), "The Goodbye Girl" (1977), "12 Angry Men" (1957) and "Bonnie and Clyde (1967). |
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| Congress out of session |
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Congress is generally in adjournment during the month of August, with most Senators and Representatives working in their home states. Being a visitor to Washington, D.C. during August, although it's hot and humid, means that traffic is lighter and most local residents are gone. |
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| Shakespeare Theatre "Free For All" |
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Enjoy Shakespeare at free performances at Sidney Harman Hall on F Street, NW, in Washington, DC. In 2009, the performances moved from the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park to Sidney Harman Hall. The tickets for the Shakespeare plays are distributed free on the day of the show. Performances by the Shakespeare Theatre Company run late May through early June. Past performance include "The Taming of the Shrew" (2009); "Love's Labor's Lost" (2007); "Hamlet" (2008, 2003); "The Merchant of Venice" (2000) and "Comedy of Errors" (1994).
The 2010 selection has not yet been announced, but last year's performance ran from August 27 through September 12, 2009. |
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| SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES |
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| Labor Day Concert |
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The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on the first Sunday of the month. |
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| Navy Band Concert |
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The U.S. Nacy Band and Sea Changers perform a free concert on the first Monday of the month at the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets. |
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| Mount Vernon |
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In September, Mount Vernon marks its annual Craft Fair, a visit from a historic shop, a slave commemoration ceremony and a Revolutionary War Encampment. |
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| Kalorama House and Embassy Tour |
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Massachusetts Avenue is the site of many of Washington's Embassies and distinguished private residences. Each fall, the Woodrow Wilson House hosts the Kalorama House and Embassy Tour. Tickets must be purchased to attend tour, which is scheduled for September 19, 2010. |
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| Kennedy Center Open House |
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In mid-September, the Kennedy Center hosts a day of free performances of music, ballet, theater and other performing arts in a number of indoor and outdoor stages. Some events require tickets, which can be picked up for free. |
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| National Book Festival |
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Held the last Saturday in September on the National Mall, the Library of Congress gathers together dozens of authors of all types for readings, book signings and exhibits. |
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| OCTOBER ACTIVITIES |
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| Supreme Court |
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The U.S. Supreme Court goes into session on the first Monday in October. |
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Columbus Day Ceremony
Union Station |
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The U.S. Marine Band will perform before a wreath-laying at the status of Columbus at the Columbus Memorial Status at Union Station. |
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Festival of the Building Arts
National Building Museum
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The National Building Museum hosts this event on the first Saturday of the month. It includes hands-on activities for all ages to encourage understanding of the skills used in the building arts. |
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White House Fall Garden Tours
Free timed tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the days of the tours |
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Since 1972, the White House has hosted a Fall Garden Tour which includes the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn. Military bands perform from a White House balcony.
Ticket distribution will begin at 8 a.m. on both tour days at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, 15th and E Streets. All attendees, including small children must have a ticket, which will be distributed one ticket per person. |
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Boo At The Zoo
National Zoo
Tickets must be purchased in advance. |
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In October of each year, the National Zoo sponsors a three-evening event, Boo at the Zoo. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat throughout stations set up along the Zoo's Olmstead Walk. They can also interact with zookeepers and see nighttime activity at the Zoo. |
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Marine Corps Marathon
Throughout Washington, DC |
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This marathon race starts at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington and goes through Washington along the Mall and then back to the Memorial. It is held the last Sunday in October. |
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| NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES |
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Veterans Day Ceremonies
November 11 |
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Commemorative wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled at several locations in the Washington, D.C. area, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Women in Military Service for American Memorial. The sitting President usually attends one of these events, generally the wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. |
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| Mount Vernon By Candlelight |
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From Thanksgiving through early December, evening tours are offered at Mount Vernon. The tour includes the usually-closed third-floor cupola. |
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| DECEMBER ACTIVITIES |
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Pageant of Peace
National Christmas Tree Lighting |
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In December, the National Christmas Tree is on display at The Ellipse on the south side of the White House grounds. Each year, the President or his designee lights the National Christmas Tree at the Pageant of Peace. The tradition began in 1923 during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge with a tree donated from Vermont. The National Christmas Tree and the Pathway of Peace will be open each evening after the lighting ceremony through January 1st. In mid-December, musical performances by volunteer choirs and dancers will be featured each night. |
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| LDS Washington DC Temple |
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In December, the Washington DC Temple grounds are the site for the Festival of Lights, a spectacular outdoor light display. Also included is a live Nativity scene, a display of international Nativity sets and nightly concerts. |
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| Mount Vernon By Candlelight |
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From Thanksgiving through early December, evening tours are offered at Mount Vernon. The tour includes the usually-closed third-floor cupola. |
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