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Annual Events, Festivals, Concerts in Washington

Have an event to add to our list? Add your event to FindOutDC.com. Please note the months listed below are approximate for some events. Check with event organizers for actual dates in each year.

January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December

:. January

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Reading of the "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Celebrated on the third January of the month each year.

Presidential Inauguration Day

Third Tuesday in January in year of presidential transition.

:. February

Chinese New Year events in DC's Chinatown

Black History Month

Check Smithsonian for related events all month

DC Fashion Week

Semi-annual event - runway shows and networking parties around DC including an evening event at the French Embassy.

Lincoln's Birthday

Gettysburg Address reading at the Lincoln Memorial

George Washington's Birthday Parade

website also lists other events related to Washington's Birthday

:. March

DC Independent Film Festival

202-537-9493

Taste of the Nation

Top chefs provide food and auction items for charity.
877-268-2783

Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival

on the Washington Monument Grounds
202-633-3030

:. April

Cherry Tree Blooming in DC

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Filmfest DC

White House Easter Egg Roll

:. May

Cathedral Flower Mart

held at the National Cathedral
202-735-3185

Virginia Gold Cup Steeplechase Race

Great Meadow, Virginia
540-347-1215

Audubon Nature Fair

at the Woodend Sanctuary
301-652-9188

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

Held in downtown Bethesda, with over 100 artists

Food and Wine Festival

Held at the National Harbor
301-203-4170

Post Hunt

Penn Quarter, details in Washington Post

Capitol Jazz Fest

Merriweather Post Pavilion

DC Yoga Week

Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association (MAYA). Events at several local yoga studios.

National Symphony Orchetstra Memorial Day Concert

Memorial Day events at Arlington National Cemetary and the Vietnam Memorial

Washington Folk Festival

At Glen Echo Park, MD
301-634-2222

:. June

Screen on the Green

Free outdoor movies on the National Mall (all summer)

Shakespeare in the Park

Free plays at the Carter Barron Ampitheatre

Alexandria Waterfront Festival

Sponsored by the Alexandria Red Cross

DC Caribbean Carnival

at Benneker Community Center
202-726-2204

National Barbecue Battle

:. July

July 4th Fireworks on the National Mall

Screen on the Green

Free outdoor movies on the National Mall (all summer)

Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival

on the Mall. 2008 will be its 42nd year.

:. August

Screen on the Green

Free outdoor movies on the National Mall (all summer)

Bethesda Outdoor Movies

at Woodmont Triangle
202-215-6660

Midcity's Annual Dog Days of August Sidewalk Sale

Merchants up and down 14th Street, P. Street, U. Street, and up to W Street offer their wares in a this neighborhood sidewalk sale.
202-577-6786

Restaurant Week

Various locations throughout DC

Montgomery County Fair

301-963-3247

Comcast Outdoor Festival at Strathmore

301-816-6958

Summer Antiques Fair

at Baltimore Convention Center
410-649-7000

Maryland State Fair

at Timonium Fairgrounds
410-252-0200

:. September

DC Blues Festival

(photos from past Blues Festival)

Arts on Foot

Free event of food and art in DC's Penn Quarter

Kalorama House and Embassy Tour

202-387-4062

Maryland Renaissance Festival

in Annapolis
800-296-7304

National Book Festival

on the Mall
888-714-4696

Fall for the Book Festival

Where: DC/MD/VA : main events at George Mason University 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
When: Usually September, sometimes October. Check www.fallforthebook.org for more info
Admission is Free
Contact: fftbmktg@gmu.edu with questions
Fall for the Book is Northern Virginia'�s largest and oldest literary celebration, and has grown into a week-long, multiple- venue, regional festival that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate reading. A growing list of authors and more information is available at www.fallforthebook.org.

:. October

Mt. Zion's Annual October Festival

Will be held at Rose Park (26th and P. Streets in NW Washington, DC) on October 4, 2008, from 10 am - 5:30 pm. Stop by to shop approximately 50 vendors, or participate in our many activities: food, face painting, balloon animals, magic, silent auction, arts & crafts, live entertainment, cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, moon bounce, and much much more! There is no admission fee for this event. All proceeds will benefit Mt. Zion's Cemetery restoration and preservation campaign. Mt. Zion's Cemetery is an historical landmark. www.mtzionumcdc.org

Taste of DC Festival

Jewish Film Festival

Marine Corps Marathon

Called the People's Marathon, due perhaps to the easy (for the marathon set!) course running through Arlington and DC and the lack of prize money.

Theordore Roosevelt's Birthday

(October 27th)

:. November

Veteran's Day

November 11. Events held at Arlington National Cemetary, WWII, Vietnam memorials.

Bethesda Turkey Chase

A Thanksgiving Day tradition in Bethesda. USATF-certified 10K race and 2 mile fun run/walk for the entire family. 50m Tot-Trot for kids 8 and under. Food, music, prizes, and chasing of the Turkey mascot. Supports the YMCA's Youth and Family Services, YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Foundation.

:. December

Kennedy Center Holiday Celebrations

White House Holiday Events

National Christmas Tree Lighting & Pageant of Peace

Washington National Cathedral Christmas Events

202-537-6427

January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December


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