Washington, DC – Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, offers ways to liven up your calendar and reasons to visit Washington, DC this spring. Visit washington.org/spring to plan travel.
What’s New:
Enjoy the renowned National Cherry Blossom Festival, free events and shows over the next several months. New hotels include the Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill and exhibitions include Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, along with other new attractions and cultural experiences.
Plan a Vacation:
Washington, DC shines in spring. Visitors and locals alike can explore DC’s greenspace including the Tidal Basin, Rock Creek Park and multiple waterfronts. Travelers can stretch their budget with hundreds of free events or indulge in new luxury offerings as well as the city’s mouthwatering dining scene and cutting-edge theater performances. Spring also ushers in landmark moments like International Women’s Month and Day, Filmfest DC, opening day for baseball and Passport DC.
Hear From the Expert:
“In the past year, DC has added more than 10 new hotels and celebrated another earned Michelin guide to our star-studded dining scene,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “Whether it’s catching an outdoor concert, experiencing a free Kusama infinity room or basking in world and American history, DC offers a wide variety of experiences this season.”
Go Deeper:
Cherry Blossom Experiences
- National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 18 – April 16)
- Peak bloom is March 22-25, 2023 (defined as 70 percent of the 3,800 Tidal Basin trees in bloom)
- Opening Ceremony: March 25; Blossom Kite Festival: March 25; Petalpalooza: April 8; National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade presented by Events DC: April 15
- Most common cherry blossom viewing sites:
- Tidal Basin provides photo ops near the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
- Small clusters of trees are along the National Mall, just northwest of the Lincoln Memorial and around the Washington Monument.
- Alternative viewing sites from the National Mall:
- The Gardens of Dumbarton Oaks
- U.S. National Arboretum
- East Potomac Park / Hains Point Loop Trail
- The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- Food, Drink and Experience Deals:
- ARTECHOUSE offers the sixth annual PIXELBLOOM, inviting visitors to jump into the metaverse and glide through a virtual world of cherry blossoms brought to life.
- Savor the taste of spring through the Cherry Picks Program or the 2023 Spring Wine Fling.
- Enjoy Hanami at Hamilton. In Japan, cherry blossom viewing, typically over a picnic, is called “hanami.” The Hamilton offers a hanami picnic with a curated picnic basket full of to-go goodies from the restaurant, Via Sophia.
- Book Blooms and Bubbly at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, DC. Enjoy king accommodations, chilled bubbly, arcay chocolates and cherry-infused bath salts.
- Find more cherry blossom-inspired food, drink and experiences at Washington.org
New and Recently Opened Hotels in DC:
- Marriott Washington DC NE (Jan. 2023): Features of the 235-room new hotel include a glass-enclosed two-story lobby, large ballroom, outdoor terrace, onsite restaurant, rooftop bar and event space, fitness facilities and Marriott’s M club.
- Royal Sonesta (spring 2023): The second Royal Sonesta in Washington, DC will open near Union Station. Part of a mixed-use complex, the 274-room hotel will offer additional rooftop and conference space with views of iconic landmarks.
- The Morrow Hotel Washington, DC Curio Collection by Hilton (Nov. 2022): The 203-room upscale brand from Hilton includes outdoor event space, indoor and outdoor food and beverage spaces and a rooftop with views of the city.
- Pendry Hotel Washington D.C. – The Wharf (Oct. 2022): The multi-faceted property features 131 waterfront guestrooms, 34 suites. It has three dining and bar concepts, Spa Pendry and 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event and meeting space.
- Salamander Washington, DC (Sep. 2022): Salamander Hotels & Resorts took over the 373-key hotel in Southwest DC. This is the first for the brand in Washington, DC, and the property is undergoing a phased renovation.
Notable Events and Experiences:
International Women’s Month and Day
- Touchstone Gallery
- Join Women for Women International at Touchstone Gallery on March 7 from 6:30-8:30pm with a screening of the organization’s virtual reality film, Through Dada’s Eyes. The film follows Dada’s life in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The screening is followed by a conversation between renowned Nigerian actress and activist Stella Damasus and Laurie Adams, CEO of WFWI.
- The Doyle Collection IWD Headshot Initiative – Washington, DC
- On March 8 and running simultaneously across London, Dublin, Cork, and Washington, DC, participants have the opportunity to book a slot and have headshots captured by a local, professional female photographer. Donations generated go to Vital Voices.
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- NMWA will host a day-long virtual festival to celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8. Virtual experiences run from 10:30 am – 7:00 pm, including a conversation with artists, a cocktail-making class, a musical performance and more.
- Hotel Zena
- Hotel Zena celebrates women’s history month with month-long programming. On March 15, the hotel is screening a film based on the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights and impact as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice. The free film runs every two hours from 12-8pm.
- BGR!FEST
- BGR!FEST® is an immersive multi-day live experience celebrating the exceptional cultural contributions of Black women artists, thought leaders and creatives. Each edition of the BGR!FEST™ includes a mix of concerts, a speaker series, panels/workshops, activations and community events. March 9-12 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Upcoming
- Ford’s Theatre – Shout, Sister, Shout!
- A new musical based on Gayle F. Wald’s inspiring book follows the music scene of the 1930s and ‘40s and the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a musical legend who paved the way for Black rock, R&B, and gospel singers and guitarists with her ambition and courage. Tharpe was also a pioneer for racial and sexual equality. March 15 – May 13, 2023
- Audi Field – DC United, Washington Spirit, DC Defenders
- Enjoy one of DC’s best stadiums and catch an MLS, NWSL or XFL games now through fall of 2023.
- The Phillips Collection – Pour, Tear, Crave
- The exhibit asks: “What types of materials and techniques do artists use, and how do these decisions shape the subject, composition, and style of a work and its meaning?” March 18 – May 14, 2023.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture – Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures
- The new interactive exhibit explores the concept of Afrofuturism, including its origins, ideas and creations. Voices of authors, artists, musicians and scholars are reflected. Expect multimedia displays and hundreds of images and videos in the 4,300-square-foot experience that includes popular culture items like the costume for Black Panther worn by Chadwick Boseman. March 23, 2023 – TBD 2024.
- Sidney Harman Hall – The Jungle
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Shakespeare Theatre Company co-present The Jungle, which focuses on a camp of stateless citizens from Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan and other countries situated outside of Calais, France. As the group dreams of crossing the English Channel to begin a new life, stories of loss, fear and hope are shared. March 28 – April 16, 2023
- Nationals Park – Washington Nationals
- The 2019 World Series Champions welcome the Atlanta Braves to DC for the season home opener March 30. Season runs through Oct. 1, 2023
- Hirshhorn Museum – One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection
- The Hirshhorn has been collecting the prolific work of Yayoi Kusama since 1996. The Hirshhorn displays five of Kusama’s works from the museum’s permanent collection, including two of the artist’s transcendent Infinity Mirror Rooms. Through June 28, 2023.
Ahead:
- Filmfest DC
- Citywide | April 20 – 30, 2023
- The largest and longest-running annual international film festival in DC
- Passport DC
- Citywide | May 1 – 31, 2023
- A month of programming, including the Around the World Embassy Tour and European Union Open House, highlights DC’s international culture.
- Capital Pride
- Citywide | June 2 – 11, 2023
- Celebrate Pride Month with street festivals, concerts and a parade.
- Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW | June 24 – 25, 2023
- Everyone’s favorite barbecue-flavored event marks 31 years in the District.
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival
- National Mall | June 28 – July 4, July 6-9, 2023
- A summer tradition, the festival returns to the National Mall with a focus on the Ozarks and living religion in the United States.
- MLS All-Star Weekend
- Audi Field | July 19-21, 2023
- D.C. will host the 2023 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on July 19. The opponent for Major League Soccer’s showcase event will be announced soon.
