Celebrate Art in DC this August

There’s no better way to enjoy your time in DC than to celebrate art, music, and history in the city. August has tons of events you can enjoy on your visit to the nation’s capital. If you are looking for a fun way to learn more about the city as well, check out one of our narrated tours around the National Mall. Here is a list of the variety of events taking place around DC this August.

• Theatre
• Art
• Comedy
• History

Musicals and plays always provide an incredible and immersive experience in the city. Check out some of the talented performers and incredible productions this month.

An incredible way to learn about history while in the nation’s capital is by seeing Charles Randolf-Wright’s musical centered around American abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ own speeches and writings. This Grammy Award winning show celebrates the revolutionary legacy of one of history’s first freedom fighters. Get tickets for the show running until August 28 at Arena Stage here.

Enjoy the musical SIX about the six wives of Henry VIII presented in a pop concert format. The Tony Award winning musical features an all female cast and allows for an incredibly fun experience to learn about these historical women. You can purchase tickets and read more about the show touring at the National Theatre until September 6 here .

Celebrate Shakespeare at The Playhouse exhibition at the National Building Museum until September 6. Featured are various free events like exploring the Midsummer Forest, crafts, Shakespeare Mad Libs, Costumes, and Crowns, a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as many other fun activities to participate in. Read more about the event here.

The widely acclaimed and Tony Award winning musical Hamilton is now playing at the John F. Kennedy Center. An amazingly fun and enjoyable way to learn about the founding of the United States of America is an experience you don’t want to miss when in DC. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Color Purple will begin performances August 16 in the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. This Tony Award winning musical uses a variety of music genres like blues, jazz, ragtime and gospel to tell the narrative of a young woman’s struggle for love and triumph in the American South. Read more and purchase your tickets in advance here.

The Outsider, a comedy about Ned Newley who is the worst candidate to ever run for office, is playing in the Keegan Theatre beginning on August 27. Check out more information about performance dates and times, how to get tickets, and runtime on the Keegan Theatre website.

Until August 28th, the Phillips Collection will feature an exhibit called Intersections: Marta Pérez García where Marta Pérez García explores a wide range of human conditions, from fragility and vulnerability to strength and survival through her art. Her recent work addresses the rarely discussed increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection requires guests to reserve timed entry tickets for general admission here.

Make sure to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture to see the over four-thousand square foot exhibit exploring the Reconstruction era from a different perspective. Until August 31, visitors can see the exhibit that presents the history of this time period through an African lens. Reserve your timed entry passes here.

Check out the Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery until September 5. This exhibition combines portraiture and visual biography from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection to let visitors experience Watergate’s key players in a historical time. Admission to the gallery is free. Read more about this exhibit along with many others here.

Featured in the National Museum of Asian Art is Living in Two Times: Photography by Bahman Jalali and Rana Javadi. These two artists are among the most influential figures right now in photography in Iran. View the incredible imagery of the turbulent period in their home country of Iran at the National Museum of Asian Art starting on August 6 and read more about the exhibition here.

Kevin Hart is on tour this year, and the famous and hilarious comedian will be in DC on August 18 and 19 at the Capital One Arena. Have a laugh at his stand up routine and get your tickets for the show here.

On August 19, the widely successful and funny podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! will be live in DC at the Warner Theatre. With humorous conversations, skits, and games, you don’t want to miss this performance. Read more about the show and purchase your tickets here.

Our nation’s capital is home to many great landmarks and memorials. If you’re looking for a stress free, educational, and fun way to visit the multitude of spectacular sites, we’d love to accommodate you with our narrated tour down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol and through the heart of the National Mall where you can see various monumental landmarks, memorials, and other sites that show the interesting details of the nation’s capital. There are many occasions to stop and take photos along the way. Once at the Capitol, you may choose the route to include your priorities of special interest, or allow our professional guides to take you along on a journey of discovery and entertainment! Book your tour this August.