Labor Day Activities in DC

Attend the Labor Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. Join the National Symphony Orchestra on September 4th at 8:00pm. The concert is free to attend, and seating is on a first come, first served basis. This year’s event features Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leading the orchestra in music by Aaron Copland, John Williams, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, and others. Special guest Jimmie Herrod (Pink Martini, America’s Got Talent) joins the celebration to perform favorites by Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell, and more! Read more about the performance and event details here.

Visit the wide array of Smithsonian Museums while in the city. Some of these incredible and popular museums include the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Portrait Gallery, as well as many more! Make sure to check the museum’s hours and admission information before visiting. See the list of museums, visiting hours, and tips and safety protocols here.

The City & the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department are finally back after a 2 year hiatus to host the 84th annual Labor Day Parade in Olde Town, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The parade will be on Monday, September 5th from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Featured in the parade include dance groups, marching bands, costumes, cars, and much more. They will be traveling down East Diamond and Russell Avenues. Read more about the parade here.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place every fall in Crownsville, Maryland. The festival reflects the times of Henry VIII of England and is set in Revel Grove, a replica of a 16th-century English village, opening on the last weekend of August. You can visit the festival starting this weekend to the 23rd of October. It is a great way to spend Labor Day weekend as well! Learn more about the festival here.

Join musical performers and music lovers at the 18th annual DC Jazzfest this year. Learn about the history of this iconic event here. From August 31st to September 4th, come to DC to see incredible performers like Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band, Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio, Regina Carter Gone in A Phrase of Air, as well as many other talented artists. The schedule can be found here so you can plan who you’d like to see and where they’ll be performing. You can purchase tickets for performers individually on the schedule page or purchase day passes. Be sure to get your tickets to see your favorite artists in advance as they are selling out quickly and read more about the festival here!

A perfect way to celebrate Labor Day weekend is by touring the monuments and memorials in DC. Be sure to check out our Capitol Express Day or Night Tours. Learn about the city’s rich history and beautiful landmarks on our fun and educational narrated golf cart tours. These tours are a fun and stress free way to visit all of the popular sites without needing to create a plan or research on your own. Capitol Express Tours is a local business that will take you to see the iconic monuments and memorials within DC on ​​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 with the ability to customize your tours as well. Book your tour today!