The weather is beautiful! What better time to visit Washington, DC to see the incredible national sites like memorials and monuments as well as the annual summer events, concerts, festivals, and other celebrations. Read on to learn about some of the lively events happening now!
Summer Events in DC
1 ☀ Tour the National Mall
The expansive and grassy National Mall hosts famous monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. On the east of the mall is the U.S. Capitol, and to the north is the White House. Also along the expansive mall are various Smithsonian museums. Close by is the Tidal Basin reservoir which is known for its blossoming cherry trees. The cherry blossoms are not in bloom right now, but visiting the tidal basin in the summer rather than spring allows for a less crowded view of the water with its path surrounded by iconic monuments. The memorials and sites along the National Mall are definitely worth touring this summer.
2 ☀ Witness the Capitol at Night
One of the most beautiful sites of DC is the domed U.S. Capitol building at night. The Capitol is very prominently lit at night, making it a gorgeous centerpiece of downtown DC. Various other monuments and memorials are beautifully lit at nighttime as well and are definitely worth booking into your trip to see. Booking a night tour makes for an educational and fun experience.
3 ☀ Check Out the Giant National Capital BBQ Food & Music Festival
The Giant National Capital BBQ Food & Music Festival is being held this weekend (June 25-26, 2022) on Historic Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. Some of the events include barbecue food, the Capital BBQ battle and food competitions, music and entertainment with performances on four different stages, and fun family events with educational information about heath and wellness. Read more about the event here.
4 ☀ Listen to Jazz in the Garden
It’s always great to check out the National Gallery of Art and the Sculpture Garden when visiting DC. For the next month, enjoy live musical performances ranging from jazz to Afro-Cuban and bluegrass in the outdoor Sculpture Garden every Friday at 6:00pm. Some upcoming performances include Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet: New Orleans Jazz, The Althea René Band: Soul Jazz Flute, and Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra: Jazz & World Music to name a few! Performances will continue every Friday until July 22. Registration is free and opens at noon one week before each concert. Read more and register here.
5 ☀ Visit the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, launched in 1967, is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage presented annually in the summer in Washington, DC. It is held on the National Mall for two weeks around the Fourth of July holiday. There are events most days until July 4th with each day packed with fun, interesting, and educational events. Attend events to learn about nature, origami, cooking, and poetry as well as many other interesting topics on the Smithsonian Folk Festival website and check out the full schedule of events here.
6 ☀ Celebrate the 4th of July
DC is an incredible place to celebrate the Fourth of July. Attend events like the National Independence Day Parade, tune into the ‘A Capitol Fourth’ 4th of July Concert, or watch the annual fireworks on the National Mall. Stay tuned for next week’s blog post on other 4th of July events in DC and the best viewing spots to catch the fireworks!
7 ☀ Schedule a Private Tour Around the City’s Incredible Monuments
Our nation’s capital is home to many great landmarks and memorials. If you’re looking for a stress free 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. Schedule a private day or night tour with options of group sizes with up to 5 or 7 participants to see the beautiful sites of our nation’s capital this summer!
