Calendar of Events

Washington's most popular annual events are the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring, the Fourth of July celebration in summer, and the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in winter. But some sort of special event occurs almost daily. For the latest schedules, check www.washington.org, www.nps.gov/ncro (click on "Calendar of Events"), www.culturaltourismdc.org, www.dc.gov, and www.washingtonpost.com.

For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in Washington (and other cities all over the world).

In the calendar below, I've done my best to accurately list phone numbers for more information, but they seem to change constantly. If the number you try doesn't get you the details you need, call the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation at tel. 202/789-7000.

When you're in town, grab a copy of the Washington Post, especially the Friday "Weekend" section, or a copy of the monthly magazine, Washingtonian, whose "Where and When" section features recommended goings-on around town.

January

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, Birthday. Events include speeches by prominent leaders and politicians, readings, dance, theater, concerts and choral performances, and prayer vigils. On the Friday preceding the national holiday (third Mon in Jan), the National Park Service holds a ceremony at the Department of Interior Building at 1849 C St. NW, attended by school children and open to the public; park rangers then transfer the wreath used during the ceremony to the Lincoln Memorial. (The entire ceremony used to take place at the Memorial but was switched indoors because of the cold.) Call tel. 202/619-7222. Many events take place at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW (tel. 202/727-0321). Third Monday in January.

February

Black History Month. Numerous events, museum exhibits, and cultural programs celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American life, including a celebration of abolitionist Frederick Douglass's birthday. For details, check the Washington Post or call the National Park Service at tel. 202/619-7222.

Chinese New Year Celebration. A friendship archway, topped by 300 painted dragons and lighted at night, marks Chinatown's entrance at 7th and H streets NW. The celebration begins the day of the Chinese New Year and continues for 10 or more days, with traditional firecrackers, dragon dancers, and colorful street parades. Some area restaurants offer special menus. For details, call tel. 202/789-7000. Early February.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday. This day is marked by a wreath laying and reading of the Gettysburg Address at noon at the Lincoln Memorial. Call tel. 202/619-7222. February 12.

George Washington's Birthday. Celebratory events similar to Lincoln's birthday, centered on the Washington Monument. Call tel. 202/619-7222 for details. The Washington Monument is open, with new security barriers placed in concentric circles around the obelisk. See the review in chapter 7 of the Washington Monument for more information. Both presidents' birthdays also bring annual citywide sales. February 22. See chapter 10, "Side Trips from Washington, D.C.," for information about the bigger celebrations held at Mount Vernon and in Old Town Alexandria on the third Monday in February.

March

Women's History Month. Various institutions throughout the city stage celebrations of women's lives and achievements. For the schedule of National Park Service events, check the calendar at www.nps.gov/ncro; for Smithsonian events, call tel. 202/357-2700; for other events, check the websites listed in the intro to this section.

St. Patrick's Day Parade. A big parade on Constitution Avenue NW, from 7th to 17th streets, with floats, bagpipes, marching bands, and the wearin' o' the green. For parade information, call tel. 202/789-7000 or go online at www.dcstpatsparade.com. The Sunday before March 17.

Smithsonian Kite Festival. This event is delightful if the weather cooperates -- an occasion for a trip in itself. Throngs of kite enthusiasts fly their unique creations on the grounds of the Washington Monument, and compete for ribbons and prizes. Now in its 42nd year, the kite festival even has its own website: www.kitefestival.org. Visit the website or call tel. 202/357-2700 or 202/357-3030 for details. To compete, just show up at the designated spot with your kite between 10am and noon and register. A Saturday in mid- or late March, or early April, but always during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

April

National Cherry Blossom Festival. Washington's best-known annual event: a 2-week festival coinciding with the blossoming of more than 3,700 Japanese cherry trees by the Tidal Basin, on Hains Point, and on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Events take place all over town, including fireworks, concerts, special art exhibits, park ranger-guided talks and tours past the cherry blossom trees, and sports competitions. A grand parade caps the festival, complete with floats, marching bands, dancers, celebrity guests, and more. For information, call tel. 202/547-1500 or go to www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. March 29 to April 13, 2008. National and local news programs monitor the budding.

White House Easter Egg Roll. The biggie for little kids. The annual White House Easter Egg Roll continues a practice begun in 1878. Entertainment on the White House South Lawn and the Ellipse traditionally includes appearances by costumed cartoon characters, clowns, egg-decorating exhibitions, puppet and magic shows, military drill teams, an egg-rolling contest, and a hunt for 1,000 or so wooden eggs, many of them signed by celebrities, astronauts, or the president. Note: Children of all ages are welcome, as long as a child age 7 or younger, and no more than 2 adults, are in your group. You may obtain a maximum of five tickets. The hourly timed tickets are issued at the National Parks Service Ellipse Visitors Pavilion just behind the White House at 15th and E streets NW beginning at 7:30am on the Saturday before Easter and again on Easter Monday. Call tel. 202/208-1631 for details. Easter Monday between 8am and 2pm, enter at the southeast gate on East Executive Avenue. Arrive early to make sure you get in and to allow for increased security procedures. One other precaution: Strollers are not permitted.

African-American Family Day at the National Zoo. This tradition extends back to 1889, when the zoo opened. The National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, celebrates African-American families the day after Easter with music, dance, Easter egg rolls, and other activities. Free. Call tel. 202/357-2700 for details. Easter Monday.

Thomas Jefferson's Birthday. Celebrated at the Jefferson Memorial with wreaths, speeches, and a military ceremony. Call tel. 202/619-7222 for time and details. April 13.

White House Spring Garden Tour. These beautifully landscaped creations are open to the public for free tours, 2 days only. Tickets are required. Call tel. 202/208-1631 for details. Two days in mid-April.

Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration. Music, theater, children's events, food, and exhibits are all part of the afternoon's hail to the bard at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Call tel. 202/544-4600, or go to www.folger.edu. Free admission. Mid- to late April.

Filmfest D.C. This annual film festival presents more than 100 works by filmmakers from around the globe. Screenings take place primarily in movie theaters. Tickets are usually $9 per movie and go fast; some events are free. Call tel. 202/628-FILM or check the website, www.filmfestdc.org. Two weeks in April.

Smithsonian Craft Show. Held in the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, this juried show features one-of-a-kind limited-edition crafts by more than 120 noted artists from all over the country. There's an entrance fee of about $15 per adult each day, free for children under 13. No strollers. For details, call tel. 888/832-9554 (TDD 202/357-1729), or check the website, www.smithsoniancraftshow.com. Four days in late April.

May

Washington National Cathedral Annual Flower Mart. Now in its 69th year, the flower mart takes place on cathedral grounds, featuring displays of flowering plants and herbs, decorating demonstrations, ethnic food booths, children's rides and activities (including an antique carousel), costumed characters, puppet shows, and other entertainment. Admission is free. Call tel. 202/537-3185 or go to www.cathedral.org for details. First Friday and Saturday in May, rain or shine.

Georgetown Garden Tour. View remarkable private gardens in one of the city's loveliest neighborhoods. Admission ($25-$30) includes light refreshments. Some years there are related events such as a flower show at a historic home. Call tel. 202/789-7000 or browse the website www.georgetowngardentour.com for details. Early to mid-May.

Shakespeare Theatre Free for All. This free theater festival presents a different Shakespeare play each year for a 2-week run at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in upper northwest Washington. Tickets are required, but they're free. Call tel. 202/334-4790, or check the website, www.shakespearetheatre.org. Evenings, end of May through early June.

Memorial Day. At 11am, a wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, followed by military band music, a service, and an address by a high-ranking government official (sometimes the president); call tel. 703/607-8000 for details. A National Memorial Day Parade marches from the Capitol, down Constitution Avenue, to the White House. Ceremonies are held at the National World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorial (tel. 202/619-7222 for details), and other activities take place at the U.S. Navy Memorial (tel. 202/737-2300). On the Sunday before Memorial Day, the National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert at 8pm on the West Lawn of the Capitol to honor the sacrifices of American servicemen and women; call tel. 202/619-7222 for details.

June

Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Day. This 25th annual celebration welcomes visitors to eight museums and historic houses located in several charming, off-the-Mall neighborhoods. Free food, music, tours, and crafts demonstrations are on offer. Shuttle buses travel to each location. Call tel. 202/387-4062, ext. 12, or access the website, www.dkmuseums.com. First full weekend in June.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival. A major event reveling in both national and international traditions in music, crafts, foods, games, concerts, and exhibits, staged the length of the National Mall. Each Folklife Festival showcases 3 or 4 cultures or themes; 2007 introduced those of the Mekong River; Northern Ireland; and the state of Virginia to festivalgoers. All events are free; most events take place outdoors. Call tel. 202/357-2700, or check the website, www.folklife.si.edu, or the listings in the Washington Post, for details. For 10 days in late June and early July, always including July 4.

July

Independence Day. There's no better place to be on the Fourth of July than in Washington, D.C. The festivities include a massive National Independence Day Parade down Constitution Avenue, complete with lavish floats, princesses, marching groups, and military bands. A morning program in front of the National Archives includes military demonstrations, period music, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. In the evening, the National Symphony Orchestra plays on the west steps of the Capitol with guest artists (for example, Leontyne Price). And big-name entertainment precedes the fabulous fireworks display behind the Washington Monument. You can also attend a free 11am organ recital at Washington's National Cathedral. Consult the Washington Post or call tel. 202/789-7000 for details. July 4, all day.

Bastille Day. This Washington tradition honors the French Independence Day with live entertainment and a 12-block race by tray-balancing waiters and waitresses, along Pennsylvania Avenue from Brasserie Les Halles to the U.S. Capitol and back. Free, mais bien sûr. At 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Call tel. 202/347-6848. July 14.

Capital Fringe Festival. This event debuted in 2006 and celebrates experimental theater in the tradition of the original fringe festival held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. Five events take place at more than 20 venues daily for 10 days, adding up to about 1,000 acts in all. Local and visiting artists perform in theater, dance, music, and other disciplines. Tickets are $10 per event and the action centers on 7th Street NW in the Penn Quarter. Check the website, www.capfringe.org, for more information. The end of the month.

September

Labor Day Concert. The National Symphony Orchestra closes its summer season with a free performance at 8pm on the West Lawn of the Capitol; call tel. 202/619-7222 for details. Sunday before Labor Day. (Rain date: Same day and time at Constitution Hall or the Kennedy Center.)

Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival. A day-long festival of the performing arts, featuring local and national artists on the front plaza and river terrace (which overlooks the Potomac), and throughout the stage halls of the Kennedy Center. Past festivals have featured the likes of Los Lobos, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Washington Opera soloists. Kids' activities usually include a National Symphony Orchestra "petting zoo," where children get to bow, blow, drum, or strum a favorite instrument. Admission is free, although you may have to stand in a long line for the inside performances. For details, check the Washington Post, call tel. 800/444-1324 or 202/467-4600, or access the website, www.kennedy-center.org. A Saturday or Sunday in early to mid-September, 11:30am to 7:30pm.

Black Family Reunion. Performances, food, and fun are part of this 2-day celebration of the African-American family and culture, held on the Mall. Free. Check the website, www.ncnw.org/events/reunion.htm. Mid-September.

Adams-Morgan Day. Thousands turn out along 18th Street NW, Columbia Road NW, and other streets in this small neighborhood to revel in the music, art, dance, and cuisines representing the international roots of the residents. Call tel. 202/232-1978, or check the website, adamsmorgandayfestival.com. Second Sunday in September.

Washington National Cathedral's Open House. This sixth-largest-in- the-world cathedral celebrated its centenary in 2007. Its annual open house includes demonstrations of stone carving and other crafts utilized in building the cathedral; carillon and organ demonstrations; and performances by dancers, choirs, strolling musicians, jugglers, and puppeteers. This occasion is only one of two times annually when the Cathedral allows visitors to ascend to the top of the central bell tower for a spectacular view of the area (the Flower Mart in May is the other -- see its entry). For details, call tel. 202/537-6200. A Saturday in late September or early October.

Library of Congress National Book Festival. Co-sponsored by the Library of Congress and the First Lady, this festival welcomes at least 80 established authors and their many fans to the National Mall for readings, author signings, and general hoopla surrounding the love of books. Check www.loc.gov/bookfest, or call tel. 202/707-8000 for more information. A Saturday in late September.

October

White House Fall Garden Tour. For 2 days, visitors have an opportunity to see the famed Rose Garden and South Lawn. Admission is free, though tickets are required. A military band provides music. For details, call tel. 202/208-1631. Mid- to late October.

Marine Corps Marathon. More than 30,000 runners compete in this 26.2-mile race (the fifth-largest marathon in the United States). It begins at the Marine Corps Memorial (the Iwo Jima statue) and passes major monuments. Call tel. 703/432-1159 for details. Anyone can enter; register online at www.marinemarathon.com. Fourth Sunday in October.

Halloween. There's no official celebration, but costumed shenanigans seem to get bigger every year. Giant block parties take place in the Dupont Circle and Georgetown neighborhoods. Check the Washington Post for special parties and activities. October 31.

November

Veterans Day. The nation's war dead are honored with a wreath-laying ceremony at 11am at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery followed by a memorial service. The president of the United States or his stand-in officiates, as a military band performs. Wreath-laying ceremonies also take place at other war memorials in the city. Call tel. 703/607-8000 for more information about Arlington Cemetery events and 202/619-7222 for information about events elsewhere. November 11.

December

Christmas Pageant of Peace/National Tree Lighting. At the northern end of the Ellipse, the president lights the national Christmas tree to the accompaniment of orchestral and choral music. The lighting inaugurates the 4-week Pageant of Peace, a tremendous holiday celebration full of free activities, including musical performances, mostly of local school and church choruses, nightly on the Ellipse. (Brrrr!) Call tel. 202/208-1631, or check the website, www.nps.gov/whho/pageant.htm, for details; tickets are free but required to attend the tree-lighting ceremony. The tree-lighting ceremony takes place at 5pm on a day in early December, and the Pageant of Peace continues every night throughout the month.