Calendar of Events

Washington's most popular annual events are the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring (2012's is going to be big: This is the 100th anniversary of the city of Tokyo's initial gift of cherry trees to the U.S. capital), 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.destinationdc.org, www.nps.gov/ncro (click on "Calendar of Events"), www.culturaltourismdc.org, www.dc.gov, and www.washingtonpost.com.

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

When you're in town, grab a copy of the Washington Post (or read it online), especially the Friday "Weekend" section, or a copy of the monthly magazine, Washingtonian, whose "Where and When" section features a daily calendar as well as that month's recommended goings-on around town.

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 cities all over the world.

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 schoolchildren and open to the public; park rangers then transfer the wreath used during the ceremony to the Lincoln Memorial. Call the National Park Service at tel. 202/619-7222.

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 Destination D.C. at tel. 202/789-7000. Early February.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday. Expect great fanfare on this day in 2012, when Ford's Theatre debuts its Lincoln Center for Education and Leadership, an exploration of Lincoln's legacy in the time since his assassination. As always, a wreath-laying and reading of the Gettysburg Address will take place at noon at the Lincoln Memorial. Call Ford's Theatre tel. 202/426-6924, or the National Park Service at tel. 202/619-7222. February 12.

George Washington's Birthday/President's Day. The city celebrates Washington's birthday in two ways: on the actual day, February 22, with a ceremony that takes place at the Washington Monument; and on the federal holiday, the third Monday in February, when schools and federal offices have off. Call the National Park Service at tel. 202/619-7222 for details. The occasion also brings with it great sales at stores, citywide.

International Food and Wine Festival. Now in its 13th year, this 2-day, annual event held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is the largest indoor wine festival in the Mid-Atlantic, with at least 100 international wineries participating, as well as food vendors and other merchants. Ticket prices vary, depending on event, but admission to the main event will cost you a hefty $95 at the door. Call tel. 888/665-6069 or go online, www.wineandfooddc.com. Mid-February.

D.C. Fashion Week. This biannual event features designers from around the world. The weeklong extravaganza stages parties, runway shows, and trunk shows at citywide venues, always culminating in an international couture fashion show held at the French Embassy. Most events are open to the public, but may require a ticket. Call tel. 202/271-7235 or look online, www.dcfashionweek.org. Mid-February and mid-September.

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. 202/633-1000 or go online at www.si.edu; 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 Destination D.C. at tel. 202/789-7000 or go online at www.dcstpatsparade.com. The Sunday before March 17.

April

National Cherry Blossom Festival. Strike up the band! 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the city of Tokyo's initial gift of cherry trees to the city of Washington. We've been celebrating the event annually ever since, but never more than this year. Normally a 2-week festival, the 2012 centennial celebration will last 5 weeks, from March 20 to April 27. If all goes well, the first 2 weeks of the festival should coincide with the blossoming of the 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 and include the Blossom Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument, fireworks, concerts, special art exhibits, park ranger-guided talks and tours past the cherry blossom trees, and sports competitions. A Japanese Street Festival takes place on one of the final days of the celebration and a grand parade caps the festival, complete with floats, marching bands, dancers, celebrity guests, and more. For information, call tel. 877/44BLOOM (442-5666) or go to www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. March 20 to April 27, 2012. National and local news programs monitor the budding. All events are free except for the Japanese Street Fair, which costs $5, and grandstand seating at the parade, which costs $17 (otherwise, the parade is free).

White House Easter Egg Roll. The biggie for little kids 12 and under. 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, musical groups (Fergie and the Jonas Brothers are among those who've performed in the past), egg-decorating exhibitions, puppet and magic shows, an Easter egg hunt, and an egg-rolling contest. In 2009, President Obama inaugurated an online lottery system for obtaining tickets, up and running about 6 weeks before Easter Monday. Call tel. 202/208-1631 for details or go online at www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll. Easter Monday between 8am and 5pm.

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. 202/633-1000 for details. Easter Monday.

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

Earth Day. 2012 marks the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. Official Earth Day is April 22; D.C. often marks the event on a Sunday close to that date. The National Mall is ground zero for green-themed volunteer activities, campaigning, and live music performed by big names -- Los Lobos and the Flaming Lips are two bands who've played in the past. Call tel. 202/518-0044, ext. 210; www.earthday.net. April 22.

Filmfest D.C. This annual film festival, now in its 26th year, presents more than 100 works by filmmakers from around the globe. Screenings take place in movie theaters, embassies, and museums citywide. Tickets are usually $10 per movie and go fast; some events are free. Call tel. 202/274-5782 or 202/234-3456) or check the website, www.filmfestdc.org. Eleven days 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 12 and under. No strollers. For details, call tel. 888/832-9554 or 202/633-5006, or check the website, www.smithsoniancraftshow.com. Four days in mid- to late April.

May

Washington National Cathedral Annual Flower Mart. Now in its 73rd 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 (click on "All Hallows Guild") 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 ($30-$35) includes light refreshments. Some years there are related events such as a flower show at a historic home. Browse the website www.georgetowngardentour.com for details. Early to mid-May.

Memorial Day. Ceremonies take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery (tel. 703/607-8000), at the National World War II and Vietnam Veterans memorials (tel. 202/619-7222), and at the U.S. Navy Memorial (tel. 202/737-2300). A National Memorial Day Parade marches from the Capitol, down Constitution Avenue, to the White House. 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 servicewomen (tel. 202/619-7222). And one other thing: Hundreds of thousands of bikers from around the country roll into town in an annual tribute called "Rolling Thunder," to pay tribute to America's war veterans, prisoners of war, and those missing in action (www.rollingthunder1.com).

June

Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Day. This 29th annual celebration welcomes visitors to 10 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. 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 three or four cultures or themes; 2011 introduced those of Colombia, the Peace Corps, and rhythm and blues. All events are free; most events take place outdoors. Call tel. 202/633-6440, or check the website, www.festival.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. And big-name entertainment precedes the fabulous fireworks display behind the Washington Monument. Check www.nps.gov/mall or call the National Park Service at tel. 202/619-7222 for details. July 4, all day.

Capital Fringe Festival. This event debuted in 2005 and celebrates experimental theater in the tradition of the original fringe festival held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. With more than 130 separate productions taking place at some 14 venues daily for 18 days, it adds up to about 700 individual performances in all. Local and visiting artists perform in theater, dance, music, and other disciplines. All tickets are $15, available online at www.capitalfringe.org, by calling tel. 202/737-7230, or at the Fort Fringe Box Office, 607 New York Ave. NW. The action centers on the Penn Quarter. Eighteen days starting July 9 or thereabouts.

August

Shakespeare Theatre Free for All. This free theater festival presents a different Shakespeare play each year for a 2-week run at the Sydney Harmon Hall theater, across from the Verizon Center, in the Penn Quarter. Tickets are required, but they're free. Call tel. 202/547-1122, or check the website, www.shakespearetheatre.org. Evenings, late August through mid-September.

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 the National Park Service at 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 daylong 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 varied performances of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Co., the Cirque de Soleil, pop rocker Ben Kweller, 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, 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.

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. Early to mid-September.

Adams Morgan Day. Thousands turn out along 18th Street NW, Columbia Road NW, and other streets in this small multicultural neighborhood to revel in the music, art, dance, and cuisines of its residents. Check the website, www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com. Second Sunday in September.

Library of Congress National Book Festival. The Library of Congress sponsors this festival, welcoming 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. 888/714-4696 for more information. A Saturday in late September.

October

Marine Corps Marathon. Thirty thousand runners compete in this 26.2-mile race (the fifth-largest marathon in the United States). The 2012 race marks its 37th year. It begins at the Marine Corps Memorial (the Iwo Jima statue) and passes major monuments. Call tel. 800/RUN-USMC (786-8762) for details. Anyone can enter; register online at www.marinemarathon.com. Last Sunday in October.

Halloween. There's no official celebration, but costumed shenanigans seem to get bigger every year. Grown-ups trick or treat at embassies or participate in costumed pub crawls throughout the city. Giant block parties take place in the Dupont Circle neighborhood (including a Drag Queen High Heel race held the Tues before Halloween at 17th and Q sts.) and in Georgetown. 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 war memorial events. 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.thenationaltree.org, 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.