Events in Washington, D.C.
Festivals, holidays and seasonal happenings worth planning a trip around — across the capital and the wider DMV region.
Prefer the month-by-month story of the year? Read the Washington, D.C. Events Calendar guide.
Upcoming dates
The next confirmed and expected dates on the DC calendar — always verify with the organizer before you book.
June 20263
Wawa Welcome America 2026 (Philadelphia Semiquincentennial)
Philadelphia's free Wawa Welcome America festival expands for the US 250th, running from Juneteenth through July 4 with concerts, museum days and a grand finale concert and fireworks over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Art Museum.
Great American State Fair on the National Mall 2026
A centerpiece of the US 250th, the Great American State Fair lines the National Mall for over two weeks with pavilions representing all 50 states, territories and federal entities — food, culture and exhibits ahead of the July 4 capstone.
AWS Summit Washington, D.C. 2026
Amazon Web Services' free two-day cloud and AI conference for the public sector, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with keynotes, 350+ sessions and hands-on labs spanning agentic AI, data, security and digital transformation.
August 20263
DC Summer Restaurant Week 2026
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's summer dining promotion, with 200+ restaurants across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia serving multi-course prix-fixe brunch, lunch and dinner menus at set prices.
Library of Congress National Book Festival 2026
The Library of Congress's free National Book Festival fills the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with authors, talks and family activities. The 2026 edition expands programming for the nation's 250th anniversary.
Maryland Renaissance Festival 2026 (50th Season)
One of the largest Renaissance fairs in the US, set on a 27-acre recreated 16th-century English village near Annapolis. Nine weekends of jousting, live theatre, music, crafts, food and ale — the 50th season runs late August through late October.
September 20262
DC JazzFest 2026
The DC JazzFest brings national and local jazz artists to venues across the city, anchored at The Wharf, over Labor Day weekend. The 2026 edition is themed around America's 250th — 'The Future of Jazz'.
Labor Day
The first Monday of September honours the American labor movement and marks the unofficial end of summer. In DC it caps a long weekend that overlaps with the DC JazzFest.
October 20263
Richmond Folk Festival 2026
The free Richmond Folk Festival draws around 200,000 people to the city's riverfront and Brown's Island each October for three days of roots music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food from across America and the world.
Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026
The Annapolis Sailboat Show (the former US Sailboat Show) is the world's oldest and largest in-water sailboat show, filling the historic City Dock waterfront with hundreds of boats and nautical exhibitors each October.
Marine Corps Marathon 2026 (51st)
Known as 'The People's Marathon,' the Marine Corps Marathon starts in Arlington, winds past Washington's monuments and memorials, and finishes at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima). It's one of the largest marathons in the US and famously offers no prize money.
November 20262
Veterans Day
November 11 honours all US military veterans. DC's observance centres on Arlington National Cemetery, where the President or a senior official lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 AM.
Thanksgiving Day
The fourth Thursday of November is one of America's biggest holidays, centred on a family turkey dinner. DC empties out as residents travel, and most shops and restaurants close, though some hotels serve Thanksgiving meals.
December 20263
National Christmas Tree Lighting 2026
The lighting of the National Christmas Tree in President's Park, just south of the White House, kicks off DC's holiday season with musical performances. The tree and surrounding state trees then stay lit for visitors through early January.
Scottish Christmas Walk Parade 2026 (Alexandria)
Old Town Alexandria celebrates its Scottish heritage each December with the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade — bagpipes, Scottie dogs, clan tartans and holiday floats winding through the historic district.
Christmas Day
December 25 is a federal holiday and the one day the Smithsonian museums and most everything in DC close. The city is quiet, with the National Christmas Tree glowing in President's Park near the White House.
January 20272
New Year's Day
January 1 is a US federal holiday. Government offices, banks and the Smithsonian museums' usual closures aside, DC is quiet after the New Year's Eve celebrations, with federal buildings and many businesses shut.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The third Monday of January honours civil-rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. In DC it is marked as a national day of service, with volunteering events, wreath-layings and programs at the MLK Memorial on the Tidal Basin.
February 20272
George Washington Birthday Parade 2027 (Alexandria)
Old Town Alexandria stages the largest and oldest George Washington Birthday Parade in the country, dating to 1801, marching through its historic streets on the Presidents' Day weekend in February.
Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday)
The third Monday of February is the federal holiday officially called Washington's Birthday. Just across the river, Old Town Alexandria stages the nation's largest George Washington Birthday Parade around the same weekend.
