Events in Washington DC
Washington DC Events
Events in Washington DC
- Traveler favoritesThings to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
- Traveler rankingHighest rated attractions on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews.
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Events
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24 places sorted by traveler favorites
Food & Drink Festivals
Cultural Events
Sporting Events
Southwest Waterfront
Music Festivals
Exhibitions
Downtown
Cultural Events
Georgetown
Cultural Events
Downtown
Sporting Events
Sporting Events
Cultural Events
Cultural Events
What travelers are saying
- keith jKey Largo, FL28 contributionsPeak season. So many nice people. The blossoms were beautiful. Mapquest DC tidal basin. Public parking along the river.Written March 27, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Louis SWashington DC, DC32 contributionsThis event is top no0tch every year. We expect no less from the Library of Congress. However, success breeds popularity and even though it is in the convention center it is too crowded to be able to see the speakers you want and move around the building. It is a 5 star event but when you get blocked from doing what you would like to do, well, then it is less than 5 star. There should be overflow rooms for people to see the most popular speakers. This year the RBG talk was very full and there were likely many hundreds of people shut out from this very popular speaker. if there was a ball room where we could see a screen, it wouldn't be as nice as live but better than missing it. The volunteer staff was wonderful and extremely helpful. I will go back next year and hope for the best.Written September 8, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sunshine04489857492Mount Vernon, WA8 contributionsIt was amazing watching this event! The riders and their bikes were great! The blessings of the bikes at the National Cathedral was beautiful!Written September 4, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sightsee4402341 contributiongreat light displays. Area was a little small for the amount of travel I had to do to get here from SIlver Spring. Nice time and great value for a free public eventWritten January 7, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- drmomAlabamaalabama29 contributionsInspirational...well run for the huge crowd of runners and spectators...traffic flow for spectators is difficult but logistically I can't see a way to improve on that. Runners expo is great tooWritten October 30, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- XTOC6United States85 contributionsAn awesome event for kids and the adult kid at heart.
Plenty of activities, which start with a well planned and orchestrated, timed entry pass and exit from the once a year the public is allowed to come into this restricted area of The White House property.Written April 10, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - mrhoverClinton, TN234 contributionsIf you're in DC at this time, don't miss this. There's a small charge (like $7 or so) to get in - but it's well worth it. Take a free bag on the way in. There are tons of vendors giving away free samples of food and products. As you walk closer to the capital building, vendors are BBQ-ing and selling amazing food. It's a fun place to spend a few hours. Don't miss it.Written July 15, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LoafJugThouTreeShepherdstown, WV711 contributionsYou should not come here. STAY AWAY! The only thing you get -- two nights and one afternoon a year -- are unlimited quantities of some of the best oysters you will ever in your life consume, and unlimited quantities of award-winning frabulous white wines. They also serve unlimited quantities of shrimp, cheeses and such, but who wants those? It's not called the shrimp riot or the cheese riot. It's the Oyster Riot at the Old Ebbitt Grill, and it is a colossally marvelous event that getting tickets for is already almost impossible. DON'T GO. And another reason to avoid it: It's ADDICTIVE!Written November 20, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JacspratsNew York City, NY136 contributionsWe went down to DC for my partner to run.
The expo was fine, but it's like they didn't plan for a lot of people to be at a convention center. The traffic was barely controlled chaos and we had to pay for parking. Directions could have been signed better, they sent us to the main entrance on a narrow sidewalk when a lovely and WIDE walkway would have taken us directly to the expo room downstairs. No safety pins were included with the bibs. An unpleasant surprise on the night before when we're 200+ miles from home.
The marathon route (at least this year) loops through DC and the mall. The setting was lovely, but hot with no shade. It was in the high 70's and humid. They should schedule it for December!
The MCM app didn't work at all so we could not track runners. The text updates only worked half the time.
Along Arlington Cemetery and nearing the finish, the crowds are on the far side of the highway from the runners. It was very disappointing as it was difficult to cheer from so far away.
The walk to meet up with the runners is probably about a mile. It is ridiculously long and often blocked by people trying to see the finish. I mentioned the bottleneck to emergency personnel and they just stared at me. OK, thanks organizers.
I wasn't blown away by the experience and hope not to repeat it!Written October 25, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - globetrottergirl196Fort Lauderdale, FL9 contributionsThe Citi Open (aka Washington D.C. Open) offered quality players and matches and affordable parking. So much good and bad about this tournament that I will focus on the most important issues. The facility is very old and in need of renovations. Seating is generally good from any point, except the 2nd level lower rows views were obstructed by advertising banners. At one point we made a game of how soon fans would sit in the empty lower rows to immediately rise up to able to see player at south end baseline and then leave for better seats.
Mature landscaping and park provided an Intimate setting with various covered and uncovered seating areas with TVs to watch the matches. But no TV for the outside seating area at the main food court and many areas in disarray were not rearranged daily throughout the tournament.
Food quality varied from bad to good depending on the vendor and location of food purchase. The Choudin lounge was transporting food from a kitchen at another food location and therefore could be old and lukewarm. Whereas the food court and food trucks were good quality with nice selection, but the prices were high.
Event entry was adequately staff and fast entry using Apple digital wallet or printed tickets. I recommend budgeting time to enter as standard for any sporting event, at least 30 minutes from the offset parking using shuttle service to grounds entry and another 15 minutes to seats. Yet there were no ushers during the day sessions and people were sometimes hesitant on giving seats to ticket holder. I overheard several times of incidents where people seating other places because they seats were taken. I had to verbally state to one person that yes I did want to sit in my seat for them to remove themselves. This also meant there was movement throughout the matches to include even when ushers were present for the evening sessions.
I would only attend again after facility is renovated and/or return of the WTA to tournament. I'm hopeful that renovation plans are in the works with an owner change in 2019.Written August 12, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Shawn C67 contributionsSo many people! I don’t think it was possible to prepare for the crowds everywhere. In the metro, in the parking lots at the Pentagon , in line for the port a potty’s. The race itself was beautiful. The course wound past the Potomac River on the Virginia side past Arlington cemetery, across the Key Bridge into Georgetown, then down into DC Near the Washington monument and memorials then back into VA. The whole thing took most of the day because of the lines but worth doing once in a lifetime.Written October 13, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Marco GWestchester County, NY44 contributionsWe went to see the Washington Kastles play at American University. It was a really fun night. It was really great for the kids in the crowd. If you have a child or are a big tennis fan this is a good night.Written October 11, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Army_recuerdosWashington DC, DC5 contributionsI would have to say that the music a good experience. The bands along the way sounded good and the finish line festival and beer garden was fun. The starting line is in front of the National African American Cultural History museum and Washington Monument and the full marathon finished there too but the half ended at the DC Armory where the beer garden was. They need to improve the route because you’re out of the scenic area before you hit the first mile. At least it was convenient for taking the metro. With the streets they closed down I think they can at least go around the tidal basin though. Running up Rock Creek was beautiful and the hill at mile 6 challenging!Written March 19, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DC GWashington DC, DC70 contributionsWe attended 5 events during the month of Jazz Fest and I could tell that an enormous amount of work was put in to the planning of this festival. So kudos for all those involved who spent so much time working on it. The website and the printed brochure were really well done....great graphic design and lots of options from which to choose.
There seems to be lots of conflict from the posted start times on all the materials and the actual start times once you arrived at an event. People plan their days around these times, especially with the DC traffic, so that could be improved.
I saw SO many staff members and employees at this festival, but not many of them could answer basic questions.
Because the weather was so hot, those bands who played outside at the Wharf did not seem to pull in a very loud crowd. They need a large tarp or some huge umbrellas, so people could sit outside and not get toasted by the sun. Most people were listening to the jazz outside under trees and awnings, far away from the bands, because the sun was just too oppressive.
I also went to the main event at the Anthem, which was not as well attended as I would have hoped....and expecting guests to stay for 5 hours, yes 5 hours of performances was asking too much..wayyyyy too long
other than that, i thought the idea of having jazz all throughout the city was a great idea...lots of venues and some really unusual ones as wellWritten June 18, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington DC
- These places are best for events in Washington DC:
- National Cherry Blossom Festival
- ZooLights
- Library of Congress National Book Festival
- Rolling Thunder Run
- The Marine Corps Marathon - Washington DC
- These are the best places for kid-friendly events in Washington DC:See more events for kids in Washington DC on Tripadvisor