Breathe in the first weeks of spring in the nation's capital as the National Cherry Blossom Festival begins, the Washington Nationals open their season and springtime events fill the calendar.
Springtime in DC means lively festivals, dynamic theater and a historic city painted in pink, but regardless of the season, you're bound to have an unforgettable experience. Be sure to check out special discounts and packages, from luxurious outings to budget-friendly options. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do during the week, must-hit weekend events and accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Honor Women’s History Month in DC
The nation's capital offers ways to celebrate the achievements of women year round, from dining and shopping at women-owned businesses, visiting museum exhibits spotlighting women's contributions to our country, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Each March, the city proudly honors Women's History Month with a diverse array of events, exhibits, performances and programs that showcase the art, stories and accomplishments of women.
Washington Capitals
Attend a Capitals, Wizards or Go-Go game
With the winter season comes incredible indoor sports action in the District. The NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards play their exciting games inside Capital One Arena, while the Capital City Go-Go, part of the NBA’s developmental G-League, take to the court inside CareFirst Arena.
Get discounted tickets: Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, Capital City Go-Go
The National Theatre
Stereophonic – Last Day: March 1
The most Tony Award-winning show of 2024. The most Tony Award-nominated play of all time. Stereophonic mines the agony and the ecstasy of creation as it zooms in on a music studio in 1976. Here, an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of breaking up — or breaking through to superstardom. Featuring original music by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, the play is "... a staggering, ingeniously entertaining achievement," according to The New York Times.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Gallery of Art
Celebrating American Art – Opens March 1
The National Gallery of Art will commemorate 250 years of America with a wide-ranging program that encompasses special installations and exhibitions that grapple with ideas at the heart of American stories vividly told through art. The series begins with Celebrating American Art, which includes iconic works and showcases how artists reckoned with the American story from the colonial to the 20th century.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Camouflage: Designed to Deceive – Opens March 1
The International Spy Museum’s new self-guided experience takes visitors through the fascinating history of camouflage and its many connections to espionage. Trace camouflage from its natural origins to its application to covert operations. In the form of real stories, artifacts and immersive media, the exhibition will show how animals, soldiers and spies have employed the strategy of hiding in plain sight.
Hours & Admission
International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Men’s (March 6-10) and Women’s (March 11-15) Basketball Championships
Kick off March Madness with the CAA Championships at CareFirst Arena in Congress Heights. You can enjoy both the men’s tournament and the women’s tournament across nine straight days of high-stakes college basketball. The winner of each competition is granted an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
CareFirst Arena, 1100 Oak Drive SE, Washington, DC 20032
National Museum of Asian Art
Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean – March 7 – Sept. 7
The largest bronze statue ever cast in Southeast Asia can be experienced in full scale for the first time in centuries thanks to the National Museum of Asian Art. The depiction of the Hindu god Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence while asleep on a coiled serpent in the ocean is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia. The exhibit of the 20-foot sculpture also includes an exclusive film that dives into its original setting.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies – Through March 8
The photography-based work of Tawny Chatmon receives a glorious tribute at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The exhibition will debut pieces from Chatmon’s latest series, which also incorporate audio narrative, embroidery, film and assemblage. Selections from Chatmon’s acclaimed previous work will also be on display.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Awesome Con – March 13-15
DC’s Convention Center turns into a massive celebration of geek culture during Awesome Con. More than 70,000 fans will be able to see their favorite stars from comics, films, TV, toys and games throughout Awesome Con, a three-day festival that is Washington, DC’s own Comic Con. Expect plenty of costumed attendees and an array of activities to enjoy during one of the city’s most vibrant annual events.
Tickets
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
1776 – March 13 – May 16
The story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is transformed into a vibrant musical as the country’s beginnings are brought to blazing life inside the historic Ford's Theatre.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
The National Theatre
The Simon & Garfunkel Story – March 14-15
One of the most iconic duos in the history of popular music receives elaborate musical tribute at the National Theatre this March. The concert-style show depicts the journey of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel to superstardom and their eventual split in 1970. The shows climaxes with their famous reunion concert in Central Park in 1981. A full live band will perform hits like “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Shakespeare Theatre Company
On Beckett – Through March 15
Bill Irwin is both a Tony Award-winning actor and a master clown. When he steps on the stage at Klein Theatre, he’ll explore both the comedy and tragedy of the essential work of Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett. The one-man show features physical and verbal comedy that makes Beckett’s writings accessible to all.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Arena Stage
Chez Joey – Through March 15
Prepare for a blockbuster at Arena Stage as Chez Joey lands at the historic playhouse. Co-directed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover and actor, director and producer Tony Goldwyn, the set-in-1940s-Chicago show includes a Rodgers and Hart score as well as a spellbinding tale of a singer caught between a rich baroness and an ambitious chorus girl on his way to the top (he hopes).
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
The National Theatre
Disney's Beauty and the Beast – March 18 – April 5
This "tale as old as time" awaits you at National Theatre, on stage like never before. Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years, the show includes all your favorites from the original plus spectacular new sets and costumes, and, of course, the Oscar-winning and Tony Award-nominated score, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Whether you're team Gaston (why?) or team Beast, or maybe just team love, this one's for you.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Stumpy’s Petal & Paddles Race – March 19
As the calendar turns to springtime, mark the occasion with an on-the-water adventure. The inaugural Stumpy’s Petal & Paddles Race asks tandems to challenge each other across the water of the Tidal Basin. Spectators are welcome, with live music and local food vendors expected on-site. Half of the proceeds from the event go towards the Trust for the National Cherry Blossom Tree Endowment Fund.
4 p.m. | Tickets
Meet at 1501 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Crucible – March 19-29
The Kennedy Center stages Robert Ward’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning opera based on Arthur Miller’s play. The spellbinding tale drops audiences into the heart of the Salem witch trials.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
The National Cherry Blossom Festival – March 20 – April 12, 2026
DC celebrates the blooming of cherry trees with a month-long festival that commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city. Check out popular festival events in the lead-up to the celebration, in addition to our guide to the celebration, how to get the most popular blossom spots and the best places to snap photos.
2026 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running – March 21
The race that “brings the fun to the run” rocks the District again this year. Choose between half marathon or 5K distances, enjoy the sounds of this musical running tour and help the patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the same time. All while taking in DC’s monumental views.
Race begins at 13th Street and Constitution Avenue.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony – March 21
Along with the Japan Foundation, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the 114th anniversary of the gift of trees with an exciting tribute to the longstanding relationship between Japan and the United States.The spectacle at the historic Warner Theatre features world-renowned artists connected to both the U.S. and Japan who gather on the stage together for one-night only. Early access to tickets to this epic spring celebration can be obtained by signing up for the Festival's email list. The event will also be livestreamed on the Festival's YouTube channel.
More Information
Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Washington Nationals: Home Opener vs. the Baltimore Orioles – March 23
The Nats, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents.
1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Prediction – Stay Tuned!
Last year, Washington, DC's famed cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on the final three days of March, according to the National Park Service. Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the flowers of the cherry blossom trees are open, and the best viewing is usually within a week of peak bloom. REMINDER: Please do your part in helping to protect the trees by never picking the cherry blossoms (it’s against the law). Plan ahead and read up on the best spots to see the blossoms.
Tidal Basin Welcome Area & ANA Stage (Open Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Sasha Velour's Travesty – March 24 – April 12
The RuPaul’s Drag Race winner stages a multi-media extravaganza on queer history and resistance featuring lip syncing, video art and costume changes at Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: East Regional – March 27 & 29
Capital One Arena plays host to March Madness. Expect edge-of-the-seat action as some of the best NCAA basketball teams in the nation battle to keep their season alive in the single-elimination tournament that captures the country's attention each spring.
Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Blossom Kite Festival – March 28
Head to the Washington Monument grounds for this free kite-flying extravaganza, one of the most highly anticipated events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The entire family can watch expert kite fliers from all over the world, whether enjoying the event near the Monument or at a featured park. More information is available on the Festival's website.
Bloomaroo at the Wharf – March 28
Visit The Wharf for Bloomaroo®, a free spring extravaganza featuring an evening of cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks and family-friendly fun along the waterfront. Enjoy beer gardens on District Pier, fireworks and three stages, each with its own lineup of live music. You can also check out more than 80 shops and restaurants along The Wharf.
Free Admission
760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Photo by Ruth Orkin
Ruth Orkin: Women on the Move – Through March 29
The National Museum of Women in the Arts displays 21 vintage photos by Ruth Orkin. The collection documents women’s lives in the mid-20th century across images of European tourists, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps members, Hollywood celebrities, Broadway stars and women at work in classrooms, parks and neighborhoods.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
The Phillips Collection
peter campus: there somewhere – Through May 3
The Phillips Collection showcases one of the leading figures in new media art with there somewhere. peter campus’ breakthrough videos from the early 1970s are displayed alongside four new, serene landscape works, which the artist has named “the phillips quartets."
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
National Children's Museum
The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit – Through May 10
The National Children’s Museum tips its cap to Mo Willems with a special exhibit that features a phone booth that makes you sound like the famous Piggie, a hot-dog-launching catapult, a fashion runway, art inspired by popular Willems characters and much, much more, all in the Visiting Exhibit Hall.
Hours & Admission
National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Museum of Asian Art
Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings – Through June 14
Japanese artists Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi and their different visualizations of water – each hypnotic and transfixing in their own way – form the basis of this new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. Senju’s abstract approach and Bingy’s traditional methods along with each painter’s influences and ethos are examined in detail.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution – Through July 4
The Library of Congress brings together letters, ledgers, diaries, maps, drawings and other artifacts to illuminate the similarities and differences between two iconic figures of the Revolutionary War: George Washington and King George III. Although the two never met, visitors can envision where they would clash and where they would compromise in this stirring exhibit that features items from a wide range of collections, including the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, London’s Science Museum and George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Hours | Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work – Through July 12
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who was dubbed “Grandma Moses” by the press, lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and the civil rights era. In the 1940s, she emerged as a central figure thanks to her unique tapestries of American life. The Smithsonian American Art Museum introduces her essential work to new generations with an in-depth exhibit.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Museum of African American History and Culture
At the Vanguard – Through July 19
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit features more than 100 objects from the collections of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) in a stunning display of how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism.
Free Admission | Hours & Information
National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection – Through July 26
This exhibition illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction, showcasing work by some of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Drawn entirely from the contemporary art collection of Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, the exhibition considers historical contributions, formal and material breakthroughs and intergenerational relationships among women artists over the last eight decades. It brings together over 70 pieces in all kinds of media, juxtaposing current work with its historical antecedents.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Folger Shakespeare Library
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era – Through Aug. 2
For the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the renowned Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view together. Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and capitalize on this rare chance to see the tremendous collection, which features depictions of scenes from the Bard’s plays as imagined by leading artists of the day.
Hours | Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today – Through Aug. 30
Drawing from more than 3,300 entries and contributions from 14 states, DC and Puerto Rico, the National Portrait Gallery displays 35 portraits by 36 artists. Curated by a panel of experts, the seventh triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition informs this showcase of emerging talent each year.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Photo by Kate Capshaw
Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees – Through Nov. 8
In honor of recent recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Award, the National Portrait Gallery showcases an exhibit dedicated to stunning work. The award elevates “extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people.” This year’s group of honorees includes Jamie Dimon, business leader, by photographer Jason Alden; Temple Grandin, professor, inventor and groundbreaking researcher of animal science, by artist David Lenz; Joy Harjo, renowned poet, performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and 23rd U.S. poet laureate, by artist Joel Daniel Phillips; and Steven Spielberg, Academy Award-winning director, producer and writer, by artist Kate Capshaw.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
America 250 at Tudor Place – Through Dec. 31
The ancestral home of Martha Washington joins the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary with a special exhibition and a year full of themed programming. The special exhibition Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington (opens Feb. 10) explores the historic 1802 public sale of Martha Washington’s household items at Mount Vernon, revealing the values, aspirations and divisions of early American society. Special programming will allow visitors to engage with the stories and themes woven throughout U.S. history.
More Information
Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 1, 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Nick Cave: Mammoth – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Internationally renowned artist Nick Cave uses surrealism, real-life experiences, raw materials and an unceasing creative intensity to create works that speak to race, gender, identity and history in America. This new installation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum explores the entanglement of land and race in the national consciousness.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Big Things for Big Rooms – Through July 4, 2027
Explore the evolution of immersive, large-scale art from the late 1960s to today. The presentation of 10 artworks—five on view for the first time at the Hirshhorn—is drawn largely from the museum's collection. Organized in two parts, the exhibition offers a multisensorial investigation of how artists create installation works that expand the boundaries of an artwork and the role of the visitor.
Hours | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue & 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20560
National Museum of American History
How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories – Through Nov. 28, 2027
A new exhibit at the National Museum of American History, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, explores California’s “Little Manila,” a community of Filipinos that thrived from the 1910s to the 1970s. Through more than 50 artifacts found in preserved steamer trunks (three of which are on display in the gallery), visitors can gain insight into what was once the largest population of Filipinos living outside of their home country.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise – Ongoing
The U.S. Botanic Garden invites you to see the ferocious side of flora and fauna at its special new exhibit. Many plants have evolved defenses against infection, herbivores and their plant competition. The multisensory display will showcase this evolution and also pinpoint how these plants can be both harmful and helpful to humans.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
Places to Stay
The Riggs Hotel
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