Things to Do This Easter Weekend in Washington, DC

Tudor Place

Enjoy Easter egg activities
Families can go egg hunting – and rolling – in blooming, historic locations in the District, including Tudor Place's Eggstravaganza and the White House's lottery-based Easter Egg Roll.
 

Check out a kid-friendly museum
DC’s wealth of museums and attractions means there are always magical places where kids are transported from the ho-hum of touring to the “Wow!” of experiencing. Many of these sites feature interactive exhibits and entertainment to help capture the attention of even the smallest sightseer.
 

© Roshan Patel, Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

See the giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Xing Bao, made their public debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Jan. 24, 2025. The three-year-old pandas are loving their new digs and have been the most talked-about duo in the nation’s capital since their arrival.
 

Hyatt House Washington, D.C./The Wharf

Stay at a family-friendly hotel
The District’s status as a family-friendly destination can’t be denied, as the nation’s capital is filled with free things to do and also features America’s most famous monuments and memorials. The city makes for an engaging and educational destination for the kids and there are numerous DC hotels sure to make your family’s visit that much more enjoyable. Many offer seasonal deals and discounts.
 

Take advantage of free things to do all over the city
It’s easy to budget for a holiday weekend in DC thanks to the fact that so many of its coolest attractions, including Smithsonian museums and monuments and memorials, are free to visit. There are also free seasonal activities to enjoy, as well as arts and culture-focused things to do and off-the-beaten-path attractions to visit.
 

Fairmont

Indulge in a festive Easter brunch
Go all-out with special menus at Dovetail, Figleaf and hotels like the Fairmont or Le Méridien's Lady Madison; visit staples like Hen Quarter Prime and Matchbox (in Capitol Hill or Penn Quarter); or catch the Easter Bunny at Makers Union, Hard Rock or the Omni Shoreham.
 

Embrace spring with cherry blossom experiences
Even after peak bloom has passed, the city celebrates its famous flowers with events and activations. Take your pick of fresh festivals, seasonal high teas, springtime pop-ups or limited-edition treats all over the District.
 

Oyamel

Treat the family to another gem of DC's culinary scene
Browse for restaurants that are award-winning, high-value or family-friendly – or choose to explore by neighborhood. The city's farmers' markets are also ripe for exploring in the springtime.
 

Events & Exhibits

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
 

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
 

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
 

Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals Baseball – First Home Series: April 3-5
The Washington Nationals, 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. The squad will take on the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers from Friday through Sunday.
Tickets
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
 

The Minutes – April 4 – May 3
The Keegan Theatre hosts a production from one of the great purveyors of the art form. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts’ brilliant examination of small-town politics plays out over the course of one city council meeting.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 

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
 

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