21 upcoming festivals events
2026 National Memorial Day Parade
Sun, 24 May 2026
The 2026 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC is an annual, patriotic street event honoring veterans. Free to watch from the sidewalks, it features marching units, military bands, and ceremonial dignitaries along the national parade route. A family-friendly public celebration drawing locals and visitors alike.
Spring Pierogi Fest
Sat, 16 May 2026 at 8:00 AM
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.
Join the 4th annual Spring Pierogi Fest at Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. in Falls Church for a day of pierogi from multiple vendors, beer pairing, and casual, family-friendly festival vibes starting at noon.
National Gallery Block Party
Fri, 5 Jun 2026
Join the National Gallery Block Party for a vibrant street celebration outside the museum. Expect live performances, pop-up art installations, food stalls, and activities for all ages as locals and visitors mingle in a casual, community-driven festival atmosphere.
Seventh Stanine Festival
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 at 2:30 PM
Rhizome DC
Seventh Stanine Festival brings a plural sonic and visual program to Rhizome DC, weaving live performances, installations, and interactive works into a compact cultural setting. This Washington, D.C. event promises an intimate, artsy night of exploration and discovery, with diverse artists and a dynamic, immersive atmosphere.
Juneteenth at Anacostia Community Museum
Thu, 18 Jun 2026
Anacostia Community MuseumWashington, D.C.
Join a neighborhood block-party–style Juneteenth celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum with free outdoor activities, live music, spoken word, cooking demonstrations, and foodways conversations. The museum stays open late for a full day of heritage, resilience, and community, with youth activities and gardening.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: African Diaspora Street Culture
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Experience the Smithsonian Folklife Festival's African Diaspora Street Culture, a free outdoor showcase on the National Mall featuring street traditions from the African diaspora, live performances, crafts, and cultural demonstrations. A family-friendly celebration of music, dance, storytelling, and community across the Smithsonian festival grounds.
Fourth of July Celebration, National Mall
Fri, 3 Jul 2026
Outdoor Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC. A family-friendly, all-day festival featuring live music, patriotic displays, and fireworks.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: National Heritage Fellows Program
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
A section of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival highlighting the National Heritage Fellows Program, presenting master folk artists as part of a year-round celebration of American heritage. An outdoor, family-friendly cultural festival on the Smithsonian grounds in Washington, D.C., with performances and demonstrations by leading folk-art practitioners. Free admission.
Great American State Fair
Wed, 24 Jun 2026
A classic American state fair featuring agricultural displays, livestock shows, hands-on demonstrations, and live performances, plus a wide array of food stalls. Expect family-friendly rides, games, and a festive parade atmosphere across a sprawling fairground.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival spotlights Tibetan culture beyond the land of snows, with performances, demonstrations, and exhibitions that reveal daily life, arts, and traditions. This outdoor, family-friendly program at the Smithsonian site invites visitors to explore Tibetan heritage within a global festival setting.
Salute America's 250th Birthday Fireworks Celebration
Fri, 3 Jul 2026
Saluting America's 250th birthday, this fireworks celebration lights up Washington, DC with patriotic pyrotechnics and family-friendly festivities. Expect a dazzling night of grand displays, music, and community pride around the national milestone.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Land in Native American Cultures
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Explore Native American perspectives on land through performances, storytelling, and craft demonstrations at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This cultural showcase spotlights Indigenous arts and daily life on the National Mall, offering live music, demonstrations, and interactive exhibits in a free, family-friendly setting.
Creativity and Resistance: Maroon Culture in the Americas
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
A Smithsonian Folklife Festival feature exploring Maroon communities across the Americas, showing how creativity acts as resistance and cultural identity. The program highlights histories, performances, and crafts that shaped diaspora networks, with scholars sharing insights and live demonstrations.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Arts Endowment Folk Arts Program
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Experience the Arts Endowment Folk Arts Program as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The program features traditional crafts, live demonstrations, and performances by folk artists from diverse communities, celebrating living cultural heritage at the Smithsonian's iconic festival setting.
Roots of Virginia Culture: The Past is Present
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Explore Virginia’s cultural roots at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Roots of Virginia Culture: The Past is Present. This outdoor festival on the National Mall features live performances, crafts, and storytelling that bring history to life for visitors of all ages.
Old Ways in the New World (1976) – Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 at 7:00 AM
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
A retrospective segment of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival revisiting the 1976 program 'Old Ways in the New World.' This outdoor showcase highlights traditional arts, music, and crafts from across the Americas, presented on the Smithsonian stage to spark cross-cultural understanding.
Obon Festival at New York Buddhist Church
Sat, 11 Jul 2026
New York Buddhist ChurchNew York, NY
The Obon Festival at New York Buddhist Church honors ancestral spirits with a day of taiko drumming, origami crafting, and communal remembrance on 106th Street. A welcoming, family-friendly cultural celebration blending tradition and community in New York.
DC Jazzfest 2026
Tue, 1 Sept 2026
DC Jazzfest 2026 brings a city-wide jazz celebration to Washington, DC, with performances spanning multiple venues across town. Expect top-tier artists and emerging talents, diverse sets from traditional to contemporary, and a vibrant, city-wide atmosphere.
Farm Aid
Thu, 24 Sept 2026
Farm Aid is an annual charity music festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC, featuring performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff to support family farmers and the Good Food Movement.
NMAAHC 10th Anniversary Celebration
Wed, 23 Sept 2026
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Join Washington, DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture as it marks its 10th anniversary with a cultural celebration featuring performances, panel discussions, and special exhibits highlighting Black history, art, and community impact.
Celebrate Cherry Blossom Season at Catbird’s Georgetown Store
Sat, 20 Mar 2027 at 7:00 AM
Georgetown Piano Bar
Catbird’s Georgetown Store hosts a Cherry Blossom Season celebration in Washington, DC. Step into a spring-inspired in-store experience with blossom-themed displays and exclusive launches as part of Georgetown’s seasonal festivities. The event begins March 20 at 11:00.