Discover the Real DC This Spring When Memorable Experiences Bloom

(Washington, DC) – The nation’s capital glows in springtime, with help from more than 3,000 cherry blossoms, new attractions, arts and culture and exciting debuts in theater and sports. Can’t miss experiences this spring include exhibitions marking the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment; the return of Washington Nationals baseball and the opening of two new museums, Planet Word and the National Children’s Museum.

“Spring kicks off DC’s tourism season. It’s a great time to discover the city, especially our green space and waterfronts, free festivals and outdoor entertainment, in addition to new hotels, restaurants, shopping, museums and more,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. “From families looking for great value to conventioneers looking to add on to their trip, we encourage everyone to explore the real DC.”

As part of its Discover the Real DC advertising campaign, DDC crafted a new video series providing five perspectives on what makes the District unique. The campaign encourages potential visitors to dig into the city’s vibrant neighborhoods through experiences that showcase nature, music, art, theater, nightlife, dining and drinking.

The video series will be distributed through digital-first media buys to connect personally with defined advertising personas to inspire travel to the nation’s capital. DDC also connects with travelers on washington.org, through editorial efforts and #myDCcool across social media. 

Spring highlights:

Festivals

• National Park Week (April 18-26): The National Park Service and National Park Foundation celebrate national parks with events and themed days. On April 18, all entry fees are waived at every national park.
• Passport DC (May 1-31): Showcasing DC’s diverse international community, the month-long celebration offers only-in-DC embassy open houses as well as street festivals, exhibitions and workshops.
• Capital Pride (June 5-14): The 45^th citywide LGBTQ+ festival includes a parade, street fair and concert.
• DC Jazz Festival (June 12-21): The 16th edition of the festival draws locally, nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.

Exhibitions

• Natural Beauties: Exquisite Works of Minerals and Gems, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden (thru June 7, 2020)
• Becoming Jane, highlighting the life and work of Jane Goodall, National Geographic Museum (thru Sept. 7, 2020)
• National Children’s Museum, grand opening, 20,000 sq. ft. of interactive event space (soft opened Feb. 24)
• Creating Icons: How We Remember Women’s Suffrage, Smithsonian National Museum of American History (March 6 – March 7, 2021)
• One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection, two infinity mirror rooms return to DC (April 4-Sept. 20, 2020)
• A Superb Baroque: Art in Genoa, 1600–1750, National Gallery of Art (May 3-Aug. 16, 2020)
• Her Story: A Century of Women Writers, National Portrait Gallery (July 10, 2020 – Jan. 10, 2021)
• Planet Word, a museum dedicated to language arts (grand opening May 31, 2020)
• Baseball: America's Homerun, Smithsonian National Postal Museum (June 27 2020 – January 8, 2023)
• Girlhood! (It's Complicated), Smithsonian National Museum of American History (June 12, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2022)

New Hotels

• Riggs Washington DC, newly open, sits in the former home of the Riggs National Bank. Located in Penn Quarter, the property features 181 residential guest rooms and suites, restaurants, meeting and event rooftop space. World acclaimed mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana helms the downstairs cocktail bar.
• Thompson Washington, DC is brand new. The 225-room hotel offers meeting space, a restaurant by Restaurateur Danny Meyer and rooftop bar near Yards Park in the heart of Capitol Riverfront. This is the first full-service property for Southeast DC and it opened in January 2020.
• Viceroy Hotels & Resorts will debut Hotel Zena in spring 2020. The hotel celebrates female empowerment through art, design and programming. Following a $25 million renovation, the 191-room hotel will feature a lobby bar, rooftop pool, lounge, private event space and more.
• CitizenM is expected to open in fall 2020. The 252-room hotel near The Wharf will feature an open workspace, fitness and yoga studio and a rooftop lounge. It is the first DC venture for the Dutch mircohotel brand.

Sports and Outdoors

• DC United, DC’s MLS team, kicks off at Audi Field (thru Oct. 2020)
• Defending World Series Champions Washington Nationals’ Opening Day against the New York Mets (April 2)
• American Ninja Warrior challenges DC for the first time at the DC Armory (April 7 & 8, 10 & 11)
• DC Bike Ride provides a 20-mile closed-road course on two wheels (May 16)
• DC Defenders, DC’s XFL team, debuted in February, featuring five home games (thru April 2020)