Skip to main content
Meetings
search search search search search search
search
Home

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Things to Do This Weekend in Washington, DC

Our end-of-the-week picks for March 29-31

We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this holiday weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.

Looking for a local perspective delivered directly to your inbox every two weeks? Sign up for our "DC on the Go-Go" Local Newsletter to stay in the know.

Friday

 

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

National Cherry Blossom Festival
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.
 

Grandma Moses, 'The Old Oaken Bucket', 1945.

Grandma Moses, 'The Old Oaken Bucket', 1945.

Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860-1960
This year, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden brings you one exciting event after another in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The museum's latest exhibit features works from more than 120 artists, so we suggest giving yourself plenty of time to soak up all the wonder. The revolutionary installation offers well-known masterpieces alongside contemporary creations from a wide range of artists including Francis Bacon, Jean Dubuffet, Lee Krasner, Wifredo Lam, Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock.
10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |  Free admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560

 

Bond In Motion
Across more than six decades of films, James Bond has become the on-screen embodiment of spies for millions. The International Spy Museum pays homage to the fictional character, along with his allies and adversaries, with a breathtaking display of iconic vehicles from the movies. In total, visitors can fix their eyes on 17 pieces, including cars, motorcycles, submarines and even more from the Q Branch Garage. 
Hours & Admission
International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
 

Lulu's Wine Garden

Spring Wine Fling
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington spruces up spring with special discounts at participating restaurants all over the District. Spring Wine Fling (March 19-31) means you get a two-course meal and two glasses of wine for just $55 per person, which adds up to tremendous value during one of the most vibrant times of the year in DC.
 

COMPANY – Final Weekend
Five Tony® Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, were awarded to this rendition of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s marvelous musical comedy. At Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, her friends keep pestering her about marriage, wondering why she hasn’t settled down. As our main character looks for answers, she realizes that the 21st century is enough to drive a person crazy – whether they’re single, married or simply alive.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

Mosaic Theater: Nancy
The Atlas Performing Arts Center turns into a time machine to 1985 thanks to a new play presented by Mosaic Theater and written by award-winning playwright Rhiana Yazzie. Nancy concerns one Nancy Reagan (yep, that one), who’s steering her husband’s decisions from the Oval Office according to astrological signs, and Esmeralda, a Navajo mother standing up for her community. When Nancy’s familial connection to Pocahontas is discovered, a captivating adventure unfolds filled with humor, heart and empathy.
Tickets
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

 

A Conversation with Larry David
The Anthem welcomes the crankiest cultural icon of all-time. As the co-creator of Seinfeld and the creator and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David has left an imprint on comedy that few others can match in the history of entertainment. We think he’ll have a few interesting things to share during this chat at The Anthem, which is perfectly timed, as it takes place nine days before the series finale of Curb. 
7:30 p.m. |  Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024

 

Steve Aoki
An icon of electronic dance music, Steve Aoki has transcended the genre and achieved worldwide success. Echostage, one of DC’s premier venues and the ideal setting for one of Aoki’s shows, will host the DJ/producer/musician. Aoki has legions of fans around the world, so expect a packed house and dancing that will shake the floor.
9 p.m. |  Tickets
Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE, Washington, DC 20018

 

Saturday

 

NCBF Kite Festival

Blossom Kite Festival
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, presented by Amazon. 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
Visit The Wharf for Bloomaroo®, a free spring extravaganza featuring a full day of cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks and family-friendly fun along the waterfront. Activities include koi kite decorating, a haiku creation station, a karaoke stage, face painting, live art demonstrations, ikebana flower arranging, tea ceremonies, Kikuyuki dancing, Nen Daiko drumming, a Blossom Beauty Bar and a Blossom Martini Beach Bar.
2-9 p.m. |  More Info
The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
 

National Cherry Blossom Festival

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Petal Porches
Presented by Amazon, Petal Porches asks participants to decorate their porches in cherry blossom style from March 20 through April 14. Residents can register now to add their homes to the Petal Porches map and participate in friendly decorating competitions for prizes. Festival-goers will be encouraged to #SpringTogether in DC by admiring Petal Porches across the area based on registered locations. For more information, including the official map of locations and registration details, visit the festival's website.
 

ISEKAI: Blooming Parallel Worlds
ARTECHOUSE welcomes visitors to its seventh annual installation dedicated to celebrating the beauty of the cherry blossoms in DC. The museum treats your eyes to an exhibit inspired by the Isekai genre of Anime, allowing for the exploration of alternate universes stacked with colors, adventures and immersive technologies. Make sure to take advantage of tickets with a 10% discount.
Tickets (10% off)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

 

Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper – Final Weekend
Known for his abstract paintings on canvas (some of which can be seen at the Phillips Collection in DC), Mark Rothko also crafted more than 1,000 paintings on paper over the course of his illustrious, decades-long career. The National Gallery of Art will showcase more than 100 of these tableaus, many of which will be on view to the public for the first time, making for a unique opportunity to see new work from one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

 

Loudon Wainwright III
Since emerging as one of folk music’s zaniest characters in the 1970s, Loudoun Wainwright III has recorded 27 albums, starred in TV shows and films, performed his own one-man show, composed scores for major motion pictures, written a memoir and managed to keep his fans interested every step of the way. You’re lucky to have a chance to see such a legend for free on Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.
6 p.m. |  Register
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

 

Little Shop of Horrors
Originally a sci-fi/horror comedy film released in 1960, Little Shop of Horrors then became an off-Broadway musical in the early 1980s. Yet another film adaptation followed a few years later, showing how this timeless story of a floral shop assistant and his singing, deadly plant will always dazzle audiences. The historic Ford’s Theatre revives the dynamic production during its upcoming spring season. Make sure to use code DDCSHOP20 for 20% off your tickets to the show (valid for March 16 - April 6 & May 1-18; limit two tickets per purchase)!
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Unknown Soldier
Arena Stage welcomes an elegiac musical that concerns Ellen Rabinowitz, who discovers a photo of an anonymous soldier while cleaning out her grandmother’s home. Daniel Goldstein and the late Michael Friedman penned this captivating tale of a woman’s journey to uncover the secrets of her family’s past, inevitably leading her towards the future.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024

 

Robert Glasper – Black Radio: A Duke x Dilla Celebration
Five-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper, who’s also a founding member of the Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Culture Council, hosts a special celebration in honor of Duke Ellington’s 150th birthday and the late great J. Dilla’s 50th. The one-night-only tribute to the musical legacies of two icons features Glasper along with the Black Radio Orchestra led by two-time Grammy winner Derrick Hodge.
8 p.m. |  Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

 

Sunday

 

Dorothea Lange: Seeing People – Final Weekend
The National Gallery of Art showcases roughly 100 images from one of the greatest photographers ever live in a new exhibit on Dorothea Lange. Seeing People will examine Lange’s prolific and trailblazing career through the lens of portraiture and her exceptional ability to capture the character, resilience, heartbreak, joy, wonder and beauty of her human subjects.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

 

Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women
Learn about the fascinating connection between Amish Women and quilting thanks to a new exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Over time, the practice has transcended its utilitarian roots and become a form of artistic expression for Amish Women. Treat your eyes to a wondrous mix of colors and patterns as you marvel at the innovation of extraordinary quilts.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. |  Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Staging the Supernatural: Ghosts and the Theater in Japanese Prints
The Japanese Edo period (1603–1868) gave credence to essential ideas about the supernatural in Japanese culture. Many of the beliefs that came to prominence during this time are still held as conventional wisdom today. This exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art allows you to explore the roles that ghosts and spirits play in the retelling of Japanese legends as well as real events. Staging the Supernatural features woodblock prints and illustrated books that showcase the spooky specters that haunt the Japanese theater traditions of noh and kabuki.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560

 

Book spring excursions with DC Design Tours
Add education to your cherry blossom sightseeing with DC Design Tours this spring. The company is offering two excursions: one that encounters the beautiful blossoms on the Tidal Basin (March 17 to April 6) and another that goes in-depth at Cleveland Park (March 17-30), a lesser-known prime spot for blossoms with plenty of history of its own. Use the code "DCDESIGNBLOOM" for 10% off your tickets.
 

Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice
In the mid-1940s, William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series to honor Black activists, scientists, teachers, performers and international heads of state working to bring peace to the world. Johnson celebrated these figures – some very famous, others unsung – while acknowledging the racism, violence and oppression each one fought against. The exhibit showcases many of these paintings, including Johnson’s portraits of Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Mahatma Gandhi and Marian Anderson, elevating stories that are still relevant to the struggle for social justice today.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. |  Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Bonnard’s Worlds
The first major retrospective of the work of Pierre Bonard at the Phillips Collection in 20 years, Bonnard’s Worlds opens new avenues for exploring the mind and surroundings of the French artist. Some of the most celebrated works by the master have been brought together from museums across Europe and the U.S. and from private collections worldwide for an exhibition that highlights how Bonnard translated the spaces around him, from Parisian landscapes to the interior spaces of his dwellings and thoughts.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 

Penelope
It’s time for a new perspective on the Trojan War. Signature Theatre hosts the DC premiere of Penelope, in which the wife of Odysseus takes center stage. She steps into the spotlight, glass of bourbon and microphone in hand, to detail the 20 years she spent waiting on the island of Ithaca in a one-woman show. This musical spin on Greek tragedy is unlike anything else you’ll see on a stage this season.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
 

Places to Stay

Hotel room in the Hay Adams

Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
 

#Only1DC Photo of the Week

 

 

Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to Michelin-starred hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.

Partner Content
Partner Content