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Seasonal

Some of the most well-known attractions in Washington, D.C., are only available at specific times of the year. In this listing, the attractions are divided by season. Information is updated as soon as it is available regarding dates and details.

JANUARY ACTIVITIES

Robert E. Lee's Birthday Celebration
The Lee-Fendell House in Old Town Alexandria, which was home to Lee's family from 1885 to 1903, celebrates the birthday of Robert E. Lee (January 19) and his father, Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee (January 29) each year with period music, refreshment and house tours.

FEBRUARY ACTIVITIES

Chinese New Year Parade
Scheduled in early February or early March (the dates are determined by the lunar calendar), you will find marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other performers in this parade through the Chinatown section (H Street between 6th and 8th Streets, NW, in Washington, D.C. The parade is part of the larger 10-day Chinese New Year celebration.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
A wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on February 12 commemorates the birth of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. A dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address is part of the event.

George Washington Birthday Celebration
Held the third weekend in February, Mount Vernon hosts a celebration of our first President's birthday with parades, a wreath-laying ceremony and a sample of Washington's favorite breakfast, "hoecakes swimming in butter and honey." Best of all, there's free admission.

Throughout the month of February, Mount Vernon also plans a number of events marking Black History Month. They include special features on slave life at Mount Vernon, including constumed interpretations, as well as a wreathlaying at the Slave Memorial located on the site.

Frederick Douglass' Birthday
Events at Cedar Hill, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, on February 14th, include a wreath-laying ceremony and other activities to mark the birthday of the abolitionist leader.

MARCH ACTIVITIES

Washington St. Patrick's Day Parade
Held on the Sunday before March 17th, the parade features dancers, bagpipers and marching bands in salute to Ireland and all things Irish. Parade route runs along Constitution Avenue, NW, from 7th to 17th Streets.

National Cherry Blossom Kite Festival
The exact dates of the Kite Festival depends on the dates of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, but the Kite Festival is generally held in late March or early April. First held in 1967, the Kite Festival showcases creative kites made and flown by people from across the U.S. and the world. Attendees are welcome to bring their own kites and children can also make a kite at an activity station.

National Cherry Blossom Festival
The exact dates of the Festival depends on when the cherry blossoms bloom, but it is generally late March into early April. The more than 3,000 cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are the centerpiece for this annual festival and were a gift from the people of Japan, which includes a parade that goes down Constitution Avenue. Idaho's Cherry Blossom Princess, chosen each year by one of the Congressional offices, will be part of the parade.

APRIL ACTIVITIES

White House Easter Egg Roll
This annual activity dates back to 1878 when the first White House one was held. It is set for Easter Monday each year. Children can color eggs and enjoy various activities, including egg rolling, in the South Lawn of the White House. In 2009, ticket distribution moved from physical distribution the weekend before the event to online application with a lottery. Visit the White House's website here for up-to-date information and instructions on entering the ticket lottery.

White House Spring Garden Tours
Since 1972, the White House has hosted a Fall Garden Tour which includes the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn. Military bands perform from a White House balcony.

Ticket distribution will begin at 8am on both tour days at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, 15th and E Streets. All attendees, including small children must have a ticket, which will be distributed one ticket per person. Check the White House website for the dates of the current year tour.

Georgetown House Tour
Held the last Saturday in April, the tour will take you through eight to ten private homes in the Georgetown area of D.C. Tickets must be purchased to participate.

Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
A wreath-laying ceremony, a military honor guard and speakers highlights a birthday commemoration for our nation's 3rd President. Held at 12pm on April 13 at the Jefferson Memorial

Mount Vernon Garden Party
Activities include colonial folk music, colonial games and wagon rides. Held in mid-April.

Shakespeare's Birthday Open House
At the Folger Shakespeare Library, this annual open house features children's activities, tours of the theater, dramatic readings, medieval crafts, jugglers and jesters and other entertainment. This is the only day of the year that the Folger's reading rooms are open to the public. No admission is charged to the event.

MAY ACTIVITIES

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk
Held the first Sunday of the month. The 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge eastbound span is closed to vehicles for a pedestrian crossing.

Passport DC
This annual event presents a rare opportunity to see inside the embassies located throughout Washington, DC. Many of the embassies are in beautiful historic buildings, which are not generally accessible to the general public. The event usually spans a period of time days, but the Saturday openhouses at the embassies in the northwest quadrant of Washington, DC are a highlight. With more than 175 foreign embassies and related Cultural Tourism, DC sponsors the showcase and the performances, talks and exhibits. In past years, embassies from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East and the Americas have opened the doors to visitors. There is no admission/ticket charge, and free shuttle service is provided at various locations.

Joint Service Open House and Air Show
Andrews Air Force Base hosts this event in mid- to late May each year. It includes aerial demonstrations, a mass paratroop drop and ground displays of various vintage and modern airplanes. Admission is free; guests should park at FedEx Field where shuttle buses provide transportation to Andrews. Shuttle service also available from the Branch Avenue Metero Station (Green Line).

NSO Memorial Day Concert
The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on the last Sunday of May each year.

Memorial Day Ceremonies
Commemorative wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled at several locations in the Washington, D.C. area, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Women in Military Service for American Memorial. The sitting President usually attends one of these events, generally the wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Memorial Day Parade
Held on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, this parade includes marching bands and veterans units from all 50 states. The parade route goes along Constitution Avenue.

Memorial Day Navy Band Concert
The U.S. Navy Band performs a free concert at the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets.

JUNE ACTIVITIES

Smithsonian American Folklife Festival
Held in late June or early July on the National Mall between 7th and 14th Streets, this two-week annual festival celebrates the food, music, arts and culture of at least one state or territory and one foreign country.

JULY ACTIVITIES

Fourth of July Celebration
While the fireworks on the National Mall is the most visible celebration of our nation's birthday, there are events throughout Washington, D.C., to commemorate the day. Those include the National Symphony Orchestra's "Capitol Fourth" concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

AUGUST ACTIVITIES

Congress out of session
Congress is generally in adjournment during the month of August, with most Senators and Representatives working in their home states. Being a visitor to Washington, D.C., during August, although it's hot and humid, means that traffic is lighter and most local residents are gone.

Shakespeare Theatre "Free For All"
Enjoy Shakespeare at free performances at Sidney Harman Hall on F Street, NW, in Washington, DC. In 2009, the performances moved from the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park to Sidney Harman Hall. The tickets for the Shakespeare plays are distributed free on the day of the show. Performances by the Shakespeare Theatre Company run late May through early June. Past performances include "The Taming of the Shrew" (2009); "Love's Labor's Lost" (2007); "Hamlet" (2008, 2003); "The Merchant of Venice" (2000) and "Comedy of Errors" (1994).

SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES

Labor Day Concert
The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on the first Sunday of the month.

Navy Band Concert
The U.S. Navy Band and Sea Changers perform a free concert on the first Monday of the month at the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets.

Mount Vernon
In September, Mount Vernon marks its annual Craft Fair, a visit from a historic shop, a slave commemoration ceremony and a Revolutionary War Encampment.

Kalorama House and Embassy Tour
Massachusetts Avenue is the site of many of Washington's Embassies and distinguished private residences. Each fall, the Woodrow Wilson House hosts the Kalorama House and Embassy Tour. Tickets must be purchased to attend tour.

Kennedy Center Open House
In mid-September, the Kennedy Center hosts a day of free performances of music, ballet, theater and other performing arts in a number of indoor and outdoor stages. Some events require tickets, which can be picked up for free.

National Book Festival
Held the last Saturday in September on the National Mall, the Library of Congress gathers together dozens of authors of all types for readings, book signings and exhibits.

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES

Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court goes into session on the first Monday in October.

Columbus Day Ceremony Union Station
The U.S. Marine Band will perform before a wreath-laying at the status of Columbus at the Columbus Memorial Status at Union Station.

Festival of the Building Arts

National Building Museum

The National Building Museum hosts this event on the first Saturday of the month. It includes hands-on activities for all ages to encourage understanding of the skills used in the building arts.

White House Fall Garden Tours

Free timed tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the days of the tours

Since 1972, the White House has hosted a Fall Garden Tour which includes the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn. Military bands perform from a White House balcony.

Ticket distribution will begin at 8 a.m. on both tour days at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, 15th and E Streets. All attendees, including small children must have a ticket, which will be distributed one ticket per person.

Boo At The Zoo

National Zoo Tickets must be purchased in advance.

In October of each year, the National Zoo sponsors a three-evening event, Boo at the Zoo. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat throughout stations set up along the Zoo's Olmstead Walk. They can also interact with zookeepers and see nighttime activity at the Zoo.

Marine Corps Marathon Throughout Washington, DC
This marathon race starts at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington and goes through Washington along the Mall and then back to the Memorial. It is held the last Sunday in October.

NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES

Veterans Day Ceremonies

November 11

Commemorative wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled at several locations in the Washington, D.C., area, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Women in Military Service for American Memorial. The sitting President usually attends one of these events, generally the wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Mount Vernon By Candlelight
From Thanksgiving through early December, evening tours are offered at Mount Vernon. The tour includes the usually-closed third-floor cupola.

DECEMBER ACTIVITIES

Pageant of Peace National Christmas Tree Lighting
In December, the National Christmas Tree is on display at The Ellipse on the south side of the White House grounds. Each year, the President or his designee lights the National Christmas Tree at the Pageant of Peace. The tradition began in 1923 during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge with a tree donated from Vermont. The National Christmas Tree and the Pathway of Peace will be open each evening after the lighting ceremony through January 1st. In mid-December, musical performances by volunteer choirs and dancers will be featured each night.

LDS Washington DC Temple
In December, the Washington DC Temple grounds are the site for the Festival of Lights, a spectacular outdoor light display. Also included is a live Nativity scene, a display of international Nativity sets and nightly concerts.

Mount Vernon By Candlelight
From Thanksgiving through early December, evening tours are offered at Mount Vernon. The tour includes the usually-closed third-floor cupola.

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