Free Events
- Adams Morgan Festival
- Category: Fairs and Festivals
- Month: September
- Upcoming: September 12th, 2010
- Description: From the international heart of Adams Morgan comes the Adams Morgan 18th Street Festival, a two-day extravaganza of fun and music across two headlining stages and other venues. The now-famous Columbia and Florida stages (located strategically on 18th Street at Columbia Road and at Florida Ave.) feature live music acts from all genres from Central and South America, Latin rock, salsa, jazz, to soul, funk, and American rock. First held in 1978, the festival is the longest continuously running neighborhood festival in DC, with attendance ranging around 25,000. That's pretty impressive, and for good reason: Adams Morgan knows how to put on a good show, and definitely knows how to highlight its own multicultural influences. This is a great, high-energy event and not to be missed.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Adams Morgan, Washington, DC
- Phone: 202-232-1960
- Website: www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com
- Black Family Reunion
- Category: Fairs and Festivals
- Month: September
- Upcoming: September 11th and 12th, 2010
- Description: The Black Family Reunion Celebration is a two-day cultural event recognized as the largest family event in the nation, attracting more than 500,000 people each year to celebrate the strengths and traditional values of the African American family. Sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women, the celebration features themed pavilions that showcase African American businesses and organizations across a wide spectrum of industries such as health, education, and economic empowerment. Booths, stages, and other venues showcase celebrities, prominent experts, and performing artists. The weekend celebration begins on Friday evening with a VIP ceremony, then is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Both days close out with concerts on the National Mall.
- Admission: Free
- Location: National Mall, Washington, DC
- Phone: 301-390-8408
- Website: www.ncnw.org/events/reunion.htm
- Black History Month
- Category: Fairs and Festivals
- Month: February
- Upcoming: Entire month of February, 2011
- Description: In February, the nation honors the history of African Americans through Black History Month, sponsored by the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH). Initially a week-long observance, the event was expanded to the full month of February in 1976. As stated by ASALH, 'The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, Inc. dreams of the day that the sharing and contribution of all Americans in America will be so appreciated, accepted and understood that there will be no further need for any ethnic group to call attention to its contributions and exploits for the good of the country. Until that day arrives, we shall continue to provide the information needed about the Afro-American citizens in the United States and abroad.' Washington DC stages several events during this month, including public lectures, parades, films, and other cultural programs, as well as relevant exhibits at the various Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.
- Admission: Free
- Location: National Mall, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC
- Phone: 202-357-2700
- Capital Pride
- Category: Parades, Fairs and Festivals
- Month: June
- Upcoming: June 4th - 13th, 2010
- Description: For more than 30 years, the Capital Pride Celebration has served up an entire week of educational, civic, and social events gay pride, with the culmination of the parade down Pennsylvania on the last day. The event attracts approximately 200,000 attendees, including thousands of participants from across the country.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Pennsylvania Ave between 3rd and 7th Streets, NW., Washington, DC
- Phone: 202-905-2785
- Website: www.capitalpridealliance.org
- Chinese New Year Parade
- Category: Parades, Holiday Events
- Month: February
- Upcoming: TBA
- Description: Washington's Chinatown annually celebrates the Chinese New Year with an impressive parade featuring firecrackers, traditional drumming, and lion and dragon dancers. The parade is organized by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) and takes place in Chinatown on H Street, NW between 5th and 9th Streets. The Chinese New Year spans 15-days starting with the new moon on the first day of the new year, and ending on the full moon 15 days later.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Chinatown at H Street NW between 5th and 9th Streets, Washington, DC
- Phone: 703-851-8777
- Cinco de Mayo Festival
- Category: Fairs and Festivals, Holiday Events
- Month: May
- Upcoming: May 5th, 2011
- Description: The National Cinco de Mayo Festival in Washington, DC is an annual celebration of the Latino Community. Featuring live music and dance, arts and crafts workshops, food, games and activities for every one, the Cinco de Mayo festival is an event for the whole family. Over 15,000 people attended the National Cinco de Mayo festival in 2008, so come early and explore!
- Admission: Free
- Location: National Mall near the Washington Monument at 15th St. and Independence Ave., Washington, DC
- Phone: 202-315-1313
- Website: www.marumontero.com
- DC Caribbean Carnival
- Category: Fairs and Festivals
- Month: June
- Upcoming: June 26th and 27th, 2010
- Description: The DC Caribbean Carnival celebrating Caribbean culture is held every last weekend of June in the Washington Metro area and features a wide range of cultural events in addition to a parade, which proceeds along Georgia Avenue. The festival includes an international marketplace with food, crafts and live entertainment featuring local and international artists.
- Admission: Free
- Location: 809A Georgia Avenue, N.W., Suite 112 Washington, DC
- Phone: 301-318-4979
- Website: www.dccaribbeancarnival.org
- DC Drag Queen Race
- Category: Marathons and Races, Fairs and Festivals
- Month: October
- Upcoming: TBA
- Description: Attracting thousands of people each year, the DC Drag Queen Race is one of DC's most unique Halloween events. Each year, hundreds of drag queens (in high heels of course) gather at P and S Streets NW near Dupont Circle, and race down 17th Street.
- Admission: Free
- Location: 17th Street, between P and S Streets NW near Dupont Circle
- Dr. Martin Luther King Day
- Category: Holiday Events
- Month: January
- Upcoming: January 17th, 2011 (Martin Luther King Day)
- Description: DC hosts multiple events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, which is January 15th but celebrated each year on the third Monday in January. Included are the Choral Arts Society Tribute to Martin Luther King at the John F. Kennedy Center, Annual Civil Rights Film Festival at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance at the Department of Interior Auditorium, the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance at the Washington National Cathedral, 'I Have a Dream' Education Program at the Lincoln Memorial and the Concert in Tribute to Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Various Locations throughout the City
- Earth Day Celebration
- Category: Fairs and Festivals
- Month: April
- Upcoming: April 20th, 2011
- Description: The Earth Day Celebration at the National Mall, is considered the flagship event for the nation's Earth Day celebrations sponsored across the globe by Earth Day Network (EDN). Each year, 1000s of people attend the event to listen to nationally-renowned speakers and enjoy music performances. The event also includes booths with educational exhibits on climate change and real action that can be taken by regular citizens.
- Admission: Free
- Location: National Mall, Washington, DC
- Phone: 202-518-0044
- Website: ww2.earthday.net
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