|
For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2009 Festivals, Concerts, Art and More Bring Heat to DC this Summer Washington, DC is bursting with activities to help visitors make the most of the summer season. Read on for a preview of what’s to come this season, from festivals and walking tours to concerts and parades.
May 16-17: Mid City Artists - Open Studios
Check out the city’s burgeoning local art scene when more than twenty of DC’s most talented artists display their work in their Dupont/Logan Circle homes. www.midcityartists.com May 23-25: Memorial Day Weekend
Create powerful memories this holiday weekend by visiting the city’s memorials and monuments in honor of America’s veterans and famous citizens. Also consider special events occuring throughout the weekend including PBS' star-studded National Memorial Day Concert (2009 performers TBA) on Sunday and the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, featuring marching bands and veteran units from all 50 states. www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/; www.nationalmemorialdayconcert.com May 24: Rolling Thunder "Ride for Freedom"
Rolling Thunder celebrates the 22nd anniversary of its annual bike rally paying homage to the nation’s veterans, particularly those still missing in action or prisoners of war. There is a full weekend of activities, which culminates with the “Ride for Freedom," when tens of thousands of supporters hop on their Harleys to ride in the parade that departs from the Pentagon at noon and winds throughout the city streets of DC. www.rollingthunder1.com
May 29-July 5: Artomatic
This DC-area one-of-a-kind art extravaganza involves hundreds of artists, performers and volunteers. The free art festival features a wide variety of paintings, sculpture, photography, music, theater, poetry, dance and workshops. www.artomatic.org May 30-31: WalkingTown DC
Sponsored by Cultural Tourism DC, WalkingTown DC is a weekend of free walking tours designed to introduce residents and visitors to the District's unique neighborhoods. www.culturaltourismdc.org
June 5-14: Capital Pride
National and local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations head to DC to celebrate the strength of these communities in DC. The festival features a street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue and a parade. www.capitalpride.org
June 5-15: Duke Ellington Jazz Festival
Concert venues and clubs throughout the city join together for this annual music festival in honor of the jazz legend himself. Concerts are also featured on the National Mall. www.dejazzfest.org June 15-22: Silverdocs
More than 100 films from more than 60 countries participate in this eight day internationally recognized film festival that celebrates independent thinking and generates global media attention. Films are shown at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. www.silverdocs.com
June 20-July 12: Source Festival 2009
This theater festival is not only unique in Washington – it’s unlike anything else happening in the United States today. The festival is 100% new work that includes theater, dance, music, visual art, film, puppetry, spoken word, poetry and hip-hop. Including eighteen 10-Minute Plays, four one act plays, eight “Mash-Ups,” Project 24/7, three staged readings and a one-of-a-kind opening night event, the Source Festival features three weeks of material to entertain theater buffs looking for something new. www.sourcedc.org
June 27-28: National Capital Barbecue Battle
Barbecue restaurants from across the country bring their skills to DC to claim the best barbecue title. Families will enjoy children’s activities, live music, and of course food sampling and cooking demonstrations. www.bbqdc.com
June 27-28: DC Caribbean Carnival
Follow the festival’s colorful parade that leads to an international marketplace called "DE SAVANNAH," where you can experience Caribbean culture in DC through food, crafts and entertainment. www.dccaribbeancarnival.org
June 24-28 and July 1-5: Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Located on the National Mall, this annual event celebrates cultures and traditions from around the world, featuring music, dance, crafts, and food. This year’s themes include Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture; The Americas: A Musical World; and Wales. www.folklife.si.edu July 4: Independence Day Celebration
In America's Independence Day Parade, more than 100 marching units step out at noon along Constitution Avenue. Live entertainment continues throughout the afternoon and the day culminates with “A Capitol Fourth,” a concert broadcast live on PBS featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and well-known performing artists. It starts at 8pm and ends with fireworks starting at approximately 9:20pm. www.july4thparade.com; www.pbs.org/capitolfourth July 9-26: Capital Fringe Festival
This edgy festival breaks the boundaries of traditional art and theatre. Audiences can choose from more than 500 audacious and inventive performances of theatre, dance, music, poetry and puppetry, performed by more than 120 local, national and international artists at more than 30 of the city’s unique venues. www.capfringe.org
Where to Check in to Cool Down
Destination DC is your local resource for the best vacation values in the nation's capital. Keep checking Washington.org for updates and to book packages. In the meantime, here are a few hotel options for travelers planning their summer vacations early: High summer temperatures make hotels with outdoor pools extra appealing. In the Thomas Circle neighborhood, Thompson Hotels’ Donovan House takes rooftop outdoor pools to a new level of luxury. Sophisticated travelers can lounge poolside in cozy cabanas or sip cocktails in the evening at a fireside bar. Or, stay in style near the U.S. Capitol at Affinia Hotels’ first DC property, The Liaison Capitol Hill, where upscale travelers can enjoy access to a rooftop pool and “green oasis.” Other hotels that offer outdoor pools include Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle, the Marriott Wardman Park in Woodley Park and the family-friendly L’Enfant Plaza Hotel near the National Mall.
There are many more events to choose from. For a complete listing of summer programming in Washington, DC, visit Washington.org. # # # About Destination DC: Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.
|
