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The DC Jazz Festival features several artists and runs June 5-16

Pictured: DC Jazz Festival

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Theater & Performing Arts

Take a bow, DC. The nation’s capital is second only to New York City when it comes to theater options. Whether you want to see a show at the world-famous John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or a cutting-edge performance at a hole-in-the-wall playhouse, we've got you covered.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Concert Hall is largest performance space in the Kennedy Center, with more than 2,400 seats. Annual events hosted here include the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Awards.
Guide to Theater & Performing Arts in Washington, DC
On any given night, curtains are rising on upwards of 200 performances at theaters in and around the District. Take your pick.
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The DC Jazz Festival features several artists and runs June 5-16
Show-Stopping Exhibits and Performing Arts Events
Check out our must-see list of upcoming exhibits and theater performances.
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Adjacent to the Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol, the Folger Shakespeare Library was a gift to the nation by Standard Oil president Henry Clay Folger who collected materials: books, prints, paintings, relating to the playwrite.
Arts, Culture and Music Calendar of Events
View our full calendar of events filled with art, theater, performances and special exhibits.
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DC Travel Inspiration

Trip Ideas

Logan Circle Attractions
Logan Circle loves design, which is why many of its attractions revolve around interesting visuals like historic houses, restored furniture and avant-garde plays. Let your eye wander.
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Columbia Heights / 14th Street Attractions
Get active in this bike-friendly neighborhood with plenty of green space and grand, remarkable buildings.
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H Street Corridor Attractions
Experience novelties like restaurant mini golf, a concert venue that looks like a hotel, and an envelope-pushing art gallery in this edgy, up-and-coming neighborhood.
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Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are the most famous residents of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Woodley Park / Cleveland Park Attractions
This neighborhood makes great use of vast green space with the National Zoo, Rock Creek Park, a monumental theatre and several significant hotels.
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Get a new view of the city's monuments and memorials with a paddleboat rental. Take one out on the Tidal Basin for a unique perspective on the Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and, in the spring, the cherry blossoms.
Southwest Waterfront Attractions
Take a different, waterside vantage point of Washington from a paddle or cruise boat, even an island golf course.
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Children especially love Gene Davis's colorful painting at the Phillips Collection, where admission to its permanent collection is free Tuesdays through Fridays.
100 Free Things: Arts & Culture
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The DC Jazz Festival features several artists and runs June 5-16
Upcoming Cultural Performances and Exhibits
Monumental discoveries don't just happen on the Mall.
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The Washington Ballet performs a unique version of "The Nutcracker" during the holiday season, with George Washington starring at the heroic Nutcracker.
Holiday Theater
Washington, DC is one of the most prolific theater towns in the country. And during the holidays, heart-warming musicals, toe-tapping performances and moving concerts will get you into the seasonal spirit.
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Known for its sweeping views of the Potomac River, Watergate and National Mall, the Kennedy Center's stern exterior belies a lively performance center boasting free daily concerts on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m.
Foggy Bottom Attractions
Arts, education and diplomacy merge to create engaging attractions and cultural events here.
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Arts District / U Street / Shaw Attractions
Music rules in this artsy neighborhood with a rich African-American heritage.
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Where for art thou? Why at the Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeareana, as well as a museum, garden and painstakingly recreated Elizabethan theater.
DC Itinerary: 3 Days of Arts & Culture
Discover the cultural side of Washington, DC, in its museums, theaters, restaurants and nightlife.
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The Lincoln Memorial seemingly rises from the snow on a winter day in DC.
DC Itinerary: 5 Days in Winter
Stay warm in Washington, DC, during your winter visit by checking out these hot attractions.
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The dining room of a British shipowner exquisitely decorated by James McNeill Whistler was purchased and reassembled by Charles Freer Lang to display ceramics. It is among the jewels at the Freer Gallery of Art.
Itinerary: GLBT DC's Arts & Culture
If you love the arts, dig music and like to chat up local artists, follow this creative itinerary.
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Washington is home to more than 160 embassies and consulates. More than 50 dot Embassy Row near Dupont Circle. Most of these open their doors to visitors every May during dedicated "Passport DC" weekends.
Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom welcomes outdoor enthusiasts as well as diplomats, dignitaries and celebrities alike.
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A Christmas Carol at historic Ford’s Theatre is a holiday tradition for many Washingtonians and visitors alike. The timeless Dickens tale follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he journeys through his life with the Ghosts of Past, Present and Future.
Theater & Performing Arts in Washington, DC
Washington, DC sets the stage for a thriving performing arts and theater scene.
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DC's southwest quadrant is home to a marina for private boaters as well as tours from Spirit and Odyssey Cruises. In addition, the area features great seafood restaurants, a fish market and Arena Stage.
Southwest Waterfront
Explore the historic fish market, river cruise options and the performing arts in this neighborhood.
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The jewel of U Street, once known as "Black Broadway," the Howard Theatre reopened in 2012 after a dazzling $20 million renovation. The décor is inspired by the legends including Duke Ellington, The Supremes and James Brown who played on the original stag
Live Music Venues in Washington, DC
DC is home to myriad live music venues. On any given night, catch jazz, house music, rock and go-go.
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Since 2005, the Capital Fringe Festival has drawn more than 100 cutting-edge performing artists to theaters across DC.
Washington, DC's Arts Scene
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Washington, DC is a welcoming city with a rainbow of activities for every visitor.
GLBT DC's Neighborhood Picks
Make time for these insider picks in GLBT Washington, DC's neighborhoods.
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Want more inspiration? Visit these pages.