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Check out these DC museums with evening offerings after 5 p.m., perfect for meeting attendees and visitors whose schedules don’t allow for a daytime visit.
Both popular museums are open until 7 p.m., visitors the chance to see the visual arts, performing arts and new media at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM)’s collections of art from the colonial period to the present. Enjoy talks and family events, plus fan-favorite free performances in the Kogod Courtyard with the Take 5: Jazz at SAAM monthly series.
Locals love the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden’s Jazz in the Garden series, a free jazz concert series that runs all summer on Fridays from 6-8:30 p.m. If you can snag tickets, get there early to stake out your spot in the grass, lay out some snacks and enjoy pitchers of sangria, local beers and other refreshments.
Note: the ticket lottery opens the week prior on Monday at 10 a.m. and closes that Friday at noon.
The nation's oldest federal cultural institution presents new programming every week. Join the Library of Congress every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. for a variety of performances, workshops, discussions and more. Enjoy happy hour drinks and food while exploring the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs during these extended hours. Visit their website for the full schedule of events.
Discover the the Georgetown abode, that was once home to descendants of Martha Washington, after hours. The Landmark Lecture series presents historical and educational discussions with experts and Tudor Nights offers an exclusive look at archived artifacts and art, complete with cocktails and bites.
Experience the magic of Solstice Saturday, a once-a-year celebration where you can spend the evening hopping from Smithsonian to Smithsonian after hours. For one night only, Smithsonian museums stay open late—some until midnight—offering special programming, live performances and interactive activities to mark the start of summer. Don’t miss this unique chance to explore DC’s world-class museums in a whole new light. Learn more.
This summer, venture to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to experience a night at the museum. Discover the wonders of the natural world, from the depths of the ocean to pre-historic creatures, within the light of the night and emptied halls. This program is intended for children ages 8-14 and their adults. Find date, time and ticket information online.
Explore the O Museum in the Mansion for one of the most idiosyncratic experiences in DC. The locale features more than 100 rooms and 70 secret doors, leading to themed areas filled with fine art, antiques and furnishings. Many details from the 19th century remain, including stained glass windows. The museum is open until 9 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday – Monday and offers a variety of themed tours and events.
On the second Thursday of each month throughout the fall and spring seasons, guests at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Gallery can enjoy works of art, live music, dance performances and pop-up talks from educators from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free but registration is required and opens one week prior to each event. Light bites and drinks are available for purchase. For more information on the series, visit the NGA website.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ popular evening series spans museum-wide scavenger hunts to dueling DJs to crafty activities. Two drink tickets are included with admission, with additional food and beverages available for purchase. Visit the events calendar to find this month's date and theme, plus other after-hours lectures and events.
The first Wednesday of the month, Planet Word invites the puzzle-minded for an evening for wordplay challenges and access to all three floors of museum exhibits – including karaoke. From 5 to 8 p.m., entrance is pay-what-you-can with food and drinks available for purchase from Immigrant Foods. Tickets to the museum's signature experience Lexicon Lane are also available for $30.
On the first Thursday of every month, the Phillips Collection welcomes visitors for Phillips After 5, a curated experience infused with art, history and live music. A true staple of Dupont Circle culture and architecture, the museum has the intimate feel of a private art collection, with each After 5 iteration's distinct theme celebrating subjects from the beginning of spring to German techno music.
On third Thursdays, the museum stays open until 8 p.m. – and admission is free.
A few select nights a year, the Smithsonian's National Zoo opens its gates to visitors after its usual closing time of 4 p.m. for marquee ticketed events. Boo at the Zoo invites families to trick-or-treat throughout the grounds, Night of the Living Zoo is an adults-only haunt and beloved Zoo Lights (open late Nov. through early Jan.) brings the holiday wow-factor. Check their events page to plan ahead.
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