Spring in Washington, DC is filled with in-person events, new exhibits and seasonal favorites
May
Citywide | May 1-31, 2022
Returning in person, a month of programming across the city highlights DC’s international culture. The Around the World Embassy Tour and European Union Open House are favorites.
Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano
Smithsonian American Art Museum | Through May 8
Discover Venice’s rich history as a glassmaking capital and its influence on early 20th century art.
The National Theatre | May 10-15, 2022
A smash hit on Broadway and winner of multiple Tony Awards, this blockbuster musical is a loving ode to 1960s Baltimore and the styles and sounds of the times.
This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World
The Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery | May 23, 2022 – April 2, 2023
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, the craft show highlights often overlooked histories and contributions of women, people of color and other marginalized communities. The Renwick Gallery reopens May 13, and on May 23, the exhibition opens with nearly 150 artworks from the museum's permanent collection.
Lincoln Memorial | May 2022
The National Park Service is undertaking a $25 million renovation of the memorial, adding new services and design to enhance the visitor experience. Completion is expected prior to the memorial’s centennial in May and a large in-person community event will take place on May 30.
American Silence: The Photographs of Robert Adams
National Gallery of Art, West Building | May 29 – October 2, 2022
For 50 years, Robert Adams (b. 1937) has made compelling, provocative, and highly influential photographs that show us the wonder and fragility of the American landscape, its inherent beauty, and the inadequacy of our response to it. This exhibition explores the reverential way he looks at the world around him and the almost palpable silence of his work.
June
Citywide | June 3 – 12
DC’s LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month with street festivals, concerts and a parade.
Capital One Arena | June 10
The pop music superstar brings his epic stage show to the nation’s capital.
Michael R. Klein Theatre at the Lansburgh | June 16 – July 27
Shakespeare Theatre Company stages a riveting tale of a Black American actor who finds himself playing Othello on London’s grandest stage.
Kennedy Center | June 21 – July 10
Jeff Daniels stars as Atticus Finch in a spellbinding stage telling of Harper Lee’s classic novel.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Independence Ave. | June 17-19, 2022
Put on by Pharrell Williams, this three-day music festival with three stages will celebrate art, culture and music with performances by some of the hottest names in the industry.
Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
Pennsylvania Avenue NW | June 25-26
Everyone’s favorite barbecue-flavored event celebrates 30 years in the District. Smithsonian Folklife Festival National Mall | Late June A summer tradition, the festival plans to return to the Mall with a focus on the United Arab Emirates and earth optimism.