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National Cherry Blossom Festival

Parade outside of National Archives for National Cherry Blossom Festival

Things to Do This Week in Washington, DC

Things to do the week of March. 18-21, 2024

We've gathered up some things to do across the nation's capital, including museum exhibits, concerts, only-in-DC events and much more. Don't miss our things to do this weekend and things to do this month as well.

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Monday

Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Basin with Washington Monument

Peak bloom of the cherry blossoms was reached on March 17
According to the National Park Service, peak bloom, defined as when 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees at the Tidal Basin have fully opened, was reached on March 17. The next week marks the best time to see the blossoms in all their springtime luster. By the Numbers: Peak bloom was reached almost a week earlier than first forecasted due to warm weather, and a St. Paddy's Day peak marks the earliest achieved in the past 20 years. 
Tidal Basin

 

National Cherry Blossom Festival 
DC celebrates the blooming of cherry trees with a month-long festival that commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city. Check out popular festival events in the lead-up to the celebration, in addition to our guide to the celebration, how to get the most popular blossom spots and the best places to snap photos.

 

Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice 
In the mid-1940s, William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series to honor Black activists, scientists, teachers, performers and international heads of state working to bring peace to the world. Johnson celebrated these figures – some very famous, others unsung – while acknowledging the racism, violence and oppression each one fought against. The exhibit showcases many of these paintings, including Johnson’s portraits of Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Mahatma Gandhi and Marian Anderson, elevating stories that are still relevant to the struggle for social justice today.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. |  Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Change Your Game 
The National Museum of American History’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention developed a new exhibit filled with interactive elements that highlight the intersection of invention, sports and technology. Items on display include a prototype of the Jogbra from the 1970s, a football helmet with Crash Cloud prototype to help protect the brain, a Hawk-Eye camera used during the pandemic by the U.S. Open to automate line calls and prostheses that made extreme sports possible for athletes with amputations.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560

 

Imagined Neighbors: Japanese Visions of China, 1680-1980 
From 1603-1868 during what is known as the Edo period in feudal Japan, many of the country’s artists combined their limited knowledge of China with their own imaginations to create breathtaking works of painting and calligraphy. Once modernization set in during the Meiji era (1868-1912), Chinese art and culture remained a touchstone for Japanese artists, even through imperialism and war.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560

 

Tuesday

Book spring excursions with DC Design Tours 
Add education to your cherry blossom sightseeing with DC Design Tours this spring. The company is offering two excursions: one that encounters the beautiful blossoms on the Tidal Basin (March 17 to April 6) and another that goes in-depth at Cleveland Park (March 17-30), a lesser-known prime spot for blossoms with plenty of history of its own. Use the code "DCDESIGNBLOOM" for 10% off your tickets.

 

Lulu's Wine Garden

Spring Wine Fling 
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington spruces up spring with special discounts at participating restaurants all over the District. Spring Wine Fling means you get a two-course meal and two glasses of wine for just $55 per person, which adds up to tremendous value during one of the most vibrant times of the year in DC.

 

The Lehman Trilogy 
Three actors portray various generations of the Lehman family in the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Play. What begins as three immigrants attempting to live their American dream turns into a disaster for future generations, which eventually leads to the biggest financial crisis in U.S. history. Edward Gero, Mark Nelson and René Thornton, Jr. give unforgettable performances across 160 years of family history.
Tickets
Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Penelope 
It’s time for a new perspective on the Trojan War. Signature Theatre hosts the DC premiere of Penelope, in which the wife of Odysseus takes center stage. She steps into the spotlight, glass of bourbon and microphone in hand, to detail the 20 years she spent waiting on the island of Ithaca in a one-woman show. This musical spin on Greek tragedy is unlike anything else you’ll see on a stage this season.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206

 

Little Shop of Horrors 
Originally a sci-fi/horror comedy film released in 1960, Little Shop of Horrors then became an off-Broadway musical in the early 1980s. Yet another film adaptation followed a few years later, showing how this timeless story of a floral shop assistant and his singing, deadly plant will always dazzle audiences. The historic Ford’s Theatre revives the dynamic production during its upcoming spring season. Make sure to use code DDCSHOP20 for 20% off your tickets to the show (valid for March 16 - April 6 & May 1-18; limit two tickets per purchase)!
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Wednesday

Sydney Vernon 
Local artist and native of the DC region Sydney Vernon receives an in-depth showcase at Phillips@THEARC, which does not charge admission. Vernon’s idiosyncratic approach sees her superimpose and alter family photos with both authentic and imagined stories from Black history and culture. Her work pairs perfectly with Pierre Bonard’s, which will be on display over at the Phillps Collection.
Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free Admission
Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020

 

Songbird 
You’ll be transported to 1920s New Orleans for an uproarious musical mashup of opera and jazz thanks to a new production at the Kennedy Center. Songbird’s narrative follows the titular character and her lover, Piquillo, as they struggle through hard times. Just in time for Mardi Gras, the Mayor (in disguise) lures in Songbird, promising a life of comfort. Now she must choose between true love or financial stability. Grammy-winner Isabel Leonard portrays the fascinating heroine.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

 

At the Wedding 
Studio Theatre stages another thought-provoking play, taking the audience to the most dramatic of settings: a wedding. Carlo crashes the proceedings, hoping to avoid drinking, making kids cry and embarrassing herself in front of her ex, who just so happens to be the bride. As you may guess, Carlo has a tough time accomplishing her goals in this hilarious production.
Tickets
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

 

Damian & Stephen Marley 
As the sons of Bob Marley, both Damian and Stephen had large shoes to fill on the music front. Both have done so with flying colors, each creating their own distinctive sounds and careers while following in their father’s footsteps. Now, the duo hits the road together for the Traffic Jam tour, which fortunately includes The Fillmore Silver Spring as one of its stops.
8:30 p.m. |  Tickets
The Fillmore Silver Spring, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910

 

Thursday

ISEKAI: Blooming Parallel Worlds 
ARTECHOUSE welcomes visitors to its seventh annual installation dedicated to celebrating the beauty of the cherry blossoms in DC. The museum treats your eyes to an exhibit inspired by the Isekai genre of Anime, allowing for the exploration of alternate universes stacked with colors, adventures and immersive technologies. Make sure to take advantage of tickets with a 10% discount.
Tickets (10% off)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

 

COMPANY 
Five Tony® Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, were awarded to this rendition of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s marvelous musical comedy. At Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, her friends keep pestering her about marriage, wondering why she hasn’t settled down. As our main character looks for answers, she realizes that the 21st century is enough to drive a person crazy – whether they’re single, married or simply alive.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

 

ExPats Theatre: Migraaaaants or There’s Too Many People on This Damn Boat 
The Atlas Performing Arts Center presents a satirical perspective on the lives of migrants from ExPats Theatre. You’ll follow migrants as they deal with profiteers, attempt to cross the sea and navigate the cultural landscapes of where they end up. Along the way, the audience will uncover the human element of the migration issue.
Tickets
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

 

José Andrés & Friends: The Zaytinya Cookbook of Mezze Madness 
See a DC icon like you’ve never seen him before at the Lincoln Theatre. Chef José Andrés will host an evening filled with cooking, interviews and live music in celebration of his new cookbook, Zaytinya: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon, which features recipes from the popular DC restaurant. José will also welcome friends to the stage for a live recording of his podcast, Longer Tables.
8 p.m. |  Tickets
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

 

Jon Batiste 
As a five-time Grammy winner and 20-time nominee, Jon Batiste’s credentials speak for themselves. The Renaissance man has released soulful solo albums, composed music for the movie Soul (for which he won an Oscar, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA) and has even served as bandleader and musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015-22). Needless to say, Batiste’s show at the Warner Theatre will be a hot ticket.
8 p.m. |  Tickets
Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Places to Stay

Hotel room in the Hay Adams

Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!


#Only1DC Photo of the Week

 

Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to Michelin-starred hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.

 

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