10 Things to Do in Washington DC in Spring

Spring brings a burst of color to the nation’s capital. The list of things to see and do in Washington becomes much longer and more vibrant during the spring. One of the city’s main attractions is the blooming of the cherry trees in its parks.

Without a doubt, Washington becomes a must-visit tourist destination at this time of year. Take note and don’t miss a thing on your spring tour of Washington!

During Beer Week, celebrated in the spring in Washington, D.C., you can enjoy a special event: HopFest.

This festival brings together local brewers who have formed a group to organize their activities and promote their businesses. This group, called the DC Brewers Guild, organizes the event, which has been delighting locals and visitors to the U.S. capital for several years now.

Part of what you’ll experience at the festival is the beer-making process according to each participating company’s unique recipe. You’ll have the chance to meet all the participating brewers and talk to them about the brewing process, fermentation, and everything that happens between production and consumption. The best part of this festival is that every participant is local—not a single one comes from another state.

You can also take part in special tastings, where you’ll get to sample every beer featured at the festival.

It’s a place well worth visiting and enjoying to the fullest if you’re a beer lover. It usually takes place in March of each year, so it’s one of the first events you can enjoy in the city during the spring.

Tickets typically range from 50 to 75 euros, and you’ll need to buy them in advance if you don’t want to miss out. Apparently, there are many beer enthusiasts in the city, so you’re likely to find a festival packed with tasters and beer presenters.

Practical Information

• Location: The Washington Brewing Co., 28 East Maiden St., Washington.
• Price: Between 50 and 75 euros per ticket.
• Hours: From noon until night.

This is one of the most unique marathons in Washington, D.C., and it takes place in the spring. It’s a marathon that brings the whole city together for a spectacular run through all its iconic landmarks, especially the museums and its most famous monuments. Running this marathon can help you see the city in a whole new light.

If you don’t want to run, you can also attend as a spectator. It’s one of the must-see events in Washington, D.C., thanks to the energy you’ll feel as you watch the runners give it their all to win the race.

To participate, visit the official website to learn about the registration process and how to attend the event.

Runners must go to the race packet distribution center to pick up their race numbers and other race identification badges. The location of this center varies depending on the event organizers each year.

A fair and exhibition is also organized where participants and spectators can gather to see and learn about everything related to the race and its sponsors.

This marathon and half-marathon has been held in Washington, D.C., since 2006 and has since welcomed thousands of participants and spectators eager to compete in a healthy way while exercising at the start of spring.

Practical Information

• Location: The exhibitions take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall E. The half marathon finishes at Constitution Ave. & 14th Street NW. The 5K races finish at RFK Stadium, 22nd Street SE.
• Price: Registration for the marathon starts at 39 euros, while registration for the half marathon starts at 79 euros.
• Schedule: The race begins early in the morning.

While visiting the Botanical Garden is an activity you can enjoy any time of year to see new plants, spring is definitely the best time to visit.

Inside the Garden, you’ll have the chance to see the season’s wide variety of plants and admire the blooming of the most beautiful ones.

Spring in Washington is much more than just cherry blossoms. To find out which flowers will bloom in spring and what attractions the Botanical Garden offers during the season, I invite you to visit its official website, where you can find up-to-date information on the subject.

This is an incredibly versatile activity you can do with family and friends to have a good time. You can also take the kids to the Garden and watch them be enchanted by everything there is to see.

Even if you’re just passing through the city on business, you’ll find it a peaceful stroll to relax and disconnect a bit from reality.

Another advantage of visiting this place in the spring is the pleasant weather you’ll enjoy. Temperatures are usually a bit warmer without being unbearable, humidity is low, and the temperature feels comfortable—perfect weather for staying as long as you like exploring the Garden.

Practical Information

• Location: 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001
• Price: Admission is free.
• Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

In 1912, Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted cherry trees to Washington. Since then, the trees have adapted, thrived, and multiplied in the city in an impressive way. They bloom in the spring, with March being the month when they reach peak bloom.

The cherry blossom season is one of the most anticipated events for Washington residents in the spring. In fact, most of the events held during this season in the state revolve around the cherry blossoms.

This festival offers a special opportunity to learn about and delve a little deeper into Japanese culture, which has found its place in Washington, D.C., since 1912.

Among the interesting experiences you can enjoy during the festival are the various fairs, events, and venues set up to share Japanese culture. It’s impressive to see how deeply rooted the culture of these Asian islands is and the way they share their traditions with locals and visitors in Washington, D.C.

Due to weather conditions, the peak blooming dates for the cherry blossoms vary from year to year.

I recommend keeping an eye on the news from the official website that organizes the events to find out when the blooming is expected. Once all the flowers have opened, they remain in bloom for approximately 14 days.

The best view of the cherry blossoms can be found along the banks of the Tidal Basin, where the largest concentration of these trees in all of DC is located.

This is an exclusive dinner organized as part of the cherry blossom celebration. What makes this exclusive dinner special is that attendees are asked to dress in their finest pink attire.

If you want to attend a high-profile event, this is definitely the place. The celebration marks the end of winter in the city. The Pink Tie Party officially kicks off the spring season and, of course, the cherry blossom season.

At the event, you’ll find a huge variety of food and tastings of dishes from all over the world. The main focus is on Asian cuisine, specifically Japanese, but you’ll also find food from other regions such as Latin American, European, Mediterranean, and Arabic, among other culinary variations.

After dinner, entertainment is guaranteed, as the organizers of the Pink Tie Party ensure that all participants enjoy a top-notch entertainment experience.

You’ll even find multiple contests that will put your skills to the test. This party generally lasts about four hours and usually begins early in the evening.

It is usually held during the days when the cherry trees are in full bloom.

If you want to attend this exclusive event , you must purchase a ticket in advance , which can range from €90 to €300. All proceeds from the event are dedicated solely to organizing the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Practical Information

• Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
• Price: Between €90 and €300 for admission, depending on the type of ticket you choose.
• Time: Generally starting at 8:00 PM. However, this may vary depending on the organization each year.

St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional Irish holiday , and given the Irish influence and the large Irish-American population in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are incredibly popular across the country. Various cities host their own parades and festivities.

In Washington, D.C., this is definitely a festival you can’t miss if you visit the city in the spring. It takes place in March, with the main event on the 17th, though you can join the celebration at any time throughout the week.

During the parade, you’ll see a wide variety of interesting attractions showcasing Irish traditions. It’s an activity you’re sure to love doing with the kids because the little ones also participate in the parade, dressed up as popular characters from Irish culture.

If you’re going with friends or family, another way to join the festivities is to head to Irish pubs where you can soak up all the festive excitement of
St. Patrick’s Day.

Another highlight you’ll find during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities is the great Irish beer festival.

If you’re a lover of Irish culture and want to enjoy some good beer, this is definitely the best cultural festival you can experience in Washington, D.C., during the spring.

Practical Information

• Location: The parade route is usually on Constitution Ave NW between 7th St NW and 17th St NW.
• Price: Attending this parade is completely free.
• Schedule: The festivities run all week long, from morning until night at the Irish pubs.

The festival known as Passport DC gives you the chance to explore multiple countries for an entire day once a year.

This event usually takes place during the first few days of May and offers you the opportunity to visit each of the participating embassies for a full day.

On another day of the month, you can visit the European Union embassy, where you can explore all the EU member countries in a single day.

The tour is completely free, but you’ll need to check which embassies are participating in the event so you can plan your route through Dupont Circle, where most of them are located.

Inside each embassy, you’ll enjoy a unique experience where you can learn about the traditions and customs of each country.

At some of them, you’ll have the chance to sample traditional dishes from that country. This celebration takes place around the same time as the Asian Culture Festival, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities in the spring to explore different regions and traditions from around the world.

Practical Information

• Location: Dupont Circle, at the embassies listed in the itinerary.
• Price: Admission to all embassies is completely free during this festival.
• Hours: Activities begin in the morning and usually last well into the night.

The DC Bike Ride is a closed-circuit route that ranks among the best bike tours in Washington, D.C.

It generally takes place during the spring season and is a non-competitive ride open to residents and visitors ages 3 and up. Children and teenagers up to 17 years old must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

It is essentially a family-friendly route where you can explore the entire city along streets specially designated for this purpose, free from cars that might disrupt your ride. One of the best aspects of this tour is that you’ll be able to see numerous landmarks of the U.S. capital while cycling.

At the end of the ride, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the Festival for participants and non-participants held just past the finish line.

Only if you register as a VIP member will you be able to enjoy the special lunch for participants. Otherwise, the festival offers plenty of food options so you can recharge your energy after cycling through the city.

Practical Information

• Location: The route starts on the west side of the Potomac and ends very close to the U.S. Capitol.
• Price: The cost to participate can be up to 190 euros, depending on the registration type you choose.
• Schedule: Starts at 8:00 a.m.

Traveler Tip

I recommend bringing a raincoat, because the event takes place regardless of the weather, so it’s best to be prepared in case it rains.

This is a hip-hop festival that takes place every May in Washington, D.C. The venue for this event is usually Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

The event aims to celebrate Black culture and everything it represents musically and culturally, not only in Washington but across the entire country.

If you want to enjoy a unique musical experience and learn a little more about the hip-hop genre, this is definitely a show you won’t want to miss.

It’s specially organized so you can attend with friends and spend a memorable day enjoying top hip-hop artists and other prominent urban genres from across the country.

To purchase your tickets, visit the show’s official website and stay updated on all the latest news. The website also provides information on the festival’s schedule for the weekend it takes place.

Practical Information

• Location: Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
• Price: Tickets start at 50 euros.
• Schedule: The festival lasts two days and runs all day long.

Spring is an excellent time of year to take a stroll along the banks of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers on the outskirts of the city. There are several ways to enjoy this walk.

One way to explore these areas in the spring is by walking along the city streets that run alongside the rivers. Another option is by water.

There is a wide variety of cruises in Washington, as well as water taxis and other forms of water transportation, that you can use for this type of tour.

Although this is a tour you can also include on your list of things to do in Washington in the summer, and even in the fall, I recommend taking this tour especially in the spring.

The main attraction along these riverbanks in the spring is the cherry blossoms, which add a much more colorful, fun, and harmonious atmosphere to the already beautiful landscape.

Temperatures in Washington during the spring months are usually quite pleasant.

The lowest temperature rarely drops below 3°C, while highs hover around 15°C. Humidity is quite low, so it rains very little in the spring.

I would definitely say that spring is one of the best times to visit Washington, especially because of the combination of pleasant temperatures and low humidity. Nights are usually cold, and days are a bit warmer.

Given the temperatures, I recommend packing clothes in layers. Bring T-shirts, coats, and sweaters, and pack more long pants than shorts. Be sure to pack sunglasses, because even though it’s not summer, the sun can sometimes be harsh.

Don’t forget your camera to capture all the beauty you’ll see in Washington in the spring, especially to photograph the cherry blossoms.

Continuing with clothing, be sure to pack comfortable shoes, ankle boots, and long socks. Bring pajamas that are warm enough to keep you cozy at night.