10 Things to Do in Washington DC in Spring

Spring brings a burst of colour to the US capital. The list of things to see and do in Washington becomes much longer and livelier during the spring. One of the city’s main attractions is the blossoming of the cherry trees in its gardens.

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, held in spring in Washington DC, you can enjoy a special event: HopFest.

This festival brings together local brewers who have formed a group to organise their activities and promote their businesses. This group, known as the DC Brewers Guild, organises the event, which has been delighting locals and visitors to the US capital for several years now.

Part of what you’ll experience at the festival is the beer-making process according to each participating brewery’s unique recipe. You’ll be able to meet all the participating brewers and chat with them about the brewing process, fermentation, and everything that happens between production and consumption. The best thing about this festival is that every participant is local; not a single one comes from another state in the country.

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

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

Tickets typically cost between 50 and 75 euros, and you’ll need to buy them in advance if you don’t want to miss out. It seems there are plenty of beer enthusiasts in the city, so you’re likely to find a festival packed with beer tasters and presenters.

Practical information

• Location: The Washington Brewing Co., 28 East Maiden St., Washington.
• Price: Between €50 and €75 per ticket.
• Opening hours: From midday until late.

This is one of the most special marathons in Washington DC and takes place in spring. It’s a marathon that brings the whole city together on a spectacular route past all its iconic landmarks, particularly the museums and its finest monuments. Running this marathon can make you see the city in a different light.

If you don’t want to run, you can also attend as a spectator. It’s one of the unmissable spectacles in Washington, thanks to the energy you can feel whilst watching the runners strive to win the race.

To take part, you must visit the official website and find out about the full process required to attend the event.

Runners must go to the race kit distribution centre to collect their race numbers and other race identification badges. The location of this centre depends on the event organisers each year.

A sort of fair and exhibition is also organised 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 DC since 2006 and has since welcomed thousands of participants and spectators eager to compete in a healthy way whilst exercising at the start of spring.

Practical information

• Location: The exhibitions take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre, 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, whilst for the half marathon it starts at €79.
• Timing: The race starts early in the morning.

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

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

Spring in Washington is much more than just cherry blossoms. To find out which flowers will be in bloom in spring and what attractions the Botanical Garden has to offer 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 enjoy with family and friends and have a lovely time. You can also take the children to the Garden and see how enchanted they are 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 take a break from reality.

Another advantage of visiting this place in 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 spending as long as you like exploring the Garden.

Practical information

• Location: 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001
• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17:00.

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

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

This festival provides a special opportunity to discover and delve a little deeper into Japanese culture, which has found its place in Washington DC 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 is impressive to see how deeply rooted the culture of these Asian islands is and the way in which they share their traditions with locals and visitors to Washington DC.

Due to weather conditions, the dates of peak cherry blossom flowering vary from year to year.

I recommend keeping an eye on the news on the official website responsible for organising the events, to find out when the blossoms are expected to peak. 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 highest concentration of cherry trees in the whole of DC is located.

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

If you’re looking for a high-class event, this is definitely the place to be. The celebration marks the end of winter in the city. The Pink Tie Party marks the official start of 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 America, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, amongst other culinary offerings.

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

You may even come across various competitions that will put your skills to the test. This party usually lasts around four hours and typically begins early in the evening.

It usually takes place during the days when the cherry trees are in full bloom.

If you want to attend this exclusive event , you’ll need to pay an entry fee in advance , which can range from €90 to €300. All funds raised at the event are dedicated solely to organising 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 entry, depending on the type of ticket you are willing to pay for.
• Time: Generally from 8.00 pm. Although this may vary depending on the organisation each year.

St Patrick’s Day is a traditional Irish festival , and given the Irish influence and the large Irish-American community in the United States, St Patrick’s Day celebrations are hugely popular across the country. Parades and festivities are held in various cities.

In Washington DC, it is definitely a festival you cannot miss if you visit the city in spring. It is held in March, with the main day being the 17th, although you can join in the celebrations at any time throughout the week.

During the parade, you will see a wealth of interesting attractions reflecting Irish tradition. It’s an activity you’re sure to love doing with the children, as the little ones also take part in the parade, dressed up as popular characters from Irish culture.

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

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

If you’re a lover of Irish culture and fancy a good pint, this is definitely the best cultural festival you can enjoy in Washington DC this spring.

Practical information

• Location: The parade route is usually along Constitution Ave NW between 7th St NW and 17th St NW.
• Price: Attendance at this parade is completely free.
• Times: The celebrations run all week, from morning until night in the Irish pubs.

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

This event usually takes place in early May and offers you the chance to visit each of the participating embassies over the course of a full day.

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

The tour is completely free, but you’ll need to check which embassies are taking part 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.

In some of them, you’ll have the chance to sample some of the country’s typical dishes. This event takes place at almost the same time as the Asian culture festival, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities in spring to explore different regions and traditions from around the world.

Practical information

• Location: Dupont Circle, at the embassies listed in the itinerary.
• Price: Entry to all embassies is completely free during this festival.
• Opening hours: Activities start in the morning and usually last until late in the evening.

The DC Bike Ride is a closed circuit that features on the list of the best bike tours in Washington DC.

It usually takes place during the spring season and is a non-competitive ride open to residents and visitors aged 3 and over. Children and teenagers up to the age of 17 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

It is essentially a family-friendly circuit, where you can cycle through the whole city along specially designated routes, free from cars that might disrupt your journey. One of the best things about this route is that you can see many of the US capital’s landmarks whilst cycling.

At the end of the ride, you’ll have the chance to take part 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, there are plenty of food options at the festival so you can recharge your batteries after cycling through the city.

Practical information

• Location: The route starts on the west bank of the Potomac and finishes very close to the US Capitol.
• Price: The cost to take part can be up to €190, depending on the type of registration you choose.
• Time: Starts at 8:00 am.

Traveller Tip

I recommend bringing a raincoat, as the event goes ahead 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 DC. The venue usually chosen for this event is Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

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

If you want to enjoy a unique musical experience and learn a bit more about the hip hop genre, this is undoubtedly a show you cannot miss.

It is specially organised so that you can attend with friends and spend a special day admiring leading hip hop artists and other prominent urban genres in the country.

To purchase your tickets, you can visit the show’s official website and find out all the latest news. The website also features information on the festival’s schedule for the weekend it is running.

Practical information

• Location: Washington DC Metropolitan Area.
• Price: Tickets start from 50 euros.
• Times: The festival lasts two days and you can enjoy it 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 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 transport, which you can use for this type of tour.

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

The main attraction of these riverbanks in spring is the cherry blossom, which adds a much more colourful, cheerful and harmonious atmosphere to the landscape, which is already beautiful in its own right.

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

The lowest temperature is usually no lower than 3°C, whilst the highest temperatures hover around 15°C. Humidity is quite low, so there is very little rain in spring.

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

Given the temperatures, I recommend packing clothes in layers. Take T-shirts, coats and jumpers, and pack more long trousers than shorts. Make 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 beautiful sights you’ll see in Washington in spring, especially to photograph the cherry blossoms.

Moving on to clothing, be sure to pack comfortable shoes, ankle boots and long socks. Pack pyjamas that are warm enough to keep you cosy at night.