The Washington, DC area and its surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia host lots of annual festivals and special events. All dates, prices, and activities mentioned are subject to change, so please check the official website or call to confirm information. Please note that most of these events are held each year and the dates are updated as available.
DC Jazz Festival
June 1-13, 2011. Enjoy more than 100 jazz performances at concert venues and clubs throughout Washington, DC.
Free Summer Concerts
Find concert schedules for free family entertainment throughout the month in various destinations around Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Free Outdoor Movies
Outdoor movies are getting very popular and there are a variety of venues to choose from throughout the summer. See the schedules here.
Washington Nationals Baseball
The Major League Baseball's National League East plays 81 home games each season at Nationals Park. Enjoy a fun-filled day cheering on DC's baseball team.
La Dolce DC
Through July 31, 2011. Washington, DC will celebrate all things Italian this spring a citywide festival that coincides with the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. The event showcases Italian culture through architecture, art, dance, design, fashion, music, theatre, film, food and wine.
Capital Pride
June 2-12, 2011. A street festival and parade celebrate pride in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities in Washington, DC.
Imagination Bethesda
June 4, 2011, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A children's steet festival featuring costume characters, face painters, dance troupes, theatre performances and a variety of hands-on arts activities.
Washington Folk Festival
June 4-5, 2011, 12-7 p.m. Glen Echo Park. Presented by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, the free festival features hundreds of musicians, storytellers, dancers, and craft vendors representing the rich cultural diversity of the Washington area. Audiences will enjoy American musical traditions such as bluegrass, blues, and swing as well as international traditions from across the globe. Rain or shine.
Vintage Virginia Wine Festival
June 4-5, 2011. Bull Run Park, Centreville, Virginia. Enjoy samples by more than 50 wineries including over 250 award-winning Virginia wines, educational seminars on food pairing, fine art exhibits, children’s activities, food and live entertainment.
Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk
June 4-5, 2011. Visit all of the museums near Dupont Circle featuring free admission and special activities for all ages.
Tour de Cure Bicycling Event for the American Diabetes Association
June 5, 2011. Help raise funds and awareness about diabetes by participating in this annual event. All experience levels welcome.
The Source Theater Festival
June 10–July 3, 2011. Source Theatre, 1835 14th Street, NW Washington, DC. See new works in theater, dance, music, visual art, film, puppetry, spoken word, poetry and hip-hop. Performances include eighteen 10-Minute Plays, four one act plays, eight “Mash-Ups,” Project 24/7, three staged readings and a one-of-a-kind opening night event.
Celebrate Fairfax! Festival
June 10-12, 2011. Northern Virginia’s largest annual community-wide celebration features live music, children’s activities, a community market place, a laser show and fireworks.
USAF Cycling Classic
June 11-12, 2011. Cycling event in Crystal City, VA to help members of the United States military who have sustained Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival
June 11-12, 2011. The new two-day celebration of the arts in Annapolis, Maryland features the juried works of more than 150 fine artists and craftsmen, wine tastings, food, live entertainment and activities for the entire family.
U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club
June 13-19, 2011. The U.S. Open, which was first conducted in 1895, is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association.
Worlds Childrens Festival
June 17-19, 2011. National Mall, Washington DC. Held every four years, the world’s largest celebration of children’s creativity and imagination brings together hundreds of young artists and performers from around the world. Workshops and activities are designed to nurture children’s creativity and develop their empathy in a global community setting.
Taste of Reston
June 17-19, 2011. Reston Town Center. Enjoy a variety of food from the region’s finest eateries, live music, activities and games. Admission and parking are free. Tastings start at $1.
Washington Soap Box Derby
June 18, 2011. Watch racers ages 8-17 compete in an All American Soap Box Derby on Capitol Hill.
Father's Day
June 19, 2011. Looking for a special way to spend Father’s Day this year? Here are some ideas of ways to spend some family time with Dad on Father’s Day in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival
June 19, 2011. Enjoy an afternoon of wine and live jazz in Old Town Manassas, Virginia.
Silverdocs Film Festival
June 20-26, 2011. Film festival showing 100 free films, and special programs at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.
National Capital Barbecue Battle
June 25-26, 2011. If you love barbecue you’ll love the food samples, cooking demonstrations, interactive displays and children’s activities at this sizzling summer festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th & 14th Sts.
Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest
June 25-26, 2011. Morven Park, Leesburg, VA. Enjoy a beer festival with food, live entertainment and children's activities.
DC Caribbean Carnival
June 25, 2011. Enjoy the colorful parade and festival with live performances from local and international artists, food, crafts and entertainment.
Montgomery County Heritage Days
June 25-26, 2011, 12-4 p.m. More than 30 historic sites in Montgomery County, Maryland showcase the county’s rich history with free music, dance, food, and children's activities.
Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods
Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 28-August 13, 2011. Family friendly performances in music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and theater. (recommended for children ages 5-12)
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 30-July 4 and July 7-11, 2011. Celebrate cultural traditions from around the world. The Festival includes daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. This is one of Washington, DC’s most popular summer events.
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
DC Jazz Festival
June 1-13, 2011. Enjoy more than 100 jazz performances at concert venues and clubs throughout Washington, DC.
Free Summer Concerts
Find concert schedules for free family entertainment throughout the month in various destinations around Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Free Outdoor Movies
Outdoor movies are getting very popular and there are a variety of venues to choose from throughout the summer. See the schedules here.
Washington Nationals Baseball
The Major League Baseball's National League East plays 81 home games each season at Nationals Park. Enjoy a fun-filled day cheering on DC's baseball team.
La Dolce DC
Through July 31, 2011. Washington, DC will celebrate all things Italian this spring a citywide festival that coincides with the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. The event showcases Italian culture through architecture, art, dance, design, fashion, music, theatre, film, food and wine.
Capital Pride
June 2-12, 2011. A street festival and parade celebrate pride in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities in Washington, DC.
Imagination Bethesda
June 4, 2011, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A children's steet festival featuring costume characters, face painters, dance troupes, theatre performances and a variety of hands-on arts activities.
Washington Folk Festival
June 4-5, 2011, 12-7 p.m. Glen Echo Park. Presented by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, the free festival features hundreds of musicians, storytellers, dancers, and craft vendors representing the rich cultural diversity of the Washington area. Audiences will enjoy American musical traditions such as bluegrass, blues, and swing as well as international traditions from across the globe. Rain or shine.
Vintage Virginia Wine Festival
June 4-5, 2011. Bull Run Park, Centreville, Virginia. Enjoy samples by more than 50 wineries including over 250 award-winning Virginia wines, educational seminars on food pairing, fine art exhibits, children’s activities, food and live entertainment.
Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk
June 4-5, 2011. Visit all of the museums near Dupont Circle featuring free admission and special activities for all ages.
Tour de Cure Bicycling Event for the American Diabetes Association
June 5, 2011. Help raise funds and awareness about diabetes by participating in this annual event. All experience levels welcome.
The Source Theater Festival
June 10–July 3, 2011. Source Theatre, 1835 14th Street, NW Washington, DC. See new works in theater, dance, music, visual art, film, puppetry, spoken word, poetry and hip-hop. Performances include eighteen 10-Minute Plays, four one act plays, eight “Mash-Ups,” Project 24/7, three staged readings and a one-of-a-kind opening night event.
Celebrate Fairfax! Festival
June 10-12, 2011. Northern Virginia’s largest annual community-wide celebration features live music, children’s activities, a community market place, a laser show and fireworks.
USAF Cycling Classic
June 11-12, 2011. Cycling event in Crystal City, VA to help members of the United States military who have sustained Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival
June 11-12, 2011. The new two-day celebration of the arts in Annapolis, Maryland features the juried works of more than 150 fine artists and craftsmen, wine tastings, food, live entertainment and activities for the entire family.
U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club
June 13-19, 2011. The U.S. Open, which was first conducted in 1895, is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association.
Worlds Childrens Festival
June 17-19, 2011. National Mall, Washington DC. Held every four years, the world’s largest celebration of children’s creativity and imagination brings together hundreds of young artists and performers from around the world. Workshops and activities are designed to nurture children’s creativity and develop their empathy in a global community setting.
Taste of Reston
June 17-19, 2011. Reston Town Center. Enjoy a variety of food from the region’s finest eateries, live music, activities and games. Admission and parking are free. Tastings start at $1.
Washington Soap Box Derby
June 18, 2011. Watch racers ages 8-17 compete in an All American Soap Box Derby on Capitol Hill.
Father's Day
June 19, 2011. Looking for a special way to spend Father’s Day this year? Here are some ideas of ways to spend some family time with Dad on Father’s Day in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival
June 19, 2011. Enjoy an afternoon of wine and live jazz in Old Town Manassas, Virginia.
Silverdocs Film Festival
June 20-26, 2011. Film festival showing 100 free films, and special programs at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.
National Capital Barbecue Battle
June 25-26, 2011. If you love barbecue you’ll love the food samples, cooking demonstrations, interactive displays and children’s activities at this sizzling summer festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th & 14th Sts.
Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest
June 25-26, 2011. Morven Park, Leesburg, VA. Enjoy a beer festival with food, live entertainment and children's activities.
DC Caribbean Carnival
June 25, 2011. Enjoy the colorful parade and festival with live performances from local and international artists, food, crafts and entertainment.
Montgomery County Heritage Days
June 25-26, 2011, 12-4 p.m. More than 30 historic sites in Montgomery County, Maryland showcase the county’s rich history with free music, dance, food, and children's activities.
Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods
Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 28-August 13, 2011. Family friendly performances in music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and theater. (recommended for children ages 5-12)
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 30-July 4 and July 7-11, 2011. Celebrate cultural traditions from around the world. The Festival includes daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. This is one of Washington, DC’s most popular summer events.
More Washington, DC Area Event Calendars
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