January Festivals and Special Events in the Washington, DC Area

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 web site or call to confirm information. Please note that most of these events are held each year and the dates are updated as available.

New Years Day in Washington, DC
Looking for something to do on New Year's Day in Washington, DC? Many businesses are closed, but there are still a lot of great ways to spend your day on January 1st.

Washington DC Area Christmas Light Displays
Some of the Christmas light displays in the area continue through the first week in January. Enjoy a drive or a stroll through one of the Washington, DC area's spectacle of lights at a local park or along the water in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia.

Christmas at Mount Vernon
through January 6, 2009. Learn about the Christmas traditions of George Washington and tour the Mount Vernon Estate. The newly expanded programs extend through the first week in January.

Lincoln Bicentennial
January - April. Washington, DC will host a citywide four-month celebration marking Lincoln’s 200th Birthday with more than 80 exhibitions, performances, lectures, and guided tours honoring Abraham Lincoln. Many of the exhibits open in January. Major events will include the reopening of the Ford's Theatre, a re-enactment of Marian Anderson's Easter Concert, Emancipation Day Parade and the Re-dedication of the Lincoln Memorial.

Washington Antiques Show
January 7-11, 2009. The Katzen Arts Center at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC. This year's theme is "Art & Antiques in Red".

International Motorcycle Show
January 9-11, 2009. Washington Convention Center. The family-friendly event includes a display of the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, ATVs, personal watercraft and motorcycle apparel.

NBC4's Health and Fitness Expo
January 10-11, 2009, 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. This annual event held at the Washington DC Convention Center offers fun activities to motivate you to take charge of your health. Try a new sport such as golf, skiing or snowboarding with the virtual simulators. Check your body mass index, take a heart risk test, learn about ergonomics and much more. Activities appropriate for all ages.

Washington Bridal Showcase
January 18, 25, and February 1, 2009. See everything you need to plan an extraordinary wedding. The bridal show includes exhibits of bridal fashions, invitations, photographers, ceremony sites, music, wedding cakes, decorations, honeymoon travel and much more. Many exhibitors will offer demonstrations, samples and money-saving show specials.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Events
The national holiday is January 19, 2009. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday is a day of honor and commemorative events at a variety of sites in Washington, DC. Events honoring the civil rights leader run throughout the month.

Presidential Inauguration 2009
January 20, 2009. A week of festivities will include the Presidential Swearing in Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade and a night of Inaugural Balls and galas honoring the new President of the United States.

March for Life
January 22, 2009. Thousand of pro-lifers will march in a peaceful protest in Washington, DC on the anniversary of the date of the Supreme Court’s infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Washington Nationals Winter Tour
January 22-26, 2009. The Nationals Baseball Team reaches out to the community at a variety of local events before heading to spring training. A new public event, NatsFest, will give fans the opportunity to interact with Nationals players through autograph, photograph and question-and-answer sessions on January 25.

Bethesda Chevy Chase Restaurant Week
January 26 - February 8, 2009. More than 30 Bethesda area restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch for $12-15 and dinner menus for $30. Take this great opportunity to try out some restaurants in Bethesda/Chevy Chase.

Summer 2009 Camp Fairs in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
Various dates in January and February. Do you know what your kids are doing this summer? Attend a camp fair and find out about a variety of day and sleepaway camps in the Washington, DC area.

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals
January 30-February 1, 2009. Dullles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Place Center, Chantilly, VA Enjoy the crafts of 500 artists, including jewelry, wood, leather, clothing, sculpture, glass and more. Watch live entertainment and feast on a variety of foods. Admission: $7.00/adult, children 12 and under are free.

More Washington, DC Area Event Calendars

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec