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.
DC Fashion Week
February 28 - March 2, 2008. The weeklong event highlights fashion design, clothing merchandising and modeling.
Washington, DC International Wine Festival
February 29-March 2, 2008. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Sample wine from more than 280 international wineries.
Washington, DC Independent Film Festival
March 6-16, 2008. See the latest feature, short, animation and documentary films by local, national, and international filmmakers
Dance Bethesda
March 7-8, 2008. Dance the night away at downtown Bethesda studios! Join Bethesda's dance studios for FREE lessons, parties and performances.
Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month. Washington, DC is the home to the many important sites that are dedicated to preserving and honoring the contributions of women. This month is a great time to visit these museums and historical sites.
National Capital Boat Show
March 7-9, 2008. Dulles Expo Center, Willard Road off Route 28 in Chantilly, Virginia. (703) 378-0910. Explore fishing boats, ski boats, runabouts, motor yachts and personal watercraft, and see displays of marine products and services.
DC Environmental Film Festival
March 11-22, 2008. Times and locations vary. See documentary, feature, animated, archival, experimental and children's films from around the world at a variety of venues around Washington, DC.
The Washington Home and Garden Show
March 13-16, 2008. Washington. Convention Center. Visit hundreds of displays and see thousands of products and millions of flowers for the home and garden.
Saint Patrick's Day Parades
Dates vary by location. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at a parade in Washington, DC, Alexandria, Virginia or Gaithersburg, Maryland. Enjoy a day of Irish music, dancing and fun. See also Irish Restaurants and Pubs.
National Shamrock Festival
March 15, 2008. Enjoy a day of family fun at this six-block community street festival celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in Arlington, Virginia.
Refuge System Birthday Bash
March 15, 2008. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Live animals, children's crafts and tram tours, at the Patuxent Research Refuge of the National Wildlife Visitor Center, on Powder Mill Road between Route 197 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Laurel, Maryland. (301) 497-5763.
White House Easter Egg Roll
March 24, 2008, 8:00 a. m. - 2:00 p. m. Bring the kids to hunt for Easter Eggs and visit with the Easter Bunny on the White House lawn. See also Easter Egg Hunts in Maryland and Virginia.
African American Family Celebration at the National Zoo
March 24, 2008, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At this year's multicultural tradition, the Zoo will offer an Easter egg roll/hunt, crafts, live entertainment, a food bazaar, and more family-friendly fun. Talk with Smithsonian scientists, who will share their work with such African animals as the kori bustard, cheetah, gorilla, and gaboon viper.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
The Circus comes to town and parades through Capitol Hill on March 24, 2008. Performances are March 26-30, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC and at the Patriot Center, in Fairfax, Virginia April 2-13, 2008. Acrobats, animal-trainers and clowns perform in three rings.
National Marathon
March 29, 2008, 7 a.m. RFK Stadium. The National Marathon is a Washington, DC race produced by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance to raise funds for local youth organizations.
Great Rum Punch Challenge at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
March 29, 2008, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy six different rum punch creations from local distilleries, restaurants and caterers and vote for your favorite. Tickets are $50 per person (includes admission - food and drink all evening) or $100 (includes admission and patron bag). Proceeds from the event will fund the Museum’s educational, preservation, and research programs. Reservations are required.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 29 - April 13, 2008. See the blossoming of thousands of cherry trees on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. The capital welcomes spring with this annual tradition begun by the gift of 600 trees to the United States from Japan in 1912. Don't miss the parade, kite festival, concerts, fireworks and cultural events.
Adventures in Travel Expo
March 29-30, 2008. Washington Convention Center. Learn about a wide variety of adventure travel packages and tours, attend educational seminars, meet leading travel writers and participate in free hands-on activities.
Smithsonian Kite Festival
March 29, 2008. As part of the festivities at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, kite enthusiasts compete and show off their kite flying skills on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Washington Nationals Opening Day
March 30, 2008. Grand Opening of the New Nationals Park. The Nationals play against Atlanta in the the first game of the season.
More Washington, DC Area Event Calendars
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