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Kennedy Center in Washington, DC

Washington, DC's Premier Performing Arts Venue

By , About.com Guide

© Carol Pratt
The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, officially named the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is the city's premier performance venue, providing approximately 3,000 performances per year. The Kennedy Center is the home to the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera, Washington Ballet and American Film Institute. Performances include theatre, musicals, dance, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, & folk music; youth and family programs and multi-media shows. Free daily performances are held on the Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer.

The Kennedy Center has three main theaters: A Concert Hall, an Opera House and the Eisenhower Theater. Other performance venues include the Terrace Theater, the Theater Lab, and the Millennium Stage. Two restaurants are on site: The Roof Terrace Restaurant and the KC Café. The premier performing arts venue is located right along the Potomac River and the terrace provides a great view of the Potomac, Theodore Roosevelt Island and Georgetown.

How to Get to the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center is located at 2700 F. St. NW, Washington, DC near the Foggy Bottom/George Washington Univ. Metro Station. From there it is a short walk via New Hampshire Ave. OR you may use the FREE Kennedy Center Show Shuttle. On-site parking in the garage is $17 per performance.

Tour the Kennedy Center

You may take a free guided tour of the Kennedy Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Tours depart from the parking plaza on Level A, and feature the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the Center's main theaters, and explore the paintings, sculptures, and other artworks throughout the center.

Kennedy Center Phone Numbers

Information and Instant-Charge (202) 467-4600
Out-of-Town (Tickets and Information) (800) 444-1324
Hearing Impaired (TTY)(202) 416-8524
Group Sales (202) 416-8400
Group Sales (Toll-Free) (800) 444-1324
Washington National Opera (Tickets) (202) 295-2400 or 1-800-US OPERA
Washington Performing Arts Society (202) 833-9800
WPAS Ticket Office (202) 785-WPAS
The Washington Ballet (202) 362-3606

Websites

Kennedy Center - www.kennedy-center.org
National Symphony - www.nationalsymphony.org
DC Opera - www.dc-opera.org
Washington Performing Arts Society - www.wpas.org
Washington Ballet - www.washingtonballet.org

Dining Near the Kennedy Center

There are a variety of dining options in the area. See a guide to the Best Restaurants Near the Kennedy Center

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