Visit the District in April to see the city in full bloom with vibrant theater productions, exciting outdoor sports and the only-in-DC National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Regardless of the season, you're bound to have an unforgettable experience in the nation's capital. Be sure to check out special discounts and packages, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options, and after you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do during the week, must-hit weekend events and accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival – March 20 – April 12
DC celebrates the blooming of cherry trees with a month-long festival that commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city. Check out popular festival events in the lead-up to the celebration, in addition to our guide to the celebration, how to get the most popular blossom spots and the best places to snap photos.
Washington Nationals Baseball
The Washington Nationals, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents.
Tickets
1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Experience a DC Defenders game at Audi Field
Defenders football has become a springtime tradition at Audi Field in the nation’s capital. Hard-hitting action returns so expect a rowdy atmosphere as the DC squad looks to defend home field against.
Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Visit the Tidal Basin and Cleveland Park with DC Design Tours
DC Design Tours offers a 90-minute tour around the Tidal Basin to gaze at magnificent cherry blossoms that includes stops at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and other notable stops. The company also offers an excursion through Cleveland Park, the DC neighborhood with the most cherry trees and a fascinating history. Please note: tour dates will depend on the cherry blossoms' peak bloom.
Enjoy Easter Weekend in DC – April 3-5
Stroll through blooming spring gardens, indulge in a decadent District brunch or find the perfect family-friendly hotel this Easter weekend in Washington, DC. Explore our guide to find inspiration and happenings around the city.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Petalpalooza®
Part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, this all-ages event features outdoor performances, interactive art displays, a cashless beverage garden, hands-on fun for families, strolling entertainers and more – all along the picturesque Yards Park in Capitol Riverfront. Be sure to stay for the official fireworks show.
Free Admission
Jazz & Blossoms
Each year, Jazz & Blossoms takes over Franklin Park to celebrate the beauty and nature of the city with a number of musical performances. The 2025 edition is headlined by legendary hip-hop group Arrested Development. The free outdoor event is one of many observing the National Cherry Blossom Festival and also includes swag giveaways, mural walls, food trucks, haiku-writing, face-painting and much more.
12-7:30 p.m. | RSVP | Free Admission
Franklin Park, 1315 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Cherry Blossom Parade
Witness DC's grandest petal procession with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade presented by Events DC. Catch everything from giant helium balloons to elaborate floats to live musical performances. Enjoy prime performance viewing in the grandstand (tickets are $25-$40), or stand along the parade route – which runs for 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue NW – for free.
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Sakura Matsuri: Japanese Street Festival
The Sakura Matsuri, produced by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, returns for two exciting days each year. The event presents over 80 cultural groups, art vendors, food booths and dozens of hours of programming. You can also enjoy a Ginza Marketplace, popular Japan Now! Pavilion, a cosplay contest, sake tasting and more. This goes down on Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd to 7th Streets NW.
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Smithsonian Craft Show – April 22-26
The country's premier showcase for the finest in hand-crafted, American artisanal works returns to the National Building Museum. Marvel at the lineup of exhibitors that represents all facets of contemporary craft and design: basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art and wood.
Tickets
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Georgetown French Market – April 24-26
Georgetown's Book Hill neighborhood turns into its own version of Paris for an entire weekend every April. The Georgetown French Market features more than 35 locally owned merchants, restaurants, galleries and salons participating in an open-air shopping frenzy from Friday through Sunday. Spectacles also include a caricature artist, live music and stilt-walkers.
More Information
Wisconsin Avenue NW, O Street to Reservoir Road, Washington, DC
Filmfest DC
The largest and longest-running annual international film festival in Washington, DC, Filmfest DC returns each April with a new lineup featuring quite the genre exercise: comedies, dramas, thrillers, shorts, documentaries and more.
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Reasons to Gather: Japanese Tea Practice Unwrapped – Through April 26, 2026
The Japanese tea practice of chanoyu revolves around the appreciation of utensils that assist in the preparation and consumption of matcha (powdered green tea). This new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art presents 11 historic tea utensils and accessories, including ceramics, hanging scrolls, boxes and wrapping cloths. All the objects tell a story of trade and exchange across Asia and reveal a vast network of tea practitioners.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Back and Forth: Rozeal., Titian, Cezanne – Through April 25, 2026
Four stunning art works across six centuries are in conversation in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Through a recent piece by Rozeal., Titian’s Venus with a Mirror and Ranuccio Farnese and Cezanne’s Boy in a Red Waistcoat, visitors can find unexpected connections and visual similarities that draw the 16th, 19th and 21st centuries together.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art – Through Summer 2026
The National Museum of African Art has assembled a powerful showcase of works that marks the first continental and diasporic survey of its scale outside of Africa. LGBTQ+ identities and experiences are the focus of the exhibit, with many of the pieces serving as challenges to legacies of homophobia and bigotry.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
A South Fourty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South – Through Winter 2026
The National Building Museum’s new exhibit is dedicated to distinctive modern architecture and contemporary design practices in the American South. The display aims to provide an overview of the current vibrancy of contemporary architecture through illustrated profiles of buildings and practices, statements of principles and observations by those who build in the region.
Hours & Admission
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
Places to Stay
The Jefferson
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you're looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today.
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