Things to See and Do in Washington, D.C.

Designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant in the late 1700s, today Washington, D.C., is the center of all three branches of the U.S. governmental system, serving as home to Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court. A closer look at Washington, D.C., reveals a deep link to wide ranging aspects of our nation’s rich political and social past. This cultural history comes alive through such landmarks as the Lincoln Memorial, notable not only for the man it immortalizes but also the historic events held at his feet; the Smithsonian Museums; and eclectic, diverse neighborhoods whose residents stand as much as a symbol of our nation as the monuments.

Spring and Summer Highlights

Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Expand your knowledge of international cultures at The Smithsonian Institute’s Folklife Festival, held on the National Mall for two weeks every summer around the Fourth of July holiday. Free to the public, the Festival generally includes daily and evening programs of music, song, dance, celebratory performance, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling, illustrations of workers' culture, and narrative sessions for discussing cultural issues. Scheduled this year for June 24–28 and July 1–5, 2010, it’s one of the City’s biggest festivals, typically attracting more than one million visitors every year!

Screen on the Green
Pack a picnic dinner, grab a blanket and head to the National Mall between 4th and 7th Street to take part in a favorite Washington, DC, summer tradition: Screen on the Green. On Monday nights in July and August, classic films are shown on a massive movie screen, beginning at dusk (typically around 8:30-9:00pm). People start to claim their spots on the lawn as early as 5pm, though, so be sure to plan your night early! Movies play except in extreme weather, and there are no rain days.

Dumbarton Oaks
Visit the site where the United Nations was first formulated and negotiated with a visit to Dumbarton Oaks, now a beloved spot in Georgetown that welcomes the public to its garden, museum, and music room for lectures and concerts. Scholars also regularly visit to consult its books, images, and objects. The gardens and museum are open daily, except Mondays, from 2pm to 6pm (gardens) and from 2pm to 5pm (museum). Guided tours are available, as well.

Eastern Market & Georgetown Flea Market
Whether you’re on the hunt for treasure or just love to browse, the Georgetown Flea Market is the city’s longest running outdoor flea that has attracted countless bargain hunters, tourists, politicians, Supreme Court justices, and even the occasional movie star. Open every Sunday from 8am to 4pm at Hardy Middle School, more than 50 vendors offer everything from antiques to vintage clothing. If you’re hungry, then don’t miss out on DC’s Eastern Market, a 136-year old fresh food public market that has undergone a major restoration after a devastating fire in 2007. On weekends, local artists also sell handmade arts, crafts and antiques at the outdoor market.

Capitol Steps Comedy at Ronald Reagan Building
When in the nation’s capital, it only makes sense to learn more about our elected leaders … and what better way than by comedic satire? The Capitol Steps comedy troupe, which performs every Friday and Saturday night at 7:30pm in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, are masters at poking fun at current and past politicians and the current events that would make us cry if we couldn’t laugh. The Capitol Steps have appeared on "Good Morning America," the "Today Show," "20/20," "Entertainment Tonight," "Nightline," CNN's "Inside Politics," and on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Come on out and find out why!

More Highlights: Arlington | Alexandria |  Montgomery County

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