Discover a variety of family-friendly activities, special exhibitions, live performances and more in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. From athletic events to music, educational opportunities and new openings, each of the District’s eight wards will feature exciting ways to participate all summer long.
Step Into America’s Story
51 Steps to Freedom (through 2026)
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a year long, immersive experience around the District’s historic landmarks. Explore the city’s history through a powerful collection of stories in 51 Steps of Freedom. This unique outdoor museum features “augmented reality” experiences that allow participants to explore the District’s famous landmarks and their history in real time. Spanning across eight miles, the trail currently features 30 immersive stops around the city each with their own unique stories.
To access the trail, participants download the “Hoverlay” browser to their personal device and watch as history comes to life. Stops along this self-guided tour include the Alexander Graham Bell House in Georgetown, Fredrick Douglass’s home on Cedar Hill in Anacostia, the Howard Theatre in Shaw, DAR Hall in Dupont and more. The pilot launches on April 16, and a variety of destinations will be available to explore. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged. Passes can be downloaded here.
America’s State Flowers (April 10 through Oct. 12)
Visit the US Botanic Garden (100 Maryland Ave SW) to visit the official flower of each state and territory. A variety of themed workshops and interactive activity programming will also be available throughout the summer months. Visitors can also visit the historic, 150 year old 30 foot “Fountain of Light and Water” in the Bartholdi Gardens. The Gardens are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free and no advanced registration is required.
The FIFA World Cup Fan Zone (June 11 through July 19)
Watch World Cup matches live on the National Mall (between 3rd and 4th Streets NW) at the FIFA Fan Zone. The area opens one hour prior to the start of each match and closes one hour after the conclusion of the final match. Attendees are invited to enjoy the games while participating in family-friendly activities, exploring interactive exhibitions, enjoying food and drinks and more.
The Great American State Fair (June 15 through July 10)
More than 150 family-friendly exhibits and attractions from US states and territories, businesses, innovators will highlight the Great American State Fair. The fairgrounds are open to the public daily at the following times: Sunday through Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and July 4th: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
This event will take place on the National Mall between 4th and 14th Streets NW from from June 15 to July 10. Attendees can enter the fairgrounds at the following entry points:
- 12th Street at Jefferson Drive SW and Madison Drive NW
- 7th Street at Jefferson Drive SW and Madison Drive NW
Both Madison and Jefferson Drives along the Mall will be closed throughout the entire duration of the event.
The National BBQ Battle (June 27-28)
Enjoy world-class barbeque, culinary competitions, live music, dance and more at the Giant BBQ Battle. World-class “pitmasters” from across the nation will gather at 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW to compete for $50,000 in prizes. Tickets start at $15 and Kids 12 and under are free.
Driving America Forward (July 1-14)
Join Ford at Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave NE) for a showcase of vehicles, artifacts and stories from more than a century of the nation’s innovation and culture. This free experience invites visitors to explore vehicles, look through rare pieces from the Ford archives, learn how transportation innovations shaped America’s history and more. This event is free and open to the public. No advanced registration is required to attend.
George Washington’s Revolutionary Life at Mount Vernon (beginning July 1)
Immerse yourself in history at Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA) as you journey through Washington’s 18th century world to the present. Interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts, specialized tours, shopping, dining and more await. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $16 for youth. Children five and under are free. Mount Vernon is open Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Spirit of Independence Festival (July 4-6)
Join the National Archives Foundation for a three-day immersive celebration of the nation’s history, culture and community at the home of the Declaration of Independence. Guests can meet and greet historical reenactors, participate in interactive activities including face painting and a patriotic selfie station, enjoy live music and more during the festival. On Sunday, July 6, enjoy interactive booths, pet-themed caricatures, face painting, giveaways and more for people and pets alike at Yappy Hour, a dog friendly celebration.
The Mubadala DC Open (July 25-August 2)
Watch the pros play in Rock Creek Park at Fitzgerald Tennis Center (4850 Colorado Ave NW). Tickets start at $61 for single sessions and can be purchased here.
The Great American Farmers Market (Aug. 3-8)
More than 80 vendors from across the country will showcase their fresh produce, artisan goods and innovative agricultural products at the Great American Farmers Market. The event will take place on the national mall, and each day will highlight a special theme including health and wellness, community, wildfire prevention, forestry, farmers and more. In addition to shopping, attendees are invited to enjoy interactive activities, live music and more at the market.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix (Aug. 22-23)
Celebrate the District’s first INDYCAR race this summer. This free, two day racing festival will bring speed, competition and celebration to the streets. Set on a street circuit weaving around monuments and the National Mall, the 1.7 mile track features 7 turns with a plethora of viewing points for fans.
250 Years of Beers (through 2026)
Take a tour of the nation through beer at Dacha Beer Garden. Each month, both the Shaw and Navy Yard locations will showcase a featured beer from three to five different states. The drinks will be featured in chronological order of when they entered the union. Learn about US history while enjoying ales from around the nation. Ages 21+.
Sounds of the Celebration
Shakespeare and the American Story (April 17-Aug. 2)
The Folger Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol St. SE) will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by sharing Shakespeare’s part of the American story. On display in Rose Exhibition Hall, the focal point of the exhibition will present a “trio of American firsts.” The first American edition of Shakespeare’s plays, the first illustrated American edition of Shakespeare’s plays and the first American edition of Shakespeare’s plays edited by women. Tickets are free no tickets or advanced registration are required.
Jazz in the Garden (through Aug. 14)
Contemporary jazz, folk and salsa sounds highlight this year’s Jazz in the Garden concert series. Each spring and summer, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) invites guests to enjoy live music, refreshments and community in its outdoor Sculpture Garden (Constitution Ave and 7th St. NW).
This season’s theme, “American Sounds”, honors the nation’s 250th anniversary and features artists and groups from across the country. The concerts will take place outdoors from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This year’s lineup includes:
- June 26: Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars
- July 10: Garry Burnside
- July 17: Joe Pug
- July 24: Red Baraat
- July 31: Eric Byrd Trio
- Aug. 7: The Honey Dewdrops
- Aug. 14: Brass Queens
Due to significant demand, NGA is again utilizing a lottery system for all concerts this summer. The lottery for each event will open the week before on Monday at 10 a.m. and close Friday at 12 p.m. Results of the lottery will be announced via email to entrants the Monday prior to each concert at 10 a.m. In addition to the lottery system, a limited number of same day passes will be available at the entrance gates to the Garden starting at 5 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. All tickets are free, but registration is required to attend. All guests over the age of 2 must have a pass to attend. Attendees can reserve up to four passes per reservation.
A Capitol Fourth (July 3)
This popular annual concert celebrates Independence day with an “all-star salute” to America. The National Symphony Orchestra, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Joint Armed Forces Chorus and more will perform at this year’s event. The concert will take place on the West Lawn of the US Captiol Building and is open to the public. Gates will open at 3 p.m. and all guests will be subject to security screening. The event will be live streamed at 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m. EST.
The dress rehearsal, on July 2, will also be open to the public. Visit uscp.gov for updates.
National Independence Day Parade (July 4)
Bands, military and special units, balloons, equestrian, celebrity participants and more highlight the 2026 National Independence Day Parade. The parade starts at 3rd Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW, runs south along 3rd St. to Independence Ave., heads west at Independence Avenue NE and ends at 12th Street NW.
Salute to America (July 4)
This Independence day celebration will feature speeches, flyovers, live performances, family-friendly activities and a fireworks display in and around the National Mall.
DC Jazzfest (Sept. 2-6)
Celebrate music as a reflection of the nation’s history and a forward-looking art form at “The Future of Jazz: America’s Next 250 Years.” This year’s DC Jazzfest theme invites guests to The Wharf (1001 7th St. SW) for a family-friendly Labor Day weekend filled with festivities. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased here.
Exciting Exhibitions
Smithsonian Solstice Weekend (June 18-21)
Explore the Smithsonian museums after-hours through a variety of programs, special performances and interactive opportunities. All museums located on the National Mall will remain open until 11 p.m. on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, including: the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Museum of Asian Art, the Smithsonian Gardens, the Arts and Industries Building and the Smithsonian Castle.
The National Museum of African Art will remain open until midnight on Saturday, June 20.
Locations off the mall will also feature Summer Solstice programming throughout the weekend. The American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center will feature a late night hike on Friday, June 19. This two to three mile hike will take place at SERC’s Woodlawn History Center (647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD) at 8 p.m. Register to attend here. The Anacostia Community Museum will remain open until 10 p.m on Saturday, June 20. The National Zoo will celebrate Science Solstice Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 21.
The Lincoln Memorial Undercroft (opens June 25)
Beneath the Lincoln Memorial, this new 15,000 square foot exhibition area reveals the concrete foundations that support the memorial, the history of how it was built and how the monument’s meaning has evolved. The undercroft invites visitors into a dramatic, previously unseen space which features: a soaring grid of concrete columns that support the memorial, interactive exhibits that explore the memorial’s construction, presentations explore the memorial’s role in the nation’s history and in civil rights and more. Tickets are free, but timed entry tickets are required and can be reserved up to 30 days in advance here.
National Portrait Gallery Block Party (July 6)
Visit the National Portrait Gallery (8th and F Streets NW) for a day long celebration of American art and creativity. Art talks, special exhibitions, live music, artist-led community art projects (including a community collage quilt with local artist Trap Bob), interactive activities and more highlight the gallery’s block party. The event will take place on Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The National Gallery will also feature the American flag through art in the exhibit “American Icon” on display from July 6 through December 6. Admission to the museum is free, and advanced registration is not required.
Visit dc250.us to learn more about other upcoming events, exhibits and experiences this summer.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
