Best Spring Events in Washington DC

Springtime in DC is just absolutely beautiful! This is the time of the year when the Cherry blossoms are in bloom, and the city comes to life from its winter slumber.

If you’re planning a trip to Washington DC, I highly recommend you visit in the spring. The city is so much prettier, and you can’t beat the milder weather!

On the blog, I will highlight some of the best spring events in Washington DC, which also includes what’s blooming in the DC area, and where to find them!

Most of the spring events I share are in the city, and some are fun spring day trips from DC!

READ NEXT: Guide to visiting Washington DC here

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Best Spring events in the DC area

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The Cherry Blossom Festival

One of the best reasons to visit Washington DC in the spring is the cherry blossoms.

Every year during the spring in DC, the city celebrates with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

The festival commemorates the gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the city of Washington, DC, and has been celebrated yearly since 1934.

For 2022, the Cherry Blossom Festival will be held from March 20-April 14, 2024, and will feature lots of exciting events to look forward to. Here is a list of some of our favorites:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: April 13, 2024
• Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2024 from 10:00AM-4:00PM
• Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival: April 13-14, 2024 (10:30AM-6PM)
• PetalPalooza: April 6, 2024 (1PM-9PM)
• Japanese Culture Day: April 1, 2024
• Pixelbloom: at ARTECHOUSE March 1 through June
• Petal Porches: March 20-April 14, 2024

READ MORE: Ultimate Guide to the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC

Blossom Kite festival 

One of our favorite spring events in DC is the Blossom Kite Festival. Take part in this fun festival and watch as thousands of kites take flight.

The Kite festival is back in 2023 on March 30 from 10am-4:00pm on the grounds of the Washington Monument and is a sight to see!

Bring your kite or purchase one onsite. The kids can even make one at the activity station during the festival, and it’s so much fun for the whole family!

Spring events at the DC Wharf

During the spring, the DC Wharf hosts some fun events during the Cherry Blossom Festival which includes Bloomaroo at the Wharf.

• Bloomaroo at the Wharf will feature cherry blossom-themed art installations, cherry blossom cocktails, and outdoor movies at the Transit Pier.

• You can also look forward to Bloomaroo on March 23, 2024 from 2pm-9pm, which is a special festival featuring some live music, art, games, water activities, a beer garden, and an evening fireworks show.

• The Wharf will also feature a pop-up roller rink at Transit Pier, and Peeps s’mores at Camp Wharf.

• See the cherry blossoms on the water and rent kayaks at the boathouse, or take a scenic cruise on a Water Taxi and visit other waterfront destinations close by.

READ NEXT: Top things to do at the DC Wharf

Easter Events

Springtime means it’s time to look forward to all the Easter egg hunt events and one of the best easter events to look forward to in Washington DC is the White House Easter Egg Roll.

This popular Easter event runs on a lottery so this one is harder to attend. We’ve tried yearly for the last few years and sadly never got tickets yet!

Even if you don’t get tickets to this coveted Easter Egg Hunt event in DC, there are still a few to look forward to.

Here is a list of some in the DC area. You can also read more about where the best Easter events in the DC area are located here.

• Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place
• Easter Egg Hunt at Great Country Farms
• Bunnyland at Butlers Orchard
• Dino Discovery Eggstravaganza at Sully Historic Site
• Egg Hunts Galore at Clarks Elioak Farm

READ MORE: Best Easter Events in the DC area

Passport DC

Another spring event to look forward to in DC is Passport DC, which is a month-long celebration in May highlighting Washington DC’s international diplomatic community.

Go around the world at DC’s 70 embassies and enjoy the embassy open houses, street festivals, performances, exhibitions, workshops, and more.

• The Around the World Embassy Tour allows you to travel the world and explore more than 50 embassies and their cultures, food, art, dance, fashion, innovations, and more on Saturday, May 4, 2023 from 10am-4:30pm

• European Union Embassies’ Open House on Saturday, May 13 from 10am-4pm. The European Union and its Embassies open their doors for a day to experience different cultures and their way of life.

National Cathedral Flower Mart

The National Cathedral Flower Mart is the largest annual fundraiser for the Cathedral’s gardens & grounds. You can expect over 65 booths where you can purchase plants, books, and more.

There will also be an International Floral Display to admire in the Nave of the Cathedral, activities for kids including a ride on an antique carousel, games, carnival rides, and of course some yummy food for sale.

• When: May 3-4, 2024 (Friday from10-6pm & Saturday from 10-5pm)
• FREE EVENT (Fee for some activities)
• Location: 3102 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington DC 20016

Spring events at the National Harbor

Make sure to visit the National Harbor in springtime. The National Harbor is a short drive or water taxi from Washington DC and has its very own cherry blossom festivities that you can take part in during the spring.

The city has planted 200 Okame Cherry Blossoms trees along the Potomac which blooms between early March and early April. This is the perfect place for cherry blossom photo-ops without the crowds.

• Don’t miss all the cherry blossom events, which include Sakura Sunday for free cultural experiences, including Japanese-inspired art, music and dance, and more on March 23, 2024 from 10am–6pm.

• The Capital wheel also lights up pink during the spring and offers a special cherry blossom package deal.

• Muse Paintbar will also offer spring-themed classes throughout March and April. Muse Paintbar combines painting instruction with a restaurant and bar, and is open to all ages.

• Celebrate spring at the Gaylord National Resort
• Springtime Light show: March 3-May 13, 2023-FREE- Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
• Spring-A-Long Scavenger Hunt: March 3-May 13, 2023 Daily $12.99
• Adventure Kids: Sprout into Spring Interactive Show: March 3-May 13, 2023 Fridays-Sundays-FREE event-Saturday’s hourly starting at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30
• Wildlife Rescue – An Augmented Reality Experience (FREE): March 3-May 13, 2023 Daily
• Easter Bunny Meet & Greet (FREE): March 3-April 9 2023- Every 30 minutes between 10 AM – 2:30 PM

READ MORE: Top things to do at the National Harbor with kids

Spring blooms in DC

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When do the spring flowers bloom in DC

There are a lot of factors in determining when flowers will bloom in the DC area and is all dependent on the weather.

Here is an idea of when the spring flowers usually bloom in DC:

• Daffodils: sometime in February and March
• Magnolias: sometime in March
• Cherry Blossoms: sometime between mid-March to mid-April
• Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms: sometime in mid to late April
• Tulips: sometime in early April
• Bluebells: sometime in mid-April 
• Wisterias: mid-late April, up until early May
• Azaleas: sometime in mid to late April

Magnolia blossoms in DC

Another popular spring bloom to look forward to in DC is the magnolia blossoms.

The magnolia blossoms in DC usually bloom a week or two earlier than the cherry blossoms, sometime in March, and are weather-dependent as well!

One of the best places to admire these saucer magnolias is the Enid A. Haupt garden. This four-acre garden is located in the heart of the city adjacent to the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall.

It was designed to represent a modern Victorian Garden as it appeared in the mid to late 19th century.

This garden is beautiful year-round, but stands out during the spring when the saucer magnolias are in bloom and they’re quite spectacular!

Make sure to come during the weekdays to avoid the weekend crowds! Other popular spots to take in the magnolia blossoms in DC:

• George Mason Memorial
• Rawlins Park
• A few clusters by the National Gallery of Art
• United States National Arboretum
• The Washington National Cathedral

Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms in DC

If you miss out on the Yoshino Cherry blossoms in DC, you can look forward to the Kwanzan Cherry blossom variety which usually blooms a few weeks later, (sometime in mid to late April), but varies depending on the weather as well.

This variety of cherry blossoms has bigger fluffier blooms, and I think they’re just so beautiful.

One of the best places to find these Kwanzan Cherry blossom varieties is along East Potomac Park, with clusters right across from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, and a few trees sprinkled here and there in the park.

You can also find a few trees scattered around the Tidal Basin and at the US Arboretum. There are also clusters in Old town Alexandria lining the streets.

Daffodils in DC

Another beautiful spring bloom to look forward to in DC is the daffodils. Daffodils in the DC area usually bloom early sometime in February and March, and you can find them pretty much all over the city.

One of the more popular spots to enjoy the daffodils is at the Lady Bird Johnson Park and Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove. There are clusters of daffodils here to admire, which you can reach on foot or bike along the Mount Vernon Trail.

The US Arboretum is also another spot to enjoy the daffodils which you can find throughout the park, and along the Azalea trail as well. 

Tulips in Washington DC

Springtime in DC is just so amazing, especially when the tulips start popping up all over the city.

There are a few places to find tulips around DC, but one place not to miss is the tulip fields at the Floral Library.

The Floral library has a wide range of colorful tulips, and they’re just so beautiful, especially when they’re all blooming!

The Floral Library is located right by the Tidal Basin, and I recommend visiting during the weekdays to avoid crowds. The tulips in DC usually bloom right after the cherry blossoms sometime in early April.

If you’re looking to pick tulips, Burnside Farms hosts their annual Festival of Spring event where you can have a taste of Holland, and pick your own tulips.

Other places to see tulips in DC:

• Along the Smithsonian Museums
• The US Capitol
• The Netherlands Carillon
• The Navy Merchant Marine Memorial
• US Botanic Gardens
• Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land
• Omni Shoreham Hotel

Wisterias in DC

Another beautiful spring bloom to look forward to in DC is the Wisterias.

These delicate flowers are one of the prettiest spring blossoms, and they usually bloom from mid-late April, up until early May.

Some popular spots to take in the Wisterias in DC:

• The Smithsonian Museum of American History
• Quality Hill in Georgetown (3425 Prospect St NW)
• Dumbarton Oaks
• Old Town Alexandria

Azaleas in DC

The Azaleas are another spring bloom to look forward to in the DC area. Azaleas usually bloom sometime in mid to late April but vary depending on the weather as well.

Here are a few places to admire Azaleas in the DC area.

• The Azalea trail at the National Arboretum is one of the best places to admire these beautiful spring blooms. There are so many varieties and colors and it’s a fun trail to do with the kids.

• There are also clusters of Azaleas around the National Mall as well. One of my fave spots is the gardens outside the National Gallery of Art out front. They have these big and vibrant pink Azalea flowers.

• Brookside Gardens features more than 300 collections of Azaleas
• Franciscan Monastery
• Hillwood Estates 

Bluebells near DC

Another bloom to look forward to in the DC area is the Virginia Bluebells.

These gorgeous bluish-purple flowers bloom sometime in mid-April and they are just so spectacular covering the forest floor!

Here is a list of the best places to see bluebells in Northern Virginia:

• The Bluebell Trail at Bull Run Regional Park is one of the best spots to see these Virginia Bluebells. The one-and-a-half-mile trail loops around the forest covered in bluebells and is easy to do with the little ones.

• Riverbend Park near Great Falls Park also has a bluebell trail, but this spot has limited parking so the park closes if at capacity.
• Merrimac Farms Bluebell Festival 
• Manassas Battlefield Park 

Flowering Dogwood Trees near DC

Another flowering tree to look forward to this spring near the DC area is the flowering Dogwood tree.

The flowers of the dogwood trees come in a variety of colors including pink and white and look just as amazing as the cherry blossoms.

The Dogwood trees are the official state tree and the state flower of Virginia and they typically flower from mid-April to early June. 

Did you know that the US gifted Japan Dogwood trees to commemorate the friendship between the two countries? Japan also gifted the US with the cherry blossom trees we now see at the Tidal Basin in DC!

Some places to admire the flowering Dogwood trees are the National Arboretum, the Carlyle House Gardens in Old Town Alexandria, Hillwood Estates Museums & Gardens, the LBJ Memorial Grove, and many other places around the National Mall.

Spring blooms at the U.S. National Arboretum

Another place to admire the spring blooms in DC is at the United States National Arboretum. This 446-acre park is the perfect place to take in all the pretty spring blooms in DC all in one park!

Some of the highlights at the US Arboretum are the world-famous collections of azaleas and bonsai trees. This is also one of the best places to admire the cherry blossoms trees and Magnolia blooms without the crowds.

Spend the day relaxing in the park and pack a picnic lunch, or take a short hike around the trails. There are many other spring blooms to take in at the Arboretum including the daffodils, and is a fun day out for the family.

READ NEXT: Best Spring Events in Northern Virginia

Spring blooms near DC

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Visit Brookside Gardens

Another amazing place to admire all the spring blooms near DC is at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton Maryland.

This is one of the most beautiful gardens we’ve seen, and the best part is it’s FREE! Plus parking is free too!

There are several distinct gardens throughout with tulips, azaleas, wisterias, cherry blossoms, and more! We loved the Japanese-style gardens which were just so serene.  

There’s even a short one-mile-long trail that wraps around the Gardens that’s an easy walk while you admire nature.

Brookside Gardens’ Visitor Center is open with limited hours of 10 am – 2 pm daily. The outdoor Gardens remain open from sunrise to sunset.

Restrooms are located in the visitor’s center, and there is a small gift shop too.

One thing to note is that picnics and recreational equipment such as bicycles, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, balls, and skates aren’t allowed. 

Cherry Blossoms at Old Town Alexandria

Another place to admire the fluffy Yoshino and Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms is along the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria.

Take a stroll around Old Town’s red brick sidewalks and admire the pretty spring bloom against the colorful row homes.

They make for the most amazing photos, plus you don’t have to compete with the crowds.

You can make your way to Old Town Alexandria on a Water Taxi that departs from the DC Wharf into the Alexandria Waterfront or make your way there by car or Metro.

READ NEXT: Top things to do in Old Town Alexandria

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