There’s no shortage of exciting events to help you stay cool in DC this summer, including the Capital Fringe Festival, Home Rule Music Festival, Broccoli City Festival and the Mubadala Citi Open.
Whether you’re in town for a concert, game or festival, DC boasts an abundance of special discounts and packages all summer long, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options.
All year long, you can take your pick of unforgettable experiences in the nation's capital. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do for the week and weekend as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Watching the fireworks is one of the highlights of Independence Day in Washington, DC and fortunately, the city and the surrounding area offer a plethora of scenic viewing options. July 4th is a great time to be in DC for plenty of other reasons as well. Plan a trip now.
Daytime Baseball at Nationals Park – July 4
The Washington Nationals annually play at home on Independence Day, holding an 11:05 a.m. game to accommodate the activities throughout the city the rest of the day. This year, the Nats will take on the rival New York Mets.
11:05 a.m. | Tickets
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence – June 6 – July 14
Inspired by the incredible Migration Series by Jacob Lawrence (you can see all 60 panels at The Phillips Collection in DC), Step Afrika! uses its innovative style of percussive dance to tell the riveting and heroic story of millions of Black migrants who relocated from the rural South to the industrial North in the early 20th century. The award-winning dance company utilizes the imagery, colors and motifs of the paintings to create a performance filled with stunning movements and drama.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Capital Fringe Festival – July 11–21
During the edgy Capital Fringe Festival, you can catch out-there productions from local creatives, including improv dramas, punk rock shows and colorful dance shows. Check out the festival’s website for this year's themes, programming and a full schedule.
More info
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert – July 13
Let the National Symphony Orchestra transport you to far-away planets with Star Wars: A New Hope live in concert! Attendees can sit out on the lawn or in-house to enjoy John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live alongside HD projections of the film. Do or do not – there is no try.
Tickets
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182
Kid Cudi – July 13
Don’t miss the Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum artist, producer, actor and director Kid Cudi at Capital One Arena as part of his INSANO: ENGAGE THE RAGE WORLD TOUR. Cudi has more than a decade of hits under his belt.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Up Close with Paul Cézanne – Final Weekend
The Phillips Collection unveils two recently conserved works by French painter Paul Cézanne in this exciting exhibit. The major paintings, Mont Sainte-Victoire (1886-87) and Self-Portrait (1878-80), are part of the museum’s world-renowned collection by the legendary artist and are displayed together for the first time in decades along with five other pieces by Cézanne. Learn about the conservation of the two works and how it reveals details previously obscured by varnishes while providing insight into the artist’s process.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Home Rule Music Festival – July 20
The second annual Home Rule Music Festival (which also has events on June 21-22) celebrates the rich music and cultural scene of DC. The fun continues this weekend in partnership with NoMa BID when the festival puts on a show at Alethia Tanner Park.
Tickets
Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, Washington, DC 20002
Olivia Rodrigo – July 20
One of pop music’s megastars makes a stop at Capital One Arena. Expect to hear hits from Rodrigo’s albums Guts and Sour including the high-energy “Bad Idea Right?” and ballads like “Driver’s License”.
7:30 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Nas with the National Symphony Orchestra – July 21
Hip-hop legend Nas will join forces with the National Symphony Orchestra for a live symphonic rendition of Illmatic, his critically-acclaimed debut album. Standout tracks include “N.Y. State of Mind”, “The World Is Yours”, “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in Da Park)” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”, all of which will be reimagined thirty years later.
8 p.m. | Tickets
Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182
blink-182 – July 27
Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker have reunited after more than a decade and hit the road again. Their world tour stops at Capital One Arena with special guest Pierce the Veil in tow. blink-182 will play their classics along with the two no. 1 singles off their latest album, One More Time…
7 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Beck and the National Symphony Orchestra – July 27
Eight-time Grammy winner Beck takes the stage with the National Symphony Orchestra for the first time in an experimental, cross-generic exploration of his body of work. For one night only, the singer-songwriter will let the audience in on new interpretations of classic hits as well as deep cuts.
8 p.m. | Tickets
Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182
Broccoli City Festival – July 27-28
Now at Audi Field in Navy Yard, Broccoli City is a music festival focused on celebrating not just music but culture and community, with not just concerts but interactive art installations and culinary vendors. Headliners this year include Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, Concrete Family, Kaytranada, Lil Yachty and PartyNextDoor, but the experience doesn’t stop there. The event will be hosted by comedians Desi Banks and Funny Marco, and there will even be an intro by Issa Rae.
Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Mubadala Citi DC Open – July 27 – Aug. 4
The District’s signature professional tennis tournament returns to Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Top-tier talent from all over the world will compete for a prestigious trophy, leading to action that you do not want to miss.
Tickets
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, 5220 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Places to Stay
Lyle Hotel
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 are 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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