Happy March, DC!
The peak of the cherry blossom season is approaching, bringing with it a variety of spring events, water-based activities, and concerts throughout the month. You can honor Women’s History Month by joining a 5K run, participating in an open-air festival, or enjoying non-stop hits from global star Lady Gaga at Capital One Arena.
10 Must-See Experiences in Washington, D.C.
by Pat Padua
Music
Ratboys
March 6
location_on 9:30 Club
language Website
The Chicago independent rock group makes a comeback with a new album,Singing to an Empty Chair, which is filled with ringing guitars and uplifting vocals ideal for dispelling the late-winter cold.
Music
Joshua Bell
March 6
location_on Strathmore
language Website
Almost 20 years have passed since the talented violinist secretly performed at L’Enfant Plaza during peak traffic hours. Now, Bell serves as the director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a group set to present compositions by Ives, Brahms, and Robert Schumann.
Music
Treemonisha
February 10–March 1
location_on Lisner Auditorium
language Website
The Washington National Opera’s initial production following its move from the Kennedy Center is Scott Joplin’s 1911 piece centered on a young former slave woman whose journey to leadership is driven by learning and personal resolve.
Museums
“Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean”
March 7–September 7
location_on Asian Art National Museum
language Website
Pieces of an 11th-century bronze Vishnu, discovered in 1936, have been brought together for the first time to create a large, 20-foot-long artwork. The sculpture is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia and is paired with an informative accompanying film.
Theater
Jonah
February 11–15
location_on Studio Theatre
language Website
Playwright Rachel Bonds’s new play starts as a heartfelt coming-of-age love story at a boarding school, later transforming into a narrative that jumps through time, exploring themes of love, remembrance, and dealing with adulthood in the 21st century.
Music
FKA Twigs
March 18
location_on The Anthem
language Website
The daring British musician presents her visually captivating Body High tour in Washington, D.C., combining postmodern dance and experimental pop music to promote her newest album,Eusexia Afterglow.
Books
Erik Larson
March 19
location_on Sixth & I
language Website
The renowned historian talks about his new publication,The Demon of Unrest, which details the turbulent months from Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration to the start of the Civil War, providing a clear view of a country in turmoil.
Museums
Miró and the United States
March 21–July 5
location_on Phillips Collection
language Website
This display explores Joan Miró’s strong ties to American artists including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, and Jackson Pollock, highlighting a mutual influence that impacted modern art across the Atlantic.
Museums
Shirley Gorelick: Working It Out
February 27
location_on National Museum of Women in the Arts
language Website
A painter who was born in Brooklyn, spent several years in DC before passing away in 2000, played a key role in establishing women’s art groups and developed a bold realistic approach that went against the prevailing styles. This exhibition features three major figurative pieces that are being displayed together for the first time.
Books
David Pogue
March 30
location_on Politics & Prose (Connecticut Avenue)
language Website
With his latest book, Apple: The First 50 Years, the well-known technology author delves into the company that transformed everyday living, following Apple’s journey from bulky desktop machines to the compact gadgets that shape today’s society.
Additional Activities in March
by Briana Thomas
Arts and culture:
・Discover over 150 living orchids at NMAAHC’s “More Than a Flower” exhibitUntil April 26, admission is free at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture..
・Uncover the origins of camouflage in espionage and secret operations at theSpy Museum’s new exhibit(March 1, $15 and up, Southwest DC).
・Engage with techno music and its culture through music historian Adrian Loving atPhillips after 5(March 5, $20, Dupont Circle).
・Aluminate the Nightat the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ gleaming after-hours event showcasing live mural art, spontaneous activities, music, and beverages(March 5, $150+, Downtown).
・National Gallery Nightsshowcases a stylish garden gathering where you can wear your finest spring clothing, create flower-based art, and discover additional blossom-themed activities(March 12, admission is free but requires registration, ticket lottery opens on March 2, National Gallery of Art).
・Pop culture and anime enthusiasts can indulge in cosplay and video games atAwesome Con(March 13-15, $70 and above, Mount Vernon Square).
Community and heritage:
・Honor International Women’s Day at Hotel Zena’sHer Platemulti-course meal and connect with local female chefs(March 6, $128, Downtown).
・Enjoy music, Irish dancers, pipe bands, and additional entertainment atBallyshaners St. Patrick’s Day parade(March 7, free, Alexandria).
・Athletes and strollers can celebrate Women’s History Month during theHerStory 5K at Freedom Plaza(March 7, free, Downtown).
・Honor the beginning of spring at theNowruz Family Festival(March 14, free, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Asian Art).
・Zoom by the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and other landmarks to assist in raising funds forSt. Jude’s(March 21, $109+, National Mall).
Theater:
・Indie-rock musicalSafety Not Guaranteedopens at Signature Theatre(March 3 to April 12, $47+, Arlington).
・See romantic comedyAs You Like Itat Folger Theatre(March 10 to April 12, $20+, Capitol Hill).
・Ford’s Theatre’s1776a musical offers an insightful and humorous perspective on the founding fathers’ journey in creating America(March 13 to May 16, $58+, Penn Quarter).
・The Shakespeare Theatre Company is hosting the US premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation ofHamnet(March 17 to April 12, $43 and up, Downtown).
・People of all ages can experience the enchantment ofDisney’sBeauty and the Beastlive on stage(March 18 to April 5, $54 and up, National Theatre).
・The narrative and melodies of the queen of rock n’ rollTina Turnercomes alive in this musical at Capital One Hall(March 20-22, $77+, Tysons).
・Synchronized vocal performances guide viewers through an underground queer history inTravestyat Woolly Mammoth Theatre(March 24 to April 12, pay what you can, Penn Quarter).
Shows and performances:
・TheHarlem Globetrotterscombine basketball, gravity-defying tricks, and live entertainment at Capital One Arena(March 7, $47+, Capital One Arena).
・Capital Comedy Festival returns to DAR Constitution Hall featuring top comedians Lavell Crawford, Sommore, Joe Clair, and Don DC Curry(March 14, $83+, Downtown).
Music:
・Hear the tunes from the wind quintet of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center atWolf Trap(March 1, $55+, Vienna).
・Iconic rock band Journeycomes to Washington, D.C. for their final tour(March 4 $62+, Capital One Arena).
・Hear Indian music and watch cultural dance performances as part of the celebration ofHoli(March 7, complimentary, Dupont Circle).
・R&B singer Mariois performing live at Ivy City’s tropical-themed bar and entertainment spot Throw Social DC(March 14, $40+ , Ivy City).
・Black Catrevolves around Prince’s top tracks to assist in supporting immigrant families(March 20, $24, Shaw).
・Megastar Lady Gagabrings her celebrity influence to DC(March 23-24, $343+, Capital One Arena).
・DC’s dance-punk group Light Beamskicks off the celebration at Rhizome(March 28, $10+, Takoma).
Cherry blossoms:
・Spend the night dancing at thePink Tie Party(March 13, $275, Union Station).
・Race paddle boatsin tribute to Stumpy—DC’s cherished small cherry blossom tree(March 19, free to watch, $100 per team, Tidal Basin).
・Travel the Potomac River by boat in awater taxi to observe young cherry blossom trees(opens on March 20, $25 and up, Alexandria, Wharf).
・DC’s Cherry Blossom Festivalstarts this month with an opening ceremony featuring Japanese cultural performances, including sword dances by Futago Onikenbai and music by pop singer Ayaka Hirahara(March 21, admission requires a $5 fee, Downtown).
・Shift your feet to experience local music on various stages, and enjoy a fireworks display atBloomaroo(March 28, free, Wharf).
・Kite lovers can fly their kites into the sky with their neighbors at theWashington Monument Grounds(March 28, free, National Mall).
・National Harbor’s annual Sakura Sundayintroduces a Japanese pop-up market, art, music, dance, gourmet delights, and other attractions to the Maryland shoreline(March 29, free, National Harbor).
Activities for children:
· Children can watch an interactive show hosted by the Great Zucchini and create crafts atAtlas Performing Arts Center(March 7, free, H Street area).
・Families and students can participate in coloring sessions, interact with artists, and engage in various crafts atthe Big Drawat the National Building Museum(March 14, free, Penn Quarter).
・Toddlers can join in soothing, multi-sensory storytelling at Imagination Stage’s latest show ・Imagination Stage offers a new production where young kids can engage in gentle, sensory-rich storytelling ・A fresh performance at Imagination Stage allows young children to experience calming, multi-sensory storytelling ・Imagination Stage presents an innovative production where little ones can enjoy gentle, multi-sensory storytime ・Young children can take part in a relaxing, multi-sensory storytelling experience at Imagination Stage’s new showGood Morning, Good Night(March 21 to April 19, $25, Bethesda).
Part of this article is included in theMarch 2026issue of MathHotels.com.
The post March Cultural Guide: 47 Activities to Explore in the Washington, D.C. Region first appeared on MathHotels.com.
