10 Things to Do in Washington DC in Spring

Spring arrives in the US capital with lots of colour. The list of things to see and do in Washington becomes much longer and livelier in spring. One of the city's main spectacles is the blooming of the cherry blossoms in its gardens.

Washington at this time of the year is a must-see destination, so take note and make sure you don't miss out on anything on your spring tour of Washington!

During **Washington DC'**s spring beer week, you can enjoy a special event, HopFest.

This festival brings together local brewers who have organised themselves into a group to do their thing and raise awareness of their businesses. This group, called the DC Brewers Guild, promotes the show that has been going on for a few years now, offering enjoyment to locals and visitors to the capital of the United States.

Part of what you'll find at the festival is the process of brewing beer according to the formula of each of the participating companies. You'll be able to get in touch with all the participating brewers and talk to them about the brewing process, fermentation and everything that happens between brewing and consumption. The best thing about this festival is that every participant is local and there is not just one from another state in the country.

You can also be part of the special tastings, where you can try each of the beers presented at the festival.

It is a place to visit and enjoy to the fullest if you are a beer lover. It usually takes place during the month of March each year, so it's one of the first things you'll be able to enjoy in the city during the spring period.

Tickets usually range between 50 and 75 euros and you have to buy them in advance if you don't want to miss out. There seem to be a lot of drink lovers in the city, so you're likely to find a festival full of drink tasters and presenters.

Practical info

• Location: The Washington Brewing Co. 28 East Maiden St. Washington.
• Price: Between 50 and 75 euros per ticket.
• Hours: Noon to late night.

This is one of the most special marathons in Washington DC and it takes place in the spring. It's a marathon that brings the whole city together in a spectacular walk around all the city's iconic sites, especially the museums and its best monuments. Running this marathon can make you see the city in a different way.

If you don't want to run, you can also attend as a spectator. It is one of the spectacles not to be missed in Washington because of the energy you can feel as you watch the runners strive to win the race.

To participate in the race, visit the official website and learn about the process to attend the event.

Runners must go to the race distribution centre to collect their race bibs and other race identification badges. The place where this centre is located depends on the organisation of the event each year.

A kind of fair and exhibition is also organised where participants and spectators can meet to see and learn about everything related to the race and its sponsors.

This marathon and half marathon has been held in Washington DC since 2006 and since then it has welcomed thousands of participants and spectators eager to compete in a healthy way while exercising during the early spring.

Practical information

• Location: The expositions take place at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall E. The half marathon finishes at Constitution Ave & 14th Street NW. The 5K finishes at RFK Stadium, 22nd Street SE.
• Price: Registration for the marathon can start at 39 euros, while the half marathon can start at 79 euros.
• Schedule: The race starts in the early hours of the morning.

While visiting the Botanical Garden is an activity you can do any time of the year to see new plants, the best time to visit is definitely spring.

Inside the Garden you have the opportunity to see the wide variety of seasonal plants and watch the most beautiful of them bloom.

Spring in Washington is much more than cherry blossoms. To find out which blossoms will be opening in spring and what attractions the Botanical Garden has to offer during the season, I invite you to go to their official website, where you can find up-to-date information.

This is an incredibly versatile activity that you can do with family and friends and have a great time. You can also take the kids to the Garden and watch them be delighted with all there is to see.

Even if you're passing through the city for work, you'll find it a great way to relax and unwind.

Another advantage of visiting this place in spring is the pleasant weather you can enjoy. Temperatures are usually a little warmer without being unbearable, the humidity is low and the thermal sensation is pleasant, a perfect climate to stay as long as you like touring the Garden.

Practical information

• Location: 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001
• Price: Admission is free.
• Hours: Daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

In 1912 the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave cherry trees as a gift to Washington. Since then, the trees have adapted, preserved and reproduced in the city in an impressive way. Their flowering occurs in the spring season, with March being the month during which they reach peak bloom.

The cherry blossom is one of the most anticipated springtime activities for Washingtonians. In fact, most of the events that occur during the season in this state revolve around the cherry blossoms.

This festival becomes a special occasion for you to get to know and learn more about Japanese culture, which has found its niche in the city of Washington DC since 1912.

Among the interesting experiences you will be able to live during the festival are the different fairs, events and venues set up to share Japanese culture. It is impressive to see how deeply rooted the culture of these Asian islands is and how they share their traditions with locals and visitors to Washington DC.

Due to weather conditions, the peak bloom dates of the cherry blossoms change from year to year.

I recommend that you keep an eye on the official website that organises the events to find out what time of the year to expect the blossom. Once all the blossoms have opened, they remain in bloom for about 14 days.

The best cherry blossom viewing can be found on the banks of the Tidal Basin, where the largest concentration of cherry trees in DC can be found.

This is an exclusive dinner party organised as part of the cherry blossom celebration. The special thing about this exclusive dinner is that attendees are asked to dress up in their pink finery.

If you want to go to a high-class event, this is definitely the place. The celebration is synonymous with the end of winter in the city. The Pink Tie Party officially kicks off the spring season and of course, the cherry blossom season.

At the gathering you will find a huge variety of food and tasting dishes from all over the world. The main protagonist is Asian and Japanese food specifically, but you can also find food from other latitudes such as Latin American, European, Mediterranean, Arabic, among other gastronomic variations.

After dinner you are guaranteed entertainment, because the organisers of the Pink Tie Party make sure to offer all participants a high quality entertainment experience.

You can even find multiple contests that will test your skills. Generally this party lasts around four hours and usually starts early in the evening.

It is usually held during the days when the cherry blossoms are at their peak bloom.

If you want to go to this exclusive gathering you will have to pay an entrance fee of between €90 and €300 beforehand. All proceeds from the event go solely to the organisation of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Practical information

• Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
• Price: Between 90 and 300 euros to enter, depending on the type of ticket you are willing to pay.
• Hours: From 20:00 hours generally. Although it may change depending on the organisation of each year.

St. Patrick's Day is typical of Ireland and given the Irish influence and the large migration of Irish people to the United States, St. Patrick's Day celebrations are very popular in the United States. In different cities there is a parade and a day of festivities.

In Washington DC it is definitely a holiday not to be missed if you visit the city in spring. It is celebrated in March, with the main day being the 17th, although you can join the celebration at any time during the week.

During the parade you can see a number of interesting and traditional Irish attractions. It's an activity you're sure to love doing with the kids because it's precisely the youngest ones who also participate in the parade, which they attend dressed up as popular characters from Irish culture.

If you go with friends or family, another option to be part of the party is to go to the Irish pubs where you can get caught up in all the festive excitement of theSt. Patrick's Day festivities.

Another attraction you can find during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period is the great Irish beer festival.

Definitely if you love Irish culture and want to drink some good beer, this is the best cultural festival you can enjoy in Washington DC during the spring.

Practical info

• Location: The parade route is generally located on Constitution Ave NW between 7th St NW and 17th St NW.
• Price: The parade is completely free to attend.
• Hours: The festivities run throughout the week, from morning to evening in Irish pubs.

The festival known as Passport DC gives you the opportunity to experience multiple countries for one day a year.

This experience usually takes place during the first days of May and offers you the chance to visit each of the participating embassies for a full day.

On another day of the month you can visit the European Union embassy where you can visit all the EU countries of Europe in one day.

The tour is completely free, but you need to be aware of which embassies are participating in the celebration so you can arrange your tour through Dupont Circle, where most of the embassies are located.

Inside each of the embassies you will have a unique experience where you will learn about the traditions and customs of each country.

In some of them you will have the opportunity to taste some typical dishes of the country. This celebration takes place almost at the same time as the celebration of Asian culture, so you will have many opportunities in spring to tour different regions and traditions of the world.

Practical information

• Location: Dupont Circle, at the embassies listed in the itinerary.
• Price: Admission to all embassies is completely free during this holiday.
• Hours: Activities start in the morning and usually last until late in the evening.

The DC Bike Ride is a closed loop that is on the list of the best bike tours in Washington DC.

Usually held during the spring season, this is a non-competitive ride that is open to residents and visitors ages 3 and up. Children and teenagers up to the age of 17 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

This is basically a family-friendly tour, where you can ride all over the city through the city on purpose-built streets with no cars around to disturb the ride. One of the best things about this tour is that you will be able to see many of the sights of the American capital city while cycling.

At the end of the ride, you will have the opportunity to participate in the Festival for participants and non-participants that takes place after the finish line.

Only if you register as a VIP member will you be able to enjoy the special participant lunch. Otherwise, there are multiple food options at the festival so you can recharge your batteries after cycling all over the city.

Practical information

• Location: The ride starts on the west side of the Potomac and ends very close to the U.S. Capitol.
• Price: The cost to participate can be up to 190 euros, depending on the type of registration you choose.
• Time: Starts from 8:00 am.

Traveller Tip

I recommend you bring a mackintosh, because the event takes place regardless of the weather, so be prepared in case it rains.

This is a hip hop festival that takes place every May in Washington DC. Usually the place chosen for this event is the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

During the event, the aim is to elevate black culture and all that it represents on a musical and cultural level not only in Washington, but in the whole country.

If you want to live a different experience musically speaking and learn a little more about the hip hop genre, this is definitely a show you can't miss.

It is specially organised for you to attend with friends and spend a different kind of day admiring hip hop artists and other urban genres that are prominent in the country.

To buy your tickets, you can go to the official website of the show and find out all the news about it. The website also provides information on the itinerary of the festival during the weekend.

Practical information

• Location: Washington DC Metropolitan Area.
• Price: Tickets start at 50 euros.
• Opening hours: The festival lasts two days and you can enjoy it all day long.

Spring is a great time of year for a walk along the banks of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers around the city. This is a walk you can do in several ways.

One of the ways you can tour these places in spring is to stroll along the city' s riverfront streets. Another option is the waterway.

There are a variety of cruise ships in Washington, as well as water taxis and other forms of water transportation that you can use for this type of tour.

While this is a tour that you can also include on your list of things to do in Washington in the summer, and even in the fall, I recommend taking this tour especially in the spring.

The main attraction of these riverbanks during the spring is the cherry blossoms, which add a much more colourful, fun and harmonious atmosphere to the already beautiful scenery.

Temperatures in Washington during the spring months are usually quite pleasant.

The lowest temperature is usually no lower than 3ºC, while the highest temperatures are around 15ºC. Humidity is quite low, so there is very little rainfall during springtime.

I'd definitely say spring is one of the best times to visit Washington, especially given the combination of pleasant temperatures and low humidity. Nights tend to be cooler and days a little warmer.

With temperatures in mind, I recommend planning a suitcase of layered clothing. Pack t-shirts, coats and jumpers and include more long trousers than shorts. Make sure you pack sunglasses, because even if it's not summer, the sun is sometimes harsh.

Don't forget your camera to take pictures of all the beautiful things you'll see in Washington in spring, especially the cherry blossoms.

Still on the clothing front, be sure to include comfortable shoes, ankle boots and long socks. Bring pyjamas that will keep you warm enough to keep you warm at night.