
Your birthday is a special day and whether or not you like going all out to celebrate your big day, we think you should treat yourself to at least something special!
Whether you’re looking into doing something interactive and engaging to make for a fun new experience with a few others, doing something intimate with those closest to you, or having a good time with as many friends as possible – there’s something in D.C. for everyone!
Here are our 20 best ideas for celebrating your birthday in the capital:
1. Dance the night away at one of D.C.’s top nightclubs
The best part about D.C.’s nightclub scene is the variety, there are places for everyone no matter your tolerance of crowds or your taste in music!
A nice group outing with friends can make any night out at one of these clubs an incredible birthday that you won’t forget any time soon.
2. Take a private tour of one of D.C.’s top museums!
Whether or not you are an avid art fan or nerd out over natural history, a private tour of one of D.C.’s most famous museums is not an experience you should pass up on!
If you want to skip the line at the National Archives Museum, take a private tour at the American & Natural History Museum, or get a personal guide through the Smithsonian Portrait Galley, there’s no better time to do it than your birthday!
3. Attend a live show at one of D.C.’s incredible venues!
Washington, D.C.’s incredible selection of concert venues means that world-class musical talent performs here consistently throughout the year.
This is exactly why it’s worth checking to see who will be playing in the capital around your birthday, there might just be one of your favorite groups or artists coming to perform around the same day!
4. Plan a stroll through one of D.C.’s iconic gardens
Particularly a fun plan during the Spring and Summer when most flowers are in full bloom – these incredible green spaces throughout the city are an oasis of nature amidst the chaos of the capital!
5. Spice things up with tickets to The Empire Strips Back
One of the most unconventional birthday ideas out there, but one that is 100% of that is going to be memorable will be getting tickets to see this spicy spoof of Star Wars with a burlesque twist.
The show features some incredible performances that you don’t need to be a huge Star Wars fan to enjoy, which makes this show a fun birthday idea for just about anybody!
6. Head to a game to see one of D.C.’s top sports teams in person
If you’re a D.C. sports fan then you know it has its ups and downs, there’s no denying that, but if you have the chance to witness one of those high moments live / in person, it’ll stick with you forever!
So whether you want to see the Nationals for a Summer afternoon game, a Commanders game in the Fall, or a Capitals / Wizards game during the winter, there’s no going wrong!
7. Make plans to eat at a romantic restaurant
If you’re looking to keep your birthday plans low-key, several great date night restaurants around D.C. are the perfect setting for a birthday meal for you and someone special!
8. Plan a picnic at Hains Point
It’s not a very controversial opinion to say that the views from Hains Point might be some of the best in all of Washington, D.C., and given its open space and public picnic tables, it’s not an uncomfortable place to plan a birthday meal!
9. Secure your spot at the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience event returning to D.C. soon
Set to make its triumphant return to the D.C. Area this fall, the tickets for this incredible interactive event are going on sale on Thursday, August 1st at 10 am.
While there’s still plenty of time before the experience opens to the public in Leesburg, VA this upcoming October, you will want to secure your tickets early if your birthday happens to be in the last few months of the year!
10. Plan a putt-putt outing with your friends at one of these fun-inducing mini-golf venues around D.C.
Whether you’re planning a kid’s birthday, a friend’s birthday, or your birthday, mini-golf is truly a fun-for-all-ages activity that is bound to get a few laughs and smiles going!
Some of these venues have an incredible selection of cocktails and adult beverages like beer or seltzer, which might just take your round of golf from a good time to a great time!
- Swingers – Dupont Circle
- Perch Putt – Tysons Corner
- Puttery – Penn Quarter
- Pixar Putt – The Wharf
11. Treat your taste buds to a memorable meal at Dining In The Dark
This unique dining experience is something completely different from what you may have experienced before!
This blindfolded secret menu is prepared to match the dining preferences that you enter when you reserve your seat and it is one of the most fun, intimate, and memorable dining experiences you might ever have.
12. Head to a beautiful Candlelight Concert right here in D.C.
Whether you want to see a string quartet rendition of Taylor Swift’s top songs or a classical tribute to the most iconic songs of your favorite genre, there is a Candlelight Concert perfect for you! They’re taking place at some of D.C.’s finest venues, such as St. Francis Hall.