April is upon us and spring is in full swing! The cherry blossoms may be on their way out, but the tulips, bluebells, and other flower trees are just getting ready to hit their peak. Add in some gorgeous weather just begging you to get outside, and D.C. is about to get a whole lot busier! To help you make the most of what April has to offer, Secret D.C. has rounded up all the happenings this month you don’t want to miss:
1. Catch a concert at your favorite local venue
- Capital One Arena: Nicki Minaj (April 1), Bad Bunny (April 9)
- The Anthem: LANY (April 8)
- 9:30 Club: Lotus (April 5), Young Fathers (April 8), Smallpools & Grayscale (April 11), Zingara
(April 12), Zingara (April 25), Teenage Fanclub (April 26)
- Echostage: Black Coffee (April 5), Dr.Fresch & Habstrakt (April 6), Cash Cash & Nicky Romero (April 13)
2. Experience the last of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events
- National Cherry Blossom Parade
- Petal Porches are viewable until April 14th
- “Art In Bloom” is on display until April 14th
- Live Cherry Blossom mural installation in Dupont Circle park
- Petalpalooza on April 6th at The Yards
Even though D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms’ peak bloom came early this year, the festival is still going strong and won’t stop until mid-April!
3. Attend April’s National Gallery Night – Flowers After Hours
On Thursday, April 11, coinciding with D.C.’s Cherry Blossom season and the bloom of many of the capital’s incredible trees, flowers, and plants around the city, is the second National Gallery Night of the season. This event is all about nature, you’ll be able to create wearable flower art, take images in front of a floral photo wall, and even participate in a blossom-themed scavenger hunt, but that’s not all, there will also be live music and the roof terrace will be open to guests as well!
4. Get lost in a colorful sea of flowers at Burnside Farms’s 2024 Festival of Spring
Nothing says spring quite like wandering through a field of tulips. Now you can do just that at Burnside Farms’s 2024 Festival of Spring! Expected to openly be open for around three weeks, depending on the weather, the farm recently announced it expected to open during the last month of March, meaning it’ll be time to visit in the first few weeks of April.
Visitors can picnic and lounge outside its 100-year-old dairy barn or pick their beautiful bouquet from more than 150 types of tulips and more than 30 types of daffodils. Five flowers are included with each admission ticket, then you can pay $1 per stem for tulips or $1 per 2 daffodils. Tickets are very limited and are only available online restocking at 5:00 am for the same day.
5. Check out one of D.C.’s best rooftop bars for happy hour
Springtime is here and the April afternoons make for the perfect occasion to head to one of Washington, D.C.’s best rooftop bars for happy hour! There are rooftop bar options across the city that have great drink deals, food menus, and of course, incredible views of one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
6. Head to the theatre for one of these plays, musicals, or ballets
- The Kennedy Center
- “Shear Madness”
- “Message In A Bottle”
- “The Illusionist”
- National Theatre
- “Super Freak: The Rick James Story”
- “Peter Pan”
- Ford’s Theatre
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre
- “AMM(I)GONE” (April 20-May 12)
7. Celebrate Easter and Passover with these brunch options and events
Whether you’re looking to sit down to brunch with family and friends, or hoping to participate in a themed event, D.C. has some great options for observing the holidays:
- Food/Brunch
- District Winery (Easter)
- Kingbird (Easter)
- Hill Country Barbecue Market (Passover)
- Moon Rabbit (Easter)
- Char Bar (Passover)
- Skydome (Easter)
- Centrolina (Easter and Passover)
- CUT D.C. (Easter)
- Sababa (Passover)
- Gravitas (Easter)
- Summer House (Passover)
- Rooftop Terrace at the Kennedy Center (Easter)
- Easter egg hunts and themed events
- Wagshal’s Market (Passover dinner, wine, and treats to go)
- The Fairmont (Brunch, Easter Bunny, and egg hunt)
- Call Your Mother (Passover treats)
- Estuary (Brunch and rooftop egg hunt)
- Sonny’s Pizza (Post-Passover Chametz Party)
- Kick Axe D.C./Throw Social (Brunch at Throw Social, then face off against the Easter Bunny in axe throwing!)
- Sababa (Passover dinner)
- O Street Museum (Easter-themed treasure and candy hunt)
8. Immerse yourself in the renowned art of Monet in 3D
This incredible 360º digital art exhibition gives patrons a chance to step directly into the most famous works of the renowned French impressionist painter, Claude Monet!
9. Bust a gut at one of these comedy shows
- D.C. Improv:: Jay Jurden (April 14), Dan Soder (April 19-21), Jordan Rock (April 25-28)
- Warner Theatre: Wanda Sykes (April 20), Ilana Glazer (April 25)
10. Honor D.C. Emancipation Day
D.C. Emancipation Day refers to the day the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 was passed, ending slavery in Washington, D.C. and freeing 3,100 people. D.C. will celebrate this act on Tuesday, April 16 at Freedom Plaza with a parade, live performances by local artists, and a firework show.
11. Check out Filmfest D.C.
Get whisked away into the world of international cinema at the 37th annual Filmfest D.C. Running from April 18th through April 28th the international film festival will feature dozens of films from several different countries, spanning every genre from “comedies, thrillers, dramas, social justice documentaries,” and works by local filmmakers. See a full list of films and times on the Filmfest D.C. website.
12. Have some fun at the National Cannabis Festival
D.C.is hosting its 7th annual National Cannabis Festival! On April 19th and 20th, attendees can head to the RFK Festival Grounds to enjoy performances from artists like Wu-Tang Clan, visit marijuana education classes, hear from members of Congress, partake in yoga, enter contests, eat delicious foods and drinks, and much more! There are also a number of events through the week of April 20, allowing you to partake in 4/20 Food Week and a 4.2-Mile Fun Walk/Run, among other things.
13. Sip & paint at the Neon Brush fluorescent black-lit painting workshop
This 21+ painting workshop is the perfect plan for a night of fun whether it be with friends, family, or even that special someone, this is the type of event you don’t want to miss out on! The black-lit atmosphere and neon paint make for such a memorable experience and the added selection of drinks for you to enjoy pushes this plan over the edge.
14. Visit the 21st annual Georgetown French Market
Can’t make it to Paris this spring? No problem—just head to the 21st annual Georgetown French Market! On April 26th, 27th, and 28th, the historic neighborhood will transform itself into an open-air market reminiscent of those in France. Shop the sidewalk sales from more than 30 local boutiques and galleries, feast on French-inspired fare from Georgetown’s cafés and restaurants, and take in the live entertainment of musicians, caricaturists, and stilt-walkers!
15. Enjoy stimulating your senses at Dopamine Land
An immersive experience that is incredibly fun and picturesque and it is perfect for any occasion whether you plan to go with friends, family, or even a loved one. Each room of the exhibit is dedicated to stimulating a variety of your senses, making this one of the most memorable and joy-inducing things you can do in the capital city!
Location: 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW
16. Relax to the sounds of classical music by candlelight
The Fever Originals Candlelight series is the perfect way to unwind. You can lose yourself in classical renditions of your favorite tunes amid soft candlelight. With multiple genres and musical themes to choose from, there’s bound to be a concert that’s perfect for you!
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
- Candlelight Spring: A Tribute to Coldplay
- Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer at Miracle Theater
- [trackLink link_url="https://feverup.com/m/161231"]Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
- Candlelight: Best of Hip-Hop on Strings
17. Rave and rage at Project GLOW
“Celebrating 21 years of dance culture and history,” Project GLOW is bringing heavy hitters to RFK Festival Grounds On April 27th and 28th. Dress up, dance, get lost in the music of artists like Deorro and Baby Weight, and admire the surrounding art! For the full lineup, visit the Project GLOW website.
18. Ball out at the 51st annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic
On Saturday, April 13, D.C. is hosting the 51st annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic at the Entertainment & Sports Arena—the “most legendary high school basketball All-American game ” in the nation! The best high school basketball players in the region will face off in the game, which has boasted notable alumni such as LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.
19. Check out one of these must-see exhibits
Every history and art lover’s dream, Washington D.C. is home to over 70 museums, including 19 free Smithsonian museums and galleries. With each museum boasting a rotation of numerous exciting exhibits, we rounded up some of April’s must-sees you don’t want to miss!
- National Museum of American History
- “Entertainment Nation”
- Hirshhorn Museum
- “One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection”
- “A Window Suddenly Opens: Contemporary Photography in China”
- National Museum of African American History & Culture
- “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures”
- National Gallery of Art
- “Philip Guston Now”
- “Called to Create: Black Artists of the American South”
- “This Is Britain: Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s”
- The Rubell Museum
- “What’s Going On”
- National Museum of Asian Art
- “Ay-Ō’s Happy Rainbow Hell”
- “The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Himalayas”
- Zenith Gallery
- “Black Like Me”
20. Stimulate your senses by dining in the dark
Looking for one of the most unique and exciting dining experiences you can have in D.C.? Dining in the Dark is the perfect opportunity for an intimate blindfolded meal that allows you to pick a three-course meal based on your dietary preferences (green for vegan, blue for seafood, or red for meat) that will stimulate your senses and make for a lasting memory!