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: Tyler, The Creator (April 1), Deftones (April 6), Kylie Minogue (April 8)
- The Anthem: Franz Ferdinand (April 7), Alessia Cara (April 8), Snow Patrol (April 11), Bright Eyes (April 20), Remi Wolf (April 27)
- 9:30 Club: Gossip (April 5), Mogwai (April 7), Knox (April 12), Ani DiFranco
(April 16), The Blue Stones (April 26), Sain Motel (April 29 & 30)
- Echostage: Timmy Trumpet (April 4), Cheat Codes x Dam Feldt (April 11), KSHMR (April 12), Reggaeton Rave (April 19)
2. Experience the last of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events
- National Cherry Blossom Parade on April 12th
- “Blooming Wonders: A Best of Spring Exhibition” is on display at Artechouse
- Petalpalooza on April 5th
Even though D.C.’s Cherry Blossoms’ peak bloom is slated to end shortly after the month starts, the festival will still be going strong until mid-April!
3. Attend April’s National Gallery Night – Reduce, Reuse, Remix
On Thursday, April 10th, coinciding with D.C.’s Cherry Blossom season, ‘Reduce, Reuse, Remix’ is the second National Gallery Night of the season, highlighting the value and importance of sustainability.
This event is all about using ingenuity and creativity in art that ultimately reduces or repurposes waste to create something new and captivating.
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 2025 Festival of Spring!
Expected to be open for around three weeks, depending on the weather, the farm recently announced it expected to open during the last week 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 own 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”
- National Theatre
- “Annie”
- Ford’s Theatre
- “Sister Act”
7. Celebrate Easter or 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. Explore a touring LEGO® exhibit that’s been to over 24 countries
A world-famous LEGO® exhibit just opened in D.C., featuring a whopping 130 sculptures composed of over a million LEGO® bricks!
The Art of the Brick is really for anyone – art aficionados, LEGO®-obsessed kids, and even those simply seeking a new D.C.-based adventure.
We got a chance to see it firsthand and were amazed by artist Nathan Sawaya’s creations.
From famous artwork like the Mona Lisa to a nearly 20-foot T-Rex, each masterpiece is as incredible as the next.
Get tickets here!9. Bust a gut at one of these comedy shows
- D.C. Improv:: Kyle Kinane (April 10-12), Trey Kennedy (April 17-19), George Wallace (April 25-26), Tony Woods & Friends (April 27)
- Capital One Arena: Shane Gillis (April 12)
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. Emancipation Day will fall on Wednesday, April 16 this year, but the exact date of the celebration at Freedom Plaza with a parade, live performances by local artists, and a firework show has yet to be announced.
11. Check out Filmfest D.C.
Get whisked away into the world of international cinema at the 39th annual Filmfest D.C. Running from April 24th through May 4th 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 8th annual National Cannabis Festival! On April 18th and 19th, attendees can head to the RFK Festival Grounds to enjoy musical performances, retail stands, and official event and band merch.
While the 2025 concert line up has not yet been confirmed, we expect it to be announced very soon!
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.
There are only three dates open this month, which means that they might fill up fast if you don’t get your tickets now!
14. Visit the 22nd 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 25th, 26th, and 27th, 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 D.C. Wine Fest
The spring edition of the D.C. Wine Fest returns to the District on April 26th for a one-day-only event.
Tickets are available in a limited quantity and are currently available for $39 per person to attend as part of a discounted ‘early-bird’ package, which will conclude in the weeks leading up to the event.
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!
17. Head to D.C.’s epic three-day Comic Con celebration
Awesome Con is bringing over 60,000 fans to D.C. to celebrate their favorite comics, movies, TV shows, toys, games, and more!
Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from Friday, April 4th to Sunday, April 6th, the three-day pop culture event features unique, inclusive experiences for all ages.
From celebrity meet-and-greets to free video and tabletop gaming to a red-carpet cosplay catwalk, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Awesome Con.
Snag badges here to experience the fun firsthand!
18. Ball out at the 52nd annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic
On Saturday, April 26, D.C. is hosting the 52nd annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic at CareFirst 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!