*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: Romeo Santos & Prince Royce (April 5), Cardi B (April 8), Ricardo Arjona (April 13), Demi Lovato (April 16), Florence + The Machine (April 18)
- The Anthem: The Neighbourhood (April 10 – 11), Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman (April 17)
- 9:30 Club: Naïka (April 13), Maisie Peters (April 14), Two Feet (April 17), Emo Night Brooklyn (April 18), The Midnight: Time Machines (April 21 – 22)
- Echostage: Galantis (April 10), KSHMR (April 11), D.O.D. (April 18), Steve Aoki (April 25)
2. Experience the remainder of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events
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! Enjoy all the cherry blossom-themed festivities and happenings around the District while the season is still in full bloom.
3. Attend April’s National Gallery Night – United We Create
On Thursday, April 13th, coinciding with D.C.’s Cherry Blossom season, ‘United We Create’ is the final National Gallery Night of the season, highlighting the values and importance of solidarity and creativity.
4. Get lost in a colorful sea of flowers at Burnside Farms’s 2026 Festival of Spring
Nothing says spring quite like wandering through a field of tulips. Now you can do just that at Burnside Farms’s 2026 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 the new ‘Fluffy Cloud Experience’ that’s in D.C. for a limited time
This iconic musical experience was once featured at Art Basel and has since toured the nation, becoming one of the most exciting pop-up experiences everywhere it goes! The exhibit is opening in the District on March 31st and will remain open until April 12th, which means that there is a limited time to visit.
6. 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!
7. Check out this immersive museum that will unleash your inner child
Bubble Planet is headed to D.C., so if you love museums that double as photo ops, you’re going to love it!
This interactive exhibit has 10 different rooms, all with different themes, colors, and sights. Bubbles ranging from soapy baths to smoke-filled orbs to balloons will allow you to float through a magical story that you likely haven’t experienced before.
Get your tickets here!
8. 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)
9. Bust a gut at one of these comedy shows
- D.C. Improv: Various acts throughout the month
- Capital One Arena: Nate Bargatze (April 2 – 3)
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 Thursday, April 16th this year, but the celebration at Franklin Park with a parade, live performances by local artists, and a fireworks show will take place on Sunday, April 19th.
11. Check out Filmfest D.C.
Get whisked away into the world of international cinema at the 40th annual Filmfest D.C. Running from April 16th to the 26th 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. Visit this new immersive VR experience, transporting you to ancient Egypt
This incredibly immersive VR experience will transport you across time and space in an instant, taking you to ancient Egypt, where you can explore the pyramids, decipher hieroglyphs, and more! The most interesting part of the exhibit? It was developed in collaboration with one of Harvard University’s top Egyptologists, Peter der Manuelian, making it an accurate and educational experience. Save your spot here!
13. Check out the incredible new VR-based immersive Machu Picchu experience
At this new immersive experience, you’ll travel back in time 250 years and be transported to the peaks of the Andes at the height of the Incan Empire in seconds! The experience, which took years to develop, features the world’s top 3D modelling technology to let you explore the seventh wonder of the world as no one has ever been able to before. Snag tickets today!
14. Visit the 22nd annual Georgetown French Market
Can’t make it to Paris this spring? No problem—just head to the 23rd annual Georgetown French Market! On April 24th, 25th, and 26th, 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 25th 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 23rd to Sunday, April 35th, 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 4th, D.C. is hosting the 53rd annual Hoop Culture Capital Classic at Capital One 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!
