March is a magical time—especially in D.C. With the Cherry Blossom Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, Women’s History Month, and the first day of spring, there’s so much to celebrate and even more things to do!
Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature, find an excuse for a bar hop, or indulge in one of many museum offerings and special exhibits, the District has it all!
To help you make the most of all March 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: Matt Rife (March 1), Journey (March 1), The Boys 4 Life Tour featuring B2K & Bow Wow with Jeremih, Waka Flocka, Amerie, and more (March 8), Boyz II Men & Toni Braxton (March 13), Lady Gaga (March 23 & 34)
- The Anthem: Blood Orange (March 3), bbno$ (March 12), Zara Larsson (March 31)
- 9:30 Club: Jesse Welles (March 1 & 2), Goldie Boutilier (March 4), Ratboys (March 6), Boogie T (March 6), Khamari (March 8), Evan Honer (March 9), Lights (March 11), The Summer Set (March 12), Artemas (March 17), Jordan Ward (March 19), ALLEYCVT (March 20 & 21), Benee (March 20), Rochelle Jordan (March 25), Patrick Watson (March 31)
- Echostage: Sidepiece (March 6), Timmy Trumpet (March 7), DJ Diesel (March 13), Armin Van Buuren (March 21)
2. Celebrate Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and honor both notable women through history and those we love and call friends and family! D.C. boasts several events, exhibits, and activities to highlight and celebrate women and their achievements:
- 5th annual HerStory 5K (March 7th)
- Check out the online National Women’s History Museum
- Live! At the Library: Make Your Own Suffragist Button at Library of Congress (March 26)
3. Participate in Washington, D.C.’s first-ever ‘Tulip Day’ event on the National Mall
On March 15th, the National Mall will be converted into a tulip garden filled with tens of thousands of blooming tulips that will be free-to-pick for all guests who register to attend in advance!
4. Attend one of the Washington Capitals’ home games to see Ovechkin play in his final season before retirement from the NHL
The Capitals will be hosting several home games throughout the month of March, and the experience might be worth it just to be able to say you got to watch Alex Ovechkin play in his final season after he broke the NHL scoring record.
5.Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Orchids exhibit at the National Museum of African American History
You don’t have to be a plant lover to appreciate the peacefulness and tranquility that a room full of orchids has to offer!
So even though this is an absolute must-visit for any plant lovers in D.C. this week, the fact remains that this is a great plan to keep in your back pocket for any Washingtonian to do with friends or even for a unique date idea!
This year’s exhibit is called ‘More than a Flower: the Connective Power of Orchids’ and is in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History.
6. Support over 200 local artists at a limited-time art show and curated shop
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Shop Made in DC is hosting a number of exciting events to uplift DMV area artists.
This includes a curated art show containing 450 works of art from nearly 200 women and non-binary artists, a pop-up shop featuring over 50 emerging makers, panel discussions, and more!
The bulk of the events are taking place in the Union Market District, but be sure to check out the specific details here!
7. Bust a gut at one of these comedy shows
- D.C. Improv: Aries Spears (March 1). Aminah Imani (March 13-15), James ‘Murr’ Murray (March 20 & 21), Davil Nihill (March 27 & 28)
8. Bask in the beauty of D.C.’s cherry blossoms
It’s the true sign of spring in D.C.—the blossoming of its renowned cherry blossoms! Tourists come from across the world to bask in their beauty, as well as local Washingtonians.
Whether you’re looking for the best places to admire the cherry blossoms or how to get involved with National Cherry Blossom Festival and all of its festivities from this month, it’s the perfect way to welcome spring!
9. Attend month’s National Gallery Night event
The National Gallery of Art’s seasonal favorite National Gallery Night is returning for another event this March!
On March 12, join in the fun with a “Garden Party” night inspired by spring.
10. Ring in spring with marvelous music at the Washington National Cathedral
Listen to voices echo throughout the Washington National Cathedral at one of its incredible choral concerts.
A treat for all ages, this classical performance by the Cathedral Choral Society will uplift guests through a stunning blend of trumpets, drums, and vocals. ‘Carmina Burana’ will take place on Sunday, March 1st at 6:00 pm, and ‘Of Love & Spirit’ will take place on Sunday, March 17th at 6:00 pm.
Extend your visit with a tour of the cathedral’s grounds and stunning cherry trees, or head to one of Cathedral Heights’s many restaurants near the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Macomb Street.
11. Take the time to enjoy the Magnolia Blooms around the District
The District’s magnolias are one of the prettiest sites you’ll see in the city, leading up to the cherry blossom season – the magnolias tend to bloom earlier and are almost equal to the cherry blossoms in beauty!
12. Secure your tickets to one of the most iconic tulip farms in the DMV area
Burnside Farms is one of the best springtime destinations in the DMV area, as it’s known for its massive fields filled with flowers that you can walk through and even take home with you for a reasonable price.
The exact dates depend on the bloom status of the flowers, but the spring event almost always starts roughly mid-to-late March.
13. 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: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons – March 12
- Candlelight: Tribute to Drake – March 19
- Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi – March 20
- Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More – March 26
- Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA – March 27
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More – March 27
- Candlelight Jazz: The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole – March 29
14. Inspire change at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
Running from March 19-28, the D.C. Environmental Film Festival will be held in person and virtually, showcasing documentaries covering wildlife, climate change, adventurers, the connection between art and the environment, and much more!
The event aims to inspire others to gain a greater understanding of the world around them and how they can be instrumental in conserving it and making it a better place.
15. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the District
St. Patrick’s Day, recognized on March 17, might be an Irish-American holiday that commemorates death, but it’s celebrated in a variety of different ways.
Whether you’re looking for a pub crawl, a history tour, or a more cultural experience, D.C. offers Washingtonians the chance to have a blast and celebrate their Irish heritage (even though you don’t need to have any to participate)!
- Head to D.C.’s Ireland at the Wharf festival
- Explore St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in D.C.
- Take part in the Leprechaun Lap Bar Crawl
- Eat out at an Irish pub
- The Dubliner
- Duffy’s Irish Pub
- Kelly’s Irish Times
- Kirwan’s on the Wharf
16. Check out one of these must-see museums
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 March’s must-sees you don’t want to miss!
- National Museum of American History
- Hirshhorn Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- Renwick Gallery
- The Rubell Museum
- National Museum of Asian Art
- Zenith Gallery
17. Grab coffee and a pastry at Maman
D.C.’s flagship location of the French-inspired, NYC cafe chain Maman is serving up tasty treats and refreshing drinks at their Georgetown and Navy Yard locations, which is the perfect way to kick off a spring day!
With a quaint but beautiful ambiance, seasonal sips, and delicious staples like the honey lavender latte and nutty chocolate chip cookie, no matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong!
18. Stimulate your senses by dining in the dark
Looking for an exciting surprise?
What’s more exciting than a blindfolded dinner?
Dining in the Dark allows you to pick a surprise three-course meal based on your dietary preferences (green for vegan, blue for seafood, or red for meat) that will stimulate your senses!
20. 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!21. 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!
22. 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!
23. Ring in spring with Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea at the Waldorf Astoria
As we anxiously await peak bloom, this Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to ring in spring! Hosted in the Waldorf Astoria’s soaring Clocktower Atrium, the seasonal experience features cherry-accented savory bites, sakura-inspired pastries, a curated tea menu, and more. Reserve your spot here.
24. 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.
