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: Burna Boy (March 7), Zach Bryan (March 25)
- The Anthem: Two Door Dinema Club (March 1), The Kooks (March 13), A Conversation with Larry David (March 29)
- Warner Theatre: RuPaul (March 8)
- 9:30 Club: The Dandy Warhols (March 4), Cold War Kids (sold out) (March 5-6), Inhaler (March 13-14), Waterparks (March 18-19), Bombay Bicycle Club (sold out) (March 21), Grouplove (March 26-27)
- Echostage: Timmy Trumpet (March 9), Steve Aoki (March 29)
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 9)
- She Comes First at Miracle Theatre (March 27)
- Check out the online National Women’s History Museum
- Family Day: Women’s History Month at Library of Congress (March 9)
3. Immerse yourself in the renowned art of Claude Monet
What could be more awe-inspiring than immersing yourself in your favorite art? Monet: The Immersive Experience allows you to do just that! The exhibits use floor-to-ceiling projections to showcase Claude Monet’s famous works, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in his art.
4. Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience
This immersive experience is new to town and has quickly become a favorite of ours! The incredibly fun and picturesque experience is perfect for any occasion or to go with anyone, whether they’re friends, family, or even a loved one. Make sure you wear a cool outfit and have enough space on your phone for a lot of photos because you’ll want to document this experience!
Location: 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW
5. 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, March 8th to Sunday, March 10th, 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!
6. Bust a gut at one of these comedy shows
- D.C. Improv: David Nihill (March 5 – 7)
- Warner Theatre: RUPAUL: House of Hidden Meanings (March 8)
7. 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!
8. Attend spring’s inaugural National Gallery Night
The National Gallery of Art’s seasonal favorite National Gallery Nights is returning this spring and there will be an event in March! On March 14, join in the fun with a “Color Theory” night inspired by the National Gallery of Art’s collection of Rothko paintings on paper.
9. Ring in spring with marvelous music at the Washington National Cathedral
Listen to voices echo throughout the Washington National Cathedral at a one-of-a-kind choral concert. 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.
Sonic Bloom: Music of Bruckner, Esmail, and Gabrieli will take place on Sunday, March 10th at 4:00 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.
10. Embrace the prehistoric at Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience
Have you ever wished you could interact with dinosaurs? Well, now is your chance! This exhibit features 80 prehistoric specimens and even a virtual aquarium so you can interact with these magnificent creatures from millions of years ago.
11. Help highlight the talents and visions of women of color at BGR!FEST
Starting during Black History Month on February 29th and continuing until March 9th, BGR!FEST (an extension of Black Girls Rock!) is a multi-day cultural festival that aims to elevate the innovations and visions of young Black girls and women. From March 9-11, the festival will feature music, discussions, and forums, and overlap with Who Rocks Next? and Black Men Rock to showcase these talents, what they’ve achieved, and what they continue to work toward!
12. 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 Coldplay – March 7
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé – March 15
- Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More – March 29
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, and More – March 19
13. Inspire change at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
Running from March 21-30, 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 with the aim of inspiring 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.
14. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the District
St. Patrick’s Day, recognized on March 17, may 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)!
- Visit the Embassy of Ireland
- 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
15. 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
16. Grab coffee and a pastry at Maman
D.C.’s flagship location of the French-inspired, NYC cafe chain Maman is now open in Georgetown and they recently opened another location in Navy Yard, and it’s 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!
17. 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! Currently Dining in the Dark is held in D.C. at two incredible local restaurants touted for their cuisine, and those are Paraíso and Ambar Clarendon!
18. Go to Six Flags America on its first day of the year!
If you want to get into the full summer spirit a little early, you can head to Six Flags America’s first day of the year on March 23rd! In case you don’t recall, Six Flags America received its largest capital investment in a decade this past year to develop some new attractions and improve existing ones, so this spring and summer will be one of the best times to visit in years!