This post covers things to do in Washington DC in April, including a top 10 list and some honorable mentions full of activities, events, and entertainment. It is updated for 2022.
Read our master post on things to do in DC for more activities at any time of year.
TOP EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN APRIL IN DC
For more ideas on popular things to do in DC, check out our other posts:
Some of the items listed in this post are included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass.
1) Springtime Walking Tours
As winter is finally over and the blossoms start to bloom, we start to offer more walking tours throughout the week!
Some tours return from hibernation: Embassy Row, Old Town Alexandria, and Arlington Cemetery.
And we offer more evening tours to take advantage of the later sunsets, such as the Memorials & Moonlight and Adults Only True Crimes Georgetown tours. Our Lincoln Assassination tour also returns to the after-dinner hours.
Our Arlington National Cemetery tour goes back to its regular hours, and for the first part of April only, we offer a Cherry Blossoms on the Basin tour.
See when they are offered on our schedule of tours.
2) Cheer on a Local Sports Team
The month of April will most likely bring baseball back to our nation's capital, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will happen at the moment due to the threat of a lockout. Regardless, the plans are definitely in place for a Major League Baseball season in 2022!
In addition to baseball, there will be several other opportunities to see live sports in Washington DC this month. Here are some of the best options:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Soccer
You can purchase tickets if any season ticket holders sell them on third party sites.
Get more information and tickets here...
3) Go to a Concert
There will be several great concerts in and around Washington DC throughout the month of April. While some of these events will be taking place just north of DC in Baltimore, it might be worth the day trip if you're a fan of the band!
Here are the biggest artists performing in the area this month:
Washington DC
- The Hollies | Apr 4th
- Mogwai | Apr 5th
- Gordon Lightfoot | Apr 13th
- The Four Tops | Apr 13th
- Daryl Hall | Apr 16th
- Lorde | Apr 16th
- Del Amitri | Apr 19th
- Jack White | Apr 19th
- Three Dog Night | Apr 20th
- Melissa Etheridge | Apr 26th
Baltimore
- Senses Fail | Apr 5th
- Dragonforce | Apr 7th
- Jerry Cantrell | Apr 8th
- Keith Sweat | Apr 10th
- KRS-One | Apr 15th
- The Temptations | Apr 15th
- Modest Mouse | Apr 18th
- The Story So Far | Apr 20th
- Shinedown | Apr 20th
If you're looking for even more opportunities to hear great musical artists, check this list of concerts in Washington DC.
4) Attend a Theatrical Performance
If you're interested in going to the theater this month, there will be plenty of great musicals, plays, and even ballet performances to see in the Washington DC area in April.
Here are a few of the best options to consider this month:
- Don Quixote Ballet | Apr 1st - 3rd
- Mean Girls | Apr 5th - 24th
- Pretty Woman (Baltimore) | Apr 5th - 10th
- Oklahoma | Apr 5th - 10th
- Come From Away | Apr 12th - 17th
- Much Ado About Nothing | Apr 21st - 30th
- Mariinsky Ballet | Apr 26th - 30th
Check this list of theatrical performances in Washington DC to see what else is happening in town this month.
5) Look into a Tourist Discount Pass
If you’re looking to save money and make the most of your time in Washington DC, you should consider purchasing an attraction discount pass.
By purchasing a pass up front, you can get discounted tickets to some of the most popular attractions in the area.
Sometimes these savings can reach 50%!
Attractions you can see with these passes include:
- CitySights Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- International Spy Museum
- The Capital Ferris Wheel
- George Washington’s Home
Did you know that you could join our highly rated and ticketed Ghosts and Scandals tours for free with the DC Explorer Pass?
With warmer weather, our late evening Adults Only tours are a perfect night out activity in a city that closes at 5 pm!
Get free admission to our tours and many top DC attractions with a Tourist Discount Pass.
6) See a Stand-up Comedy Show
If you're in need of a good laugh, there will be a few decent opportunities to see stand-up comedy from some of the most famous comics in the world.
If you're willing to travel to Hanover or Baltimore in Maryland (under an hour from DC), there are even more comedians performing in those areas!
Here are the best stand-up comedy shows in each city this month:
Washington DC
- Kathleen Madigan | Apr 8th
- Ron White | Apr 15th
Baltimore
- Steve Hofstetter | Apr 1st
- Bert Kreischer | Apr 8th, 9th
Hanover
Check this list of stand-up comedy performances in Washington DC for even more opportunities to laugh!
7) Cherry Blossom Festival
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington DC’s top draw in Springtime and lasts from March 20th - April 17th, 2022.
The festival is planned far in advance so the dates of peak bloom of the Cherry Blossoms themselves can fall anytime from mid-March to mid-April, depending on the weather. For 2022, the peak bloom is likely the first week of April.
Most of the Cherry Blossom Festival events have been moved online or as a city-wide, self-guided event! Follow along with us on our YouTube Channel and Instagram to enjoy it.
Our Blossoms on the Basin Cherry Blossom tour runs during peak bloom dates, and registration is required in advance.
Find more information on the Cherry Blossom Festival here.
8) FilmFest DC
FilmFestDC is the oldest film festival in DC and serves to promote work from the international film community.
With locations all over the DC metro area and likely many virtual options, there is a chance to watch something in April, but 2022 dates have not yet been announced.
Most tickets will be $11 per person. Some events are free of charge and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
There will be 80 films from 45 countries to choose from!
For more information, visit the website.
9) Celebrate Easter
There are a number of ways to celebrate Easter in Washington, DC, from brunch specials and kid-friendly egg hunts to traditional Sunday morning church services.
In 2022, Easter falls on Sunday, April 17th.
The Washington National Cathedral will have both in-person and virtual services for 2022. They will have an Easter Day Organ Recital at 2 pm. This concert is entirely free to attend and tickets are not required, but you must wear masks.
For more about visiting the Washington National Cathedral and our self-guided tour, visit our post here.
An alternative is the Basilica of the National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception which has a Catholic Easter Mass also available virtually. For more information, visit their page.
10) DC Emancipation Day
Before President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he freed the 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia on April 16, 1862.
To honor this event, you can participate in a few events around the city on April 16.
If there will be official events (there is usually a parade but we don't expect that to happen) they have not been announced for 2022
NOTE: Emancipation Day itself is a citywide holiday so schools and some businesses will be closed.
You can find more details on the official website.
11) Visit a Museum
Barring an unforeseen spike in pandemic cases, chances are that most museums in Washington DC will be open for the vaccinated in April 2022. You will likely be required to wear a mask to enter the facilities.
Here are a few of the more interesting options you should have this month:
- International Spy Museum
- Museum of the Bible
- Phillips Art Collection
- Glenstone Art Museum
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
- Dumbarton House Museum
- Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office
- President Lincoln's Cottage
- National Building Museum
- National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
- Planet Word Museum
- Tudor Place Historic Home in Georgetown
12) See the National Symphony Orchestra Live
Although there will only be a few opportunities to see this orchestra perform at the Kennedy Center in April, fans of classical music and symphonies should jump at the chance to hear one of the best groups of them all performing for a live audience!
On April 1st, the NSO will feature Michael Tilson Thomas conducting Mahler's "Resurrection." The orchestra will also have Helene Grimaud playing Ravel from April 7th - 9th.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
UNCONFIRMED: White House Garden Tours
The White House Garden Tour dates have not yet been announced for 2022, but this event happens over a weekend in April.
Only twice a year are the White House Gardens open to the public, and tickets are first-come, first-serve when arriving on the morning of the tour.
You can stroll through the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, the White House Kitchen Garden and the South Lawn of the White House.
Read our post on White House Garden Tours!
UNCONFIRMED: Georgetown Glow Light Installation & Tour
Georgetown GLOW takes place for the entire Spring! It is a mix of art, exhibitions, and tours.
DC's oldest neighborhood lights up and invites guests to enjoy the art and learn some history.
We will also be offering our own GLOW tours!
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