Company Logo - Home Link

What To Do in April in Washington, DC

Updated: October 22, 2023

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 2023.

The weather is warming up a bit. Some afternoons are starting to move into the 60s, making it comfortable to do more outdoors.

Read our master post on things to do in DC for more activities at any time of year.


Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.

Where possible we link to websites that often offer discounted ticket prices (like StubHub). While we are unable to confirm their prices are the best, they are all verified ticket resellers .


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 is a great time to see some of Washington's sports teams in action.

In addition to baseball, there will be several other opportunities to see other sports.

Here are some teams with games in April:

Baseball

Basketball

Hockey

Soccer

Other

There will also be a Monster Jam in Baltimore at the CFG Bank Arena on April 28th and 29th.

Get more information and tickets for other events here.

TIP: You can purchase tickets if any season ticket holders sell them on third-party sites.


3. Go to a Concert

There will be several great concerts in and around Washington, DC throughout the month of April.

Some of these events will be taking place in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Silver Spring, all within an hour or less from DC.

Here are the biggest artists performing in the area this month:

Washington, DC Area

Maryland

If you're looking for even more opportunities to hear great musical artists, check out this list of all concerts in the area.


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 DC area in April.

Here are a few of the best-known productions visiting the area in April:

Washington, DC

Maryland and Virginia

If you'd like to see a ballet, the Washington Ballet will have shows April 7th-9th at Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA.

For other options, click here 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 upfront, 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:

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.

If you know which pass you want, you can purchase one here: Day Pass - Washington Sightseeing | Flex Pass - Washington Sightseeing


6. See a Stand-up Comedy Show

If you're in need of a good laugh, there will be a few opportunities to see stand-up comedy from some of the most famous comics around.

Here are the best stand-up comedy shows in each city this month:

Washington DC

Maryland

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, 2023.

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.

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.

An 11-day festival, over 65 films from 35 countries are screened at La Maison Francaise at the French Embassy.

Tickets are $10 per person ($5 for students). Some events are free of charge and are on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The festival runs from April 20th - 30th, 2023.

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 2023, Easter falls on Sunday, April 9th.

The Washington National Cathedral will have both in-person and virtual services for 2023.

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.

In the past, there have been events around this day in DC, such as parades, although nothing has been posted for 2023 yet.

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.


Honorable Mentions

Visit a Museum

DC is home to over 70 museums. The Smithsonian alone has 21 museums and galleries!

There's plenty to enjoy for kids and adults alike.

Here are just a few of the museums you might choose to visit in April.

You can also read our post on DC museums here.


See the National Symphony Orchestra Live

There will be a number of chances to see the National Symphony Orchestra perform at the Kennedy Center in April.

There will be concerts covering the works of such composers as Revel, Schubert, and Mendelssohn by some fantastic musicians and conductors.

Purchase tickets or learn more.


White House Garden Tours

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.

The White House Garden Garden Tour dates have not yet been announced for 2023, but this event happens each year over an April weekend.

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!


National Cannabis Festival

The 7th Annual Cannabis Festival takes place at RFK Festival Grounds on April 22nd.

The festival is a celebration of the legalization of marijuana and includes live music, an exhibitor fair, food vendors, awards, and panel discussions.

Click here for tickets.


Visit the Orchid Exhibit

Get ready to be enthralled and amazed! The United States Botanic Garden hosts its annual orchid exhibition, one that bursts with diverse, vibrant beauty from all around the world

The exhibit reveals an impressive selection of orchids, ranging from familiar to rare varieties.

There will be a stunning array of Paphiopedilum, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, and more, some in traditional pots and planters and others arranged in artful displays that emphasize their unique beauty

You'll want to make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity of seeing thousands of these mesmerizing flowers on full display. The event will be delighting visitors between February 17th and April 30th.

In addition to admiring the stunning orchids, you can also take part in a variety of educational programs at the Botanic Garden.

From guided tours and workshops on caring for these beautiful flowers to lectures that explore their ecology and biology, they have something for everyone.


RELATED POSTS:

About The Author

Canden Arciniega

Follow On Instagram | Canden is a historian & tour guide in Washington DC with 4 published books about the city. She has written for HuffPost Travel and has been featured in the Washington Post, WTOP, and numerous other DC papers. She's also been interviewed by the BBC, NPR, Travel Channel and Discovery Family Channel. Canden is the producer of the podcast, Tour Guide Tell All. She is an authority on D.C. history, and has led tours in the city since 2011. She currently resides in DC, but has also lived in London and South Korea, and has traveled to over 28 countries and every US State but Hawaii. She homeschools her 2 children by exploring the plethora of museums in DC.
Updated: October 22nd, 2023
Back to Top
cross