This post covers the top things to do in June in Washington, DC updated for 2022, including nighttime activities, free things to do, and family-friendly options.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do in DC for even more ideas.
- Top 10
- Nighttime Activities
- Free Things to Do
- Family-Friendly
- How's the Weather in June?
- Free Tours by Foot
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.
TOP 10 EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN JUNE
This section covers our top ten list for June.
For more ideas on favorite things to do in DC, check out the following posts:
Some of the items listed in this post are included for free with the purchase of a tourist attraction discount pass.
1. Attend a Sporting Event
Beer and baseball are the perfect way to fend off the summer swelter, and lucky for us we've got a great lineup for The Washington Nationals.
And while you are here, you could watch the Presidents Race at each home game.
Baseball
The Nationals will play at home this month from:
- June 10th - 12th vs Milwaukee Brewers
- June 13th - 15th vs Atlanta Braves
- June 16th - 19th vs Philadelphia Phillies
- June 27th - 29th vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Click here for ticket information from StubHub.
Soccer
The DC United soccer team will play at Audi Field 3 times this month:
- June 1st vs Deportivo Aguila (Capital Cup)
- June 7th vs Xelaju MC (Capital Cup)
- June 25th vs Nashville SC
For tickets click here.
Washington Spirit, our women's soccer team, will also play at Audi Stadium for many of their summer games. They play on June 1st and 17th, 2022. Get discounted tickets on Stubhub.
This is a great option for families. For more family-friendly ideas, check out our things to do with kids section.
2. Go to a Concert
June brings plenty of musical performances to Washington, DC in venues all around the city.
If you're looking for a great concert to enjoy, there will be plenty to choose from.
- Coldplay | Jun 1st
- Kool and the Gang | Jun 3rd
- Air Supply | Jun 3rd
- Black Violin | Jun 4th
- Bastille | Jun 5th
- Aurora | Jun 5th
- Gipsy Kings | Jun 5th
- Sigur Ros | Jun 6th
- Kenny Loggins | Jun 7th
- Thrice and Bayside | Jun 9th
- The Head and the Heart | Jun 9th
- They Might Be Giants | Jun 9th - 11th
- Herbie Hancock | Jun 10th
- Gwar | Jun 10th
- Justin Bieber | Jun 10th
- Bonnie Raitt | Jun 10th, 11th
- Phoebe Bridgers | Jun 11th, 12th
- Gaelic Storm | Jun 12th
- Ana Gabriel | Jun 12th
- Mandy Moore | Jun 14th
- Debbie Gibson | Jun 15th
- Rebelution | Jun 16th
- Paul Anka | Jun 21st
- Motion City Soundtrack | Jun 22nd
- Black Crowes | Jun 23rd
- Machine Gun Kelly w/ Avril Lavigne | Jun 24th
- Patti Labelle | Jun 24th
- Steely Dan | Jun 25th, 26th
- Bruce Hornsby | Jun 30th
New Found Glory: 20 Years of Sticks and Stones Tour
- New Found Glory
- Four Year Strong
- Be Well
- The Interruptors
- Tiger Army
- The Skints
- Sheryl Crow
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Motley Crue
- Def Leppard
- Classless Act
- Joan Jett
- Poison
- The Aquabats
- Less Than Jake
- Bowling For Soup
- Mom Rock
For even more options, please check this list of concerts in Washington DC to see what's going on during your visit.
3. Head to the Theater
Fans of the theater will be glad to hear there are several notable musicals, plays, and ballets to see in and around Washington, DC. There are also a few great shows in Baltimore as well, so if you're willing to make the trip, you might want to consider heading north!
Washington DC Theater
- A Monster Calls | Jun 1st - 12th
- Shear Madness | Jun 1st - 12th
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (New York City Ballet) | Jun 7th - 12th
- Jersey Boys | Jun 14th - 26th
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Jun 21st, 22nd
- To Kill a Mockingbird | Jun 21st - 30th
- Blippi: The Musical | Jun 25th
Columbia and Baltimore Theater
- Rocky: The Musical | Jun 1st - 5th
- The Spongebob Musical | Jun 10th - 30th
- Hairspray | Jun 14th - 19th
For even more opportunities, check the following list of theatrical performances in Washington DC during the month of June.
4. Take the Kids to Monster Jam
If your kids love motorsports and gigantic vehicles, chances are they won't want to miss Monster Jam when the show comes to town on June 11th, 2022.
This event features some of the most well-known monster trucks in the world competing in a variety of contests. While judges will determine the winner of some competitions, others will be decided by the vote of the audience!
Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: If you're looking for more fun activities for fans of all ages, check our family-friendly section below.
5. Take a Sightseeing Tour
There are so many ways to explore Washington, DC, but of course, we think that our pay-what-you-wish tours are the way to go.
Staring on June 5, we have a series of local neighborhood tours every Saturday.
- June 06: H ST NE
- June 12: Anacostia
- June 19: LeDroit Park
- June 26: Old Town Alexandria
In addition to bus tours and boat cruises, there are bike and segway tours.
You can explore on your own. We offer a GPS-enabled audio tour app, free self-guided tours and neighborhood guides.
Learn about all those monuments and memorials in DC and plan your visit to each of them.
6. Attend John Williams 90th Birthday Gala Concert
The beloved composter of popular films such as Star Wars, Superman, and Indiana Jones will be celebrating his 90th birthday with a concert at the Kennedy Center on June 23rd, 2022.
This event will be attended by several well-known and famous friends of John, including Steven Spielberg and Yo-Yo Ma.
As you might have guessed, you can expect to hear a lot of his most popular music, and given that one of his guests actually directed the films he scored, you might even get to hear them say a word or two about his incredible work.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
7. Smithsonian Museums & Folklife Festival
Many of the Smithsonian Museums have reopened, but all require timed tickets. You can check out our advice on how to get tickets to the Smithsonian Museums here.
On June 22nd - 26th and 30th, experience traditions from around the world virtually at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
This celebration hosted by the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
For more free things to do in DC in June, check out our free things to do section below.
8. Visit Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of the best known military cemeteries in our nation.
Take a free walking tour or a trolley tour to learn about specific graves and history, or take a self-guided tour to enjoy at your own place.
Visitors will immediately notice the beauty of the landscape as they stroll through the cemetery, which is home to over 8,600 native and exotic trees.
9. Military Parades
The Marines also their Evening Parade from the Marines Barracks on Friday evenings.
Reservations are required, but are free.
On Tuesdays, you can watch the Sunset Parade from the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial - this event does NOT require tickets or reservations. Read more about it here.
Check out our nighttime activities section for more details.
This is particularly popular with families and we detail it in our family-friendly section.
10. Look into a Tourist Discount Pass
Tourist attraction passes bundle together many popular attractions and tours into one discounted price and can save you over 50%.
They also can save you time with skip-the-ticket-line privileges.
We detail how these passes work and help you decide which, if any, is best for you.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT
June is a lovely month weather-wise so spending some time outside after the sun goes down is a treat!
Some of our top ten items are great for evenings like watching a baseball game.
Here are a few more night time activities for the month of June.
For more nighttime activities, visit our post on things to do at night in DC.
Take a Walking Tour!
We offer a number of tours in the evening. Our daily 745pm Memorials and Moonlight Tour lets you explore the National Mall after the sun sets.
Other night tours that we offer include:
You might also be interested in a bike or bus night tour.
Kennedy Center Reach's Victura Park
The outdoor beer and wine picnic area at Kennedy Center's Reach is both kid and dog friendly! You'll find beer, wine, cocktails and prepared food to eat at picnic tables or bring your own blanket. (just don't bring your own food!)
Entrance to the Kennedy Center is free and you can take our free self guided tour of Kennedy Center along with you.
Stay Late at a Museum
Celebrate the long summer days by staying late at the Smithsonian Museums.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery stay open until 7 pm every day.
We offer guided tours of many of the Smithsonian Museums!
For our definitive guide to all the best museums in DC, visit our post.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN JUNE IN DC
DC is (fortunately) overloaded with free things to do! A lot of the items we've listed in other sections like the Kennedy Center and National Zoo are 100% free to enter!
Here are a few more activities for the month.
For even more budget-friendly ideas, check out our post on free things to do in DC.
UNCONFIRMED: See a Free Outdoor Movie
Starting in June, you can see outdoor screenings of movies for free!
With huge blow-up screens, bring a blanket and some snacks.
For a complete schedule of films, dates, and locations, visit here.
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
From May 20 through July, 2022 you can listen to jazz at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.
Reservations are required and are bookable a week in advance - they go FAST!
For a complete schedule of performances, visit here.Â
Capital Pride Celebration
For the month of June, you can enjoy loads of events that celebrate LGBTQ Pride!
The Pride Parade will be taking place at Logan & Dupont Circle on June 11th from 3 pm - 7:30 pm.
It is a free and family-friendly event and should be a lot of fun! Get more details here.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN JUNE
Washington, DC is super family-friendly! There are also so many activity options available, there is sure to be something to fit everyone's tastes.
A few activities we've listed above like taking a Potomac River cruise. Here are a few more kid-friendly things to do in June.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do with kids in DC for even more ideas.
Head to the Zoo!
A part of the Smithsonian Institution (meaning admission is free!), the National Zoo offers families a variety of animals and fun when they visit.
Don't miss the zoo's largest draw - the giant pandas that are currently on loan from China.
Other animals highlights include gorillas, elephants, lions, and zebras, or watch the orangutans walk the high wire every morning
Read more about the Zoo and remember timed tickets are required to enter the Zoo (and ANOTHER ticket is needed to see the Pandas)
Cool Off at the Georgetown Waterfront Park
Escape the DC humidity along the banks of the Potomac River at the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
Children will enjoy splashing around on the accessible fountain splash pad and lounging on the riverfront steps leading up to the water.
Our Historic Georgetown walking tour starts here and our family-friendly Ghosts of Georgetown Tour begins not too far away.
Celebrate Father's Day!
In addition to the traditional barbeque and baseball game, why not celebrate Father's Day with the "Father of our Country" George Washington at Mount Vernon?
You can meet and greet the General through the weekend at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m in the program "Father to the First Family."
You can also meet our first First Lady June 25-26 to celebrate Martha Washington's birthday!
Find out more about visiting Mount Vernon.
See DC From the Potomac River
Washington DC has two rivers - the Potomac and the Anacostia and both have kayak and boat rental options.
You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats in Georgetown, the Wharf, even the Tidal Basin. Check it out: https://boatingindc.com/dc-activities/rentals/
RELATED CONTENT
- Things to Do in May
- Things to Do in July
- Be sure to read our master post on things to do in DC for even more ideas.
