This list of our favorite things to do in March 2023 in Washington DC, including free, nighttime, as well as family-friendly events and things to do.
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 MARCH
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. Find a Concert
The DC Metro area is a hotspot for great musical talent. During March, you’ll be able to find multiple concerts in the area.
Coming in March are:
- Journey | March 1st
- Lyle Lovett | March 8th, 9th (Alexandria)
- Elvis Costello | March 9th
- Keith Sweat | March 16th
- Sara Evans | March 23rd, 24th
- Chaka Khan | March 26th (Oxon Hill)
- Bruce Springsteen | March 27th
Click here to see all the DC area concerts.
2. See a Sporting Event
In March, both the Washington Wizards, our basketball team, and the Washington Capitals, our hockey team, are in their regular season.
Here are the teams with games in the DC area in March.
Basketball
Hockey
Soccer
Baseball
Find tickets to all the games in DC on StubHub.
3. Enjoy the Theatre
Seeing a musical is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon or evening in DC.
Here are some shows in town this month:
- Into the Woods | March 1st - 19th
- Shear Madness | March 4th, 20th
- Jagged Little Pill | March 14th - 26th
- Hits! The Musical | March 22nd
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T. | March 22nd, 23rd (Tysons and Baltimore)
Find all the theatre performances in March on StubHub.
4. Springtime Walking Tours
As winter closes, we start to offer more walking tours throughout the week.
Some tours return from hibernation: Embassy Row tour, Old Town Alexandria, and Eastern Market Desserts.
Our Arlington National Cemetery tour goes back to its regular hours and for springtime only, we offer a Cherry Blossoms on the Basin tour.
Read about each of these tours and see when they are offered on our Tour Calendar page.
Find out more about these tours on our Women's History Month page.
5. St. Patrick's Day in Washington DC
St. Patrick's Day falls on Friday, March 17, 2023, and there are many great things to do in Washington DC to celebrate the Irish.
Make your way around the pubs, live music, festivals, and visiting sites dedicated to or built by Irish immigrants and descendants.
You can also join events such as Washington DC Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl or the Alexandria Shamrock Stroll and Bar Crawl
Plan your visit to DC on St. Patrick's Day with our helpful guide.
6. Save Money with a Tourist Discount Pass
Tourist attraction discount 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.
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
We detail how these passes work and help you decide which, if any, is best for you.
If you're ready to purchase a pass, you can find a few of them here: Day Pass - Washington Sightseeing | Flex Pass - Washington Sightseeing
7. See a Comedian's Stand-Up Routine
Some big-name comedians will be traveling through the DC area in March! There's sure to be an event for most tastes.
Here's who's on tap:
- Trevor Noah | March 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
- Margaret Cho | March 10th
- Jo Koy | March 11
- Bill Bellamy | March 25th (Oxon Hill)
Find all the comedy shows in DC on StubHub.
8. National Cherry Blossom Festival
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington DC’s top draw in Springtime and lasts from late March until mid-April.
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.
You will find fireworks, street festivals, parades, special exhibits, and tours on offer throughout DC.
Check out our full post on the Cherry Blossom Festival to learn more.
9. See a WWE event
If you're a fan of WWE, you're in luck!
WWE Friday Night Smackdown comes to the Capitol One Arena in downtown DC on March 3rd.
Tickets can be purchased here.
10. Experience the National Symphony Orchestra
The National Symphony Orchestra will be performing throughout the month at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
If you're a fan of classical music, this is an excellent opportunity to hear a live performance from one of the best orchestras in the country.
They will also be holding the following special productions:
- Conrad Tao plays Shostakovich | March 2nd, 4th
- Stanislav Kochanovsky directs Tchaikovsky's Pathetique & Stephen Hough plays Rachmaninoff | March 23rd, 25th, 25th
- Midori plays Korngold & Korngold conducts Ravell | March 31st
For tickets and seating, click here.
Run the Rock N Roll Race
Running in the Rock N Roll Race is the perfect way to get a view of some of DC's best-known locations, including the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and more.
You'll find live music and DJs along the course, and after the race, even more live music.
Registrants get participant t-Shirts, and those who finish either the half marathon or 5K get medals.
Events take place on March 18, 2023.
For more information and to register, visit the race website.
DC Independent Film Festival
The DC Independent Film Forum (DCIFF) has been celebrating independent films since 1999.
They "provide screenings, seminars, workshops, and discussions" around independent filmmaking.
This year their film festival takes place March 1st-5th, with a planned 42 films, along with discussions, happy hours, and more.
Tickets can be purchased here, and additional information can be found on the Forum's website.
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.
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