What to Do in Washington DC in February

This list of our favorite things to do in February in Washington DC, updated for 2020, including free, nighttime, as well as family-friendly events and things to do.

TOP 10 EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY

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 February, you’ll be able to find multiple concerts in the area.

Tori Kelly – February 4
Lizz Wright – February 6
Three Dog Night – February 7
Gaelic Storm – February 12
Mike Doughty – February 21
Ana Popovic – February 23
Marty Stuart – February 27

Click here to see all the DC area concerts.

2) See a Sporting Event

In February, both the Washington Wizards, our basketball team, and the Washington Capitals, our hockey team, are in their regular season.

You can find all the matches and games here.

Basketball

Hockey

Find tickets to all the games in DC here.

3) Enjoy the Theatre

Looking for an entertaining way to spend an afternoon or evening in DC?

Luckily, there are some popular Broadway musicals on tour, as well as a local ballet company with performances in February.

You can find all the theatre and dance in DC here.

Wicked

The popular musical about the misunderstood wicked witch of the west and how she became an outcast is running from February 12 – 29, 2020.

Million Dollar Quartet

There is one opportunity to see the Million Dollar Quartet hit the stage on February 24, 2020. It’s based on the actual jam session with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

Giselle

The American Ballet Theatre is producing the classic Giselle from February 11 – 16, 2020 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Find more evening activities here.

Find all the theatre performances in February here.

4) Tourist Attraction Discount Passes

Tourist attraction discount passes bundle together popular area attractions and tours into one discounted price – they can also save you up to 50%.

They also can save you time with skip-the-ticket-line access to select activities.

Attractions you can see with these passes include:

CitySights Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
International Spy Museum
Madame Tussauds
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.

5) Take a Sightseeing Tour

A Washington DC Lunch Cruise includes sightseeing tour, brunch, and live DJ for an enjoyable afternoon regardless of the temperatures.

You’ll be able to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Kennedy Center, Alexandria and more.

Our guided walks are free to join and operate on a pay-what-you-like basis, which means you decide what a tour was worth or what you could afford (even free) when the tour is over.

We also have self-guided tours and GPS-enabled audio tours of neighborhoods that you will likely visit as a tourist in the city.

6) Celebrate Valentine’s Day

No matter who you’re traveling with, you can find some great Valentine’s Day activities to enjoy!

Local restaurants will be busy and will most likely need reservations for February 14.

Enjoy Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson at the Kennedy Center for a Valentine’s Day concert, or head out to the Baltimore Symphony on Saturday night.

You can also enjoy a night at the theatre for The Kings Speech.

7) President’s Day Weekend

Washington DC is the best place in the US to be for President’s Day Weekend.

Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday

In honor of President’s Day weekend, why not visit the home of our first President, George Washington?

Admission to Mount Vernon is free on Monday, February 17th, 2020, with special events and ceremonies taking place throughout the day and weekend.

More information can be found here.

Experience a Parade

Every year, Old Town Alexandria hosts a parade to honor our first President. It is the oldest and largest parade dedicated to George Washington.

In addition to the event itself, the parade hosts a “cherry challenge” among the restaurants in Alexandria – keep an eye on the menu if you dine in Old Town! For parade details, visit here.

8) Black History Month

Black History Month is the annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African-Americans in U.S. history.

Throughout the month of February, various museums will host special events in conjunction with Black History Month.

Smithsonian Museums

The Smithsonian Institution will host a series of film screenings, panel discussions, and special events for Black History Month.

DC Public Library

The DC Public Library system not only hosts events throughout the city to celebrate Black History Month, they’ve also included a recommended reading list on their website. This is a great resource for families visiting DC!

Take a self-guided tour that focuses on Black History of DC:

Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture

The newest Smithsonian is also one of the most popular museums of the National Mall. We highly recommend a visit to this museum and have detailed how to get tickets here.

9) See a Kid-Focused Production

If you’re looking for some family-friendly entertainment, there are two live shows that are aimed directly at the kids!

Disney on Ice is running from February 5 – 9, 2020.

You’ll get to see Disney movie characters spinning, gliding, and jumping across the ice in time to a light and music show.

Paw Patrol Live brings everyone’s favorite fluffy heroes from the TV to the stage.

There are five performances on February 1 – 2, 2020. The recognizable puppies will be dancing and singing around the stage.

Find more family-friendly theater here.

10) Catch a Kennedy Center Performance

The Kennedy Center is our national cultural center and a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.

There are performances 7 days a week, 365 days a year from opera to ballet, musical theatre, comedy, music, and more!

Arrive early and explore our self-guided tour of the Kennedy Center!

The full calendar of events and tickets can be found here, but some highlights for February include Megan Hilty and the National Symphony.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Phillips After 5

Each month, Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle stays open late for a night of fun and art. Decorate a mask, grab a drink, and warm up with lively music and celebratory activities.

$12; $10 for visitors 62 and over and students. We highly encourage advanced tickets.

Cupid’s Bar Crawl

This annual celebration around Dupont Circle brings brightly clad singles, couples and more to celebrate the season of love.

Dress up in whatever inspires you but cupids and angels are a common theme.

The event is limited to a certain number of tickets and includes special promotions, drink deals and music from 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm on February 9, 2020.

Ice Skating Rinks

Put on those ice skates and make the most of winter weather with skating – day and night.

All the venues listed on our Ice Skating in Washington DC post are open every day in February (pending weather conditions), so take advantage of a crisp winter day with a skating adventure!

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About the author

Canden Arciniega

Canden is a historian and tour guide in Washington DC with 3 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 Travel Channel and Discovery Family Channel. Canden is the host of our podcast, Tour Guide Tell All

With a M.A. in History from University College London and a B.A. in History from Elon University, she is an authority on D.C. history, and has led tours in the city for over 10 years. She currently resides in DC, but has also lived in London and South Korea, and has travelled to 25 countries. Her two children (both under the age of 3) have their passports and own frequent flier accounts.