DMV Cultural Festivals & Things-to-Do by Month

Updated: 1/29/25
all ages

There’s a wide variety of kid-friendly cultural festivals and other things-to-do in celebration of heritage and identity. I believe it’s so important to expose children to a variety of cultures and people to better prepare them to face the ever-changing world around them.

Notes: This post will be updated weekly to include cultural festivals and things-to-do for the current and upcoming month. As new events are announced/released that information will be added here.

Some observances are more popular than others like Black History Month and Pride Month. For those topics, some events will be added here as well as a link to the full list of events.

Be mindful that things can change at any moment. Please make sure to click the links and confirm details before heading out.

None of the links displayed are affiliate links. From time to time, I add sponsored events, which are labeled sponsored. Admission prices are generally not affected by these sponsorships; however, we are sometimes given community discounts/promo codes. If this is the case, I will mention the discount/promo code.

If you have the scoop on additional events not shown or would like to recommend a holiday/cultural observance to highlight, email me (Sarah) at [email protected]!

January

Lunar New Year – 01/29/25

Washington, DC

1/25 at 6:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration: Stephanie Chou at The Kennedy Center
1/29 – 2/2 | National Ballet of China: Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts) at The Kennedy Center ($)
2/1 at 11:30 am | Lunar New Year Celebration at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
2/1 at 1:00 pm | Family Fun at the National Museum of Asian Art
2/1 at 3:00 pm | Lunar New Year Market at Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building
2/2 at 2:00 pm | DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown
2/12 at 5:30 pm | Chinese New Year Lantern Festival at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library

Maryland

1/25 at 2:00 pm | Celebrate Lunar New Year with Li-Ming Chinese Academy at Wheaton Library
1/25 at 2:00 pm | Celebrate the Year of the Snake with Jenn’s Uncommon Critters at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
1/26 at 6:00 pm | Lion Dance at MGM National Harbor
1/29 at 11:00 am | Ozobots on Lunar New Year at Glenwood Branch Library in Cooksville
1/31 | Lunar New Year: What Animal Are You? at Savage Branch Library in Laurel
- Find out what animal matches your birth year, then decorate a paper animal to join others in this self-directed community art project.
2/1 at 10:00 am | Lunar New Year Celebration at College Park City Hall
2/1 at 10:30 am | CCACC Lunar New Year at Westfield Wheaton
2/1 at 11:00 am | Dim Sum of Crafts at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City (Best for ages 4+)
2/1 at 1:00 pm | Celebrations with Community: Lunar New Year Festival at East Columbia Branch Library
2/7 at 5:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration at Tanger National Harbor
2/8 at 11:00 am | 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Westfield Montgomery
- Lantern and Riddle Festival

Virginia

1/26 at 11:00 am | Japanese New Year Celebration at George Mason University Mason Square ($)
1/28 at 5:00 pm | Lunar New Year Celebration at Central Place Plaza in Rosslyn

Virtual

1/16 at 5:00 pm | Lunar New Year Calligraphy with Jojo Liu hosted by Charles County Public Library
- Join at 6:00 pm for the DIY Chinese New Year Couplet Workshop
1/30 at 1:00 pm | Lunar New Year Webinar: Celebrate the Year of the Snake for Grades 1-3 hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art on Zoom
1/31 at 1:00 pm | Lunar New Year Webinar: Celebrate the Year of the Snake for Grades 4-6 hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art on Zoom

February

Black History Month

Washington, DC

1/31 & 2/4 – 2/7 | Black Diamond hosted by Discovery Theater (Best for ages 7-11)
- This Discovery Theater original chronicles the struggles and triumphs of pioneering African American baseball players.
2/1 at 10:30 am | NMAAHC Kids Story Time: Stacey’s Extraordinary Words at the National Museum of African American Museum of History and Culture (Best for ages 4-8)
2/1 at 10:30 am, 11:45 am & 1:00 pm | Dance Sanctuaries curated by KanKouran Dance Company at The Kennedy Center
2/2 at 7:30 pm | Living the Dream…Singing the Dream: A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at The Kennedy Center ($)
2/4 – 2/9 | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at The Kennedy Center ($)
2/6 at 4:30 pm | Craft-ernoon at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (Best for ages 4+)
- Make Alma Thomas Tactile Collages
2/15 at 10:30 am | NMAAHC Kids Story Time: The Way Champs Play at the National Museum of African American Museum of History and Culture (Best for ages 4-8)

Maryland

1/25 | Afternoon Aviators: Black History Month at College Park Aviation Museum ($) (Best for ages 8-12)
1/27 – 2/28 | Annual Black History Month Exhibition at Montpelier Arts Center
- Attend the public reception on 2/1 at 2:00 pm
2/1 at 2:00 pm | Afro Blue: A Black History Month Celebration at Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex (SAARC) ($)
- Howard University’s premiere jazz ensemble, Afro Blue.
2/1 at 2:00 pm | Goode Inventions at Montpelier House Museum ($)
- Create your own scrapbook about pioneering inventors and go on a scavenger hunt to discover the fascinating stories behind everyday objects and the innovators who created them.
2/25 | Black History’s Groundbreaking Geniuses at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse ($)
- This show focuses on the brilliance of over a dozen amazing characters from Black History: Scientists like surgeon Daniel Hale Williams, mathematicians like Dorothy Vaughan, Literary Geniuses like Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou, and artistic geniuses like Alvin Ailey.

Virginia

Tuesdays & Thursdays in February at 11:00 am | Story Time: “Mae Among the Stars” at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
- Parking is $15.

President’s Day – 02/17/2024

Washington, DC

2/15 at 11:30 am | Presidential Family Fun Day at the National Portrait Gallery

Virginia

2/15 at 2:00 pm | 2025 George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria
2/17 at 9:00 am | Free Admission for George Washington’s Birthday at Mount Vernon Estate
2/22 at 9:00 am | George Washington’s 293rd Birthday at Mount Vernon Estate ($)

Virtual

2/20 – 2/21 | George Washington’s Birthday in Your Classroom: A Virtual K-12 Program hosted by Mount Vernon Estate

Past Celebrations

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 01/20/25

Washington, DC

1/18 at 9:00 am | Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Tree Care at Anacostia Park
1/18 | MLK Day of Service in SE
- 1/18 at 10:30 am | 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Walk and Parade
  - Attend the 6th Annual MLK Holiday DC Health & Wellness Fair at the Entertainment & Sports Arena too.
1/18 at 12:00 pm | Messages to Dr. King: Plate Art with Rain Young at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
1/19 – 1/20 at 10:00 am | Stitching Together a Movement at Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
1/26 at 11:00 am | Community Day: The People’s Holiday: A Love of Literacy at the National Museum of African American History & Culture
- In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, there will be a service project to make literacy packets for pre-readers across Washington, D.C.
1/26 at 1:00 pm | A Day of Action at National Portrait Gallery
- Geared toward mobilizing teens and young adults but open to all, this event featuring local social justice organizations and community groups will empower visitors.

Maryland

1/18 at 1:00 pm | A Drum Major for Justice: Poetry Tribute to MLK at Arts’tination National Harbor
1/19 at 3:00 pm | Painting the Dream in Color: An Artistic Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King at Arts’tination National Harbor
1/19 – 1/20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend: A Celebration of Freedom at B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ($)
1/20 | Port Discovery MLK Activities in Baltimore ($)
1/20 at 10:00 am | Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Buddy Attick Park in Greenbelt
1/20 at 1:00 pm | Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at College Park City Hall
- Includes a laser program, book giveaway and Selma movie screening at 4:00 pm.
1/21 at 4:00 pm | Crafternoon: Dream Vision Boards at Hillcrest Heights Library in Temple Hills
1/21 at 6:00 pm | Open Mic: “I Have a Dream” at Glenarden Library

Virginia

1/18 at 8:30 am | MLK Day of Service at Washington Liberty High School
1/18 at 10:00 am | “J is for Justice! An Activism Alphabet” Storytime in honor of MLK Day in Tysons (Best for ages 4-8)
1/18 at 7:00 pm | Collage Dance Collective presents “Rise” at the Alden Theatre in McLean ($)
1/19 at 5:00 pm | MLK Tribute at Wakefield High School
1/20 at 9:00 am | School’s Out! Make Martin Luther King’s Favorite Foods at Cookology ($)
- There’s also a 1:30 pm class!
- Young chefs will learn to prepare a soulful New Orleans Gumbo with chicken and sausage, mastering the art of creating a flavorful roux and the perfect blend of spices.

Virtual

1/6 at 5:00 pm | Teacher Workshop: Faces of the 1963 March on Washington via National Portrait Gallery

Best Museums

Most museums host festivals too! Check out this list of 20+ Best Museums for kids and teens in DC.

Tap to see Best DC Museums

More Events

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