The final weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival brings a blizzard of events, including a parade on Constitution Avenue NW; a two-day street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW; and a day of music, art and games in Franklin Park. But events are popping up all over the region, including an exhibit on state flowers at the U.S. Botanic Garden, a walk and bike ride that lead to a tulip festival along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a flower-centric tour of Georgetown, and two early Earth Day celebrations. Music fills the air at Mosh Madness, a festival of basketball and punk, and the center of Dupont Circle. Artists lead tours of pop-up artworks in Adams Morgan, and a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art. Pop-up markets celebrate local makers in Ballston, Navy Yard and Columbia Heights, while Rhizome encourages the community to trade their old records, VHS tapes and DVDs for something new.
Thursday, April 9
The Masters viewing parties
The 90th edition of the Masters begins Thursday, and while interest is sure to rev up closer to Sunday’s final round, there are D.C. bars offering specials during the early rounds. “The Masters is our Super Bowl” says the Muni, the Logan Circle bar where golf simulators and putting greens are major attractions. It’s offering rotating drinks specials all weekend, and discounted rates for groups booking time on the simulators on Thursday and Friday. Downtown, the Madhatter is setting up a putting green for customers to try to sink putts to win prizes. The Dupont bar is also offering pimento cheese sandwiches and the tournament’s signature Azalea cocktail. The Greene Turtle near Nationals Park is also offering pimento cheese sandwiches — grilled, with bacon and jalapeños — and a $7 Water Hazard cocktail, while the tournament is shown on screens. Quincy Hall’s viewing parties lead up to Sunday’s putting challenge, a contest with a $100 gift card from the Ballston sports bar for the winner. There are drink specials all day, plus a best dressed contest.
Paul Robeson’s Birthday at Busboys and Poets
April 9 is officially Paul Robeson Day in D.C., in honor of the actor, singer and activist who died in 1976. The original Busboys and Poets, at 14th and V streets NW, hosts an evening dedicated to Robeson with a performance by Children’s Legacy Theater, as well as local poets, singers and activists. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free.
‘The Life of a Poet’ at Hill Center
Brian Gilmore’s “No More Worlds to Conquer: The Black Poet in Washington D.C.” explores the history and influence of the Black poetry scene in the District over more than a century, from Paul Laurence Dunbar through Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer and Gwendolyn Brooks to the present day. Gilmore discusses his work, and D.C.’s role as a literary capital, with prizewinning poet Kyle Dargan at the Hill Center. 7 p.m. $12.
Rum.gold at the Atlantis
Delonte Drumgold had his breakthrough moment as Rum.gold on a duet with Jamila Woods, offering a chilling falsetto in juxtaposition to the Chicago singer’s world-weary warble. Born and raised in the DMV, Drumgold has quickly emerged as a singer-songwriter to follow. He pays tribute to his childhood with the album “U Street Anthology” and tackles generational trauma on “Is There Anybody Home?,” where he’s at his most comfortable on soothing songs drawn from timeless soul music traditions. 6:30 p.m. $32.50.
Friday, April 10
‘America’s State Flowers’ at the U.S. Botanic Garden
Surround yourself with the scents and colors of America throughout the U.S. Botanic Garden, as the official flowers of every state and territory are featured in “America’s State Flowers.” Rather than being grouped together in one exhibit space, the blooms will be displayed in their proper habitat, so you might see Minnesota’s showy lady’s slipper among the orchids, or find the saguaro cactus flower, representing Arizona, in the World Deserts section. The flowers are spread among the main conservatory, the outdoor gardens and the Bartholdi Fountain across the street, so seeing them all might take some time. (Don’t worry: A map will be available if you want to quickly locate your home state’s flower.) Through Oct. 12. Free.
The Art of Pink at National Landing
During the final weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Art of Pink party at National Landing’s Metropolitan Park brings a pop-up gallery with more than 30 artists, a live paint battle hosted by Secret Walls, art activations at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, a DJ, and food and drinks vendors including Bar Chinois and Fat Fish. 5 to 10 p.m. Free.
Rinse FM at Transmission DC
For the first 16 years of its existence, London’s Rinse FM was an illegal pirate radio station, broadcasting dubstep, grime and house music from makeshift studios in East London tower blocks while giving breaks to DJs and MCs like Skream, Skepta and Dizzee Rascal. It became London’s biggest underground station, and despite going legit in 2010, Rinse still focuses on emerging dance music and artists. A Rinse-curated club night at H Street’s Transmission features Rinse resident DJ Conducta bringing his signature blend of garage and house, alongside club beats from New York’s Kush Jones and locals, including Flotussin and JR2K. 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. $40.
Blossom Pop-Up Market at Ballston Quarter
More than a dozen vendors sell jewelry, flowers, candles, paper goods and other items at a seasonal market on the Ballston Quarter Plaza. The market coincides with “Blossom,” a display of Instagrammable floral installations on the mall’s first level. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free.
Saturday, April 11
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade fills Constitution Avenue NW with marching bands, festively decorated floats, giant helium balloons and live entertainment. Viewing the parade from the sidewalk between Seventh and 17th streets is free, but if you would like to purchase guaranteed seats, grandstand tickets are available near the National Archives or the finish line by the Washington Monument. This year’s performers include Broadway star Anastacia McCleskey, singers David Archuleta and Gabby Samone, soulful vocalist Raheem DeVaughn, and ’80s R&B group Club Nouveau. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free; grandstand seats $28-$45.
Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW
The Sakura Matsuri Japanese street festival, run by the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., has entertained Washingtonians and visitors for more than 60 years. The two-day event includes music and martial-arts performances multiple stages on a closed section of Pennsylvania Avenue NW. There will be a dedicated J-pop stage, a traditional marketplace, food and drink vendors, pavilions dedicated to such topics as technology and the regions of Japan, a display of modified Itasha cars, and hands-on cultural experiences such as a sake tasting. Last year’s popular sumo demonstrations return, with bouts on both days. There are special stages and activities for children throughout the weekend. Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.$20-$35; free for children 10 and younger.
Art Blooms at the Mosaic District
Attractions at the two-day Art Blooms in Fairfax’s Mosaic District include a marketplace of makers and vintage vendors from across the region, live music and dance performances, and a farmers market with food and drinks. Take advantage of the free shuttle from the Dunn Loring Metro station. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free.
Dupont Cherry Blossom Celebration
Returning for a third year, the Dupont Cherry Blossom Celebration mixes a pop-up market on sidewalks throughout the neighborhood; an afternoon tea party with free samples in Dupont Circle; and a talk about kimono at Dupont Underground. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Free.
Georgetown Flower Tour
Build a beautiful spring bouquet, one flower stem at a time, during the Georgetown Flower Tour, which sends ticket holders on a walk around the historic shopping district, visiting a dozen shops to collect blooms. You’ll receive a bouquet bag when checking in, and then participating small businesses like Tuckernuck, Take Care and Shop Made in DC pass out a different flower for your arrangement. Spring for a VIP ticket to take advantage of a hands-on flower arranging workshop with the owner of Georgetown Garden Shop. 1 to 5 p.m. with check-in time options on the hour. $44.43 for general admission and $92.41 for VIP tickets.
‘Dear America’ at the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery has a multipronged approach to celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The latest addition is “Dear America,” an exhibition with more than 100 photographs, prints and drawings showing how artists have depicted “the country’s landscape, people, and concepts of freedom” over the past 250 years, with works by Dorothea Lange, Thomas Hart Benton, Carleton Watkins and Thomas Moran. On opening day, artist Sedrick E. Huckaby, whose lithographs are on display in the exhibit, and co-curator Angélica Becerra lead a gallery talk, beginning at 2 p.m. (registration is required for the discussion). Through Sept. 20. Free.
AdMo Art Walk Guided Tours
The DC Art Center and the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District teamed up to create the AdMo Art Walk, which brings original works of art to storefronts across the neighborhood. While you can explore the art on your own, it’s more informative to go on a 45-minute guided walk with one of the DC Arts Center’s artists and staff, before ducking into a neighborhood bar or restaurant for some refreshment. The exhibits will be on display through the end of April. Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. $12.51.
Stamp Out Waste at the National Postal Museum
Multiple Smithsonian museums come together under one roof for this kid-centric Earth Month celebration. Turn a newspaper into a seed container with Smithsonian Gardens, Make crafts with nature images with the Natural History Museum, and binoculars with the National Zoo. Postal Museum-inspired activities include “Postcards for the Planet” and “Stamped for Sustainability,” as well as conservation-themed tours of the galleries, while the D.C. Public Library brings its Book Bike for story time. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.
Marvin Day(e) Rooftop Party at Eighteenth Street Lounge
A belated birthday party for D.C. music legend Marvin Gaye brings together four DJs who spun at legendary U Street venues including Marvin and Patty Boom Boom. Wes Felton, Keenan Orr, Malcolm Xavier and DJ Face team up for a night of soul, R&B, house and other dance floor-filling sounds. Promoters say they’re “rolling out the red carpet for friends 35 and older” — maybe that’s why doors open at 4 p.m. 4 to 10 p.m. Free.
Mosh Madness at Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
March Madness is an annual tradition shared by millions of people who watch college basketball, fill out brackets, and root for upsets and underdogs. In that spirit, D.C.’s local scene has Mosh Madness, a music festival, basketball tournament and fundraiser rolled into one. Think fewer fifth-vs.-12th-seed matchups and more four-on-the-floor mosh pits. Now in its second year, Mosh Madness features three-on-three basketball soundtracked by Colo, a Woodbridge outfit pushing hardcore toward turn-of-the-millennium hard rock, moody rock trio RenRiot, D.C. standouts Pretty Bitter and Spring Silver, and others. New sponsors, including I.M.P. and the nonprofit group DC Music Summit, have helped the festival up its game. And, like last year, Mosh Madness is raising money for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. $20.
Ayuda Benefit Concert at DC9
Mosh Madness isn’t the only show with social justice on its agenda in April. After the Mosh Madness champions have been crowned, there’s a benefit at DC9 for Ayuda, an organization that provides legal, social and language services to immigrants, featuring three bands: Araujia, which gazes into the metallic void, noise rockers Baltimore Avenue and metalcore band Palisades. 7 p.m. $19.57-$23.28.
Heaven Forbid at Desert 5 Spot
D.C. country-punk sensations Heaven Forbid are performing live on local low-power radio station Takoma Radio (94.3, WOWD-FM) on Saturday afternoon, but instead of playing in a studio, they’ll be onstage at the western-themed Desert 5 Spot in Union Market. The band begins at 4 p.m., just after the usual brunch rush. 4 p.m. Free.
Physical Media Swap at Rhizome
Remember when you couldn’t find every song, TV show or movie on the internet? A community swap meet at Rhizome invites you to bring records, DVDs, VHS cassettes, music cassettes — anything that’s in playable condition — to trade on Saturday afternoon. Don’t feel guilty if you just want to drop off CDs you no longer listen to, because the motto is “Take what you want, and leave what you don’t.” Noon to 4 p.m. Free.
Gin Dance Company Aurora Fest at Capital One Hall
Ten dance companies and 16 choreographers are featured at Aurora Fest, the showcase for local dancers organized by Gin Dance Company. Expect a mix of modern, ballet and flamenco, with a guest appearance by tap dancer Luke Spring, who has appeared in the Broadway version of “A Christmas Story” and Arena Stage’s “Newsies.” 6:30 p.m. $57.40.
Music in the Circle in Dupont Circle
In addition to the pop-up markets and other events happening around Dupont Circle this weekend, Saturday afternoon brings Music in the Circle, the warm-weather concert series in the neighborhood’s titular park. This week’s featured act is I Luv That 4 U, a pop group that performs jazzy covers of Olivia Deane, Free Nationals, Thundercat and Chappell Roan, as well as originals. Noon to 3 p.m. Free.
‘Descenes and Discords’ at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library
As D.C.’s underground punk and hardcore scenes began to blow up in the late 1970s and early ’80s, Howard Wuelfing was there, writing about music for The Washington Post and his own zines, first Descenes, and later Discords. Of course, Wuelfing wasn’t just covering the Bad Brains and Black Flag — he was a member of bands including the Slickee Boys and Half Japanese. “Descenes and Discords: An Anthology” collects Wuelfing’s first-hand reports from those long-ago zines, providing a look into the early days of D.C. punk and much more. He discusses the new book with musician and historian John Davis, the author of “Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington D.C.,” and veteran music writer Mark Jenkins. 2 to 3 p.m. Free.
Pros and Caddies at Problem Child
Following on the Masters theme (see Thursday events above), Navy Yard’s Problem Child is hosting a golf-themed pop-up on Saturday afternoon. Golf-inspired looks are requested, whether that’s tech polos and green jackets or “Happy Gilmore” hockey jerseys and Bushwood Country Club T-shirts. There’s a DJ to set the mood, as well as golf on TV. Reminder: Problem Child offers 90 minutes of bottomless beer, mimosas and bloody marys on Saturdays for $19, beginning at noon. 2 to 8 p.m. Free.
Dacha Springfest at Dacha Navy Yard
Peruse handmade items from a curated lineup of 15 makers at Dacha’s riverside beer garden while listening to country and classic rock covers by Tennessee Frisky and sipping Dogfish Head beers. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.
Sunday, April 12
Jazz and Blossoms at Franklin Park
“Learn,” “Move” and “Play” are the themes at D.C. arts organization Words, Beats and Life’s annual Jazz and Blossoms Festival in Franklin Park. Learn to DJ or participate in swing and hip-hop dance workshops; try double dutch or hula hooping; or build with Legos. Write haikus and fold origami, or watch graffiti artists create a mural. A stacked lineup of performances throughout the day includes the Chuck Brown Band; R&B vocalist Tweet; local hip-hop veteran Oddisee and Good Company; and Funset DJs Harry Hotter and Jahsonic. Noon to 7 p.m. Free.
Mount Vernon Trail tulip bike ride and walk
Get some exercise while visiting a few of Arlington’s loveliest tulip patches during either a group walk or bike ride, both hosted by Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail. The two events happen simultaneously, setting off from Rosslyn’s Compass Coffee toward the trail and ending at the Netherlands Carillon, where the National Park Service is hosting a tulip festival with live music and activities for all. The walk spans five miles and the bike ride covers eight miles, both moving at a casual pace with time allotted to snap photos of the colorful flowers. Your ticket price is a donation to improving the Mount Vernon Trail. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $12.51.
Del Ray Dog Fest
Del Ray is a particularly dog-friendly neighborhood — so much so that the Alexandria enclave hosts a festival devoted to pups and their owners each spring. George Washington Middle School’s parking lot transforms into a de facto dog park, with activities like a “Pup Cup” sundae bar for dogs, a dog fashion show, a luring course, a dog race, and an off-leash playground. Live music, a family zone, dog photo booth and a showcase of adoptable dogs in Rescue Row round out the day, which benefits the Alexandria Police Foundation’s Caring for K9s Program. Get the morning started early by paying extra for a Pups and Poses yoga class with local studio Yoga in Del Ray. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $17.85 for one adult and up to two dogs, $12.51 for children ages 2 to 12 years old and free for children younger than 2. $23.18 for one adult and up to two dogs for the festival and the morning yoga class.
Spring into Fitness at Alethia Tanner Park
If you’ve resolved to get in shape this season, the first step might be a walk. The Spring Into Fitness day in NoMa features a one-hour walk led by City Girls DC, for all ages and genders, as well as mini-classes from local fitness studios — think R&B yoga flow with FlowWell Yoga + Wellness, a barre3 signature class, a half-hour mini-burn with Orangetheory, and a DC Bouldering Project hanging wall. Reservations are required, but you can sign up for as few (or as many) classes as you want. Free yoga mats are available, though organizers say that supplies are limited, so participants should bring their own mats, just in case. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
Earth Day Festival at Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-Op
Takoma Park has a well-deserved reputation as D.C.’s crunchiest suburb, and it’s no surprise the town is getting a jump on Earth Day celebrations. “Change Grows Here” is the theme at the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-Op, with tours suggesting ways to reduce your food and packaging waste, presentations on recycling and composting, nature-themed crafts for kids, live music for children and adults, and tables with environmental organizations including the Beloved Community Incubator Zero Waste in DC. Food and beverage vendors offer Peruvian and Ethiopian flavors, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.
Spring Market at Queen’s English
D.C.-based plant shop PLNTR returns to Columbia Heights restaurant Queen’s English for a spring market with vendors like Bailiwick shirts and Neon Apothecary candles. You can also get a tarot reading after shopping, try a wine tasting, or just settle in for snacks and martinis. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.
Monday, April 13
Ella Fitzgerald Birthday Celebration at Blues Alley
Ella Fitzgerald’s birthday is April 25, but there’s no way Blues Alley would dare to celebrate the First Lady of Song with just one party. Instead, the legendary Georgetown club is hosting a two-week tribute to Fitzgerald, beginning with New York-based singer Angelina Miers and her quartet. Miers, a finalist in the annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition in both 2024 and 2025, dives into the Great American Songbook to perform songs written by Cole Porter and Harold Arlen and performed by Lady Ella. The series continues through April 26, with the final weekend including the announcement of the winner of the 2026 Ella Fitzgerald competition, plus master classes with singer Sachal Vasandani. Shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $32.
WNBA draft viewing party at HER Diner
Barely a week after UCLA were crowned NCAA Women’s Basketball Champions for the first time, the sport’s top college players are getting ready to hear their names called during the WNBA Draft. The Washington Mystics have three of the top 11 picks, and the latest ESPN mock draft projects the team taking the Bruins’ standout center Lauren Betts as the fourth-overall selection. Find out which players the Mystics add during a party at Adams Morgan’s Her Diner, co-sponsored by groups including the Women’s Basketball Club of DC, Montgomery County’s Haya Hoops and Generation Union. Reservations are suggested for groups. 7 p.m. Free.
Tuesday, April 14
Remembering Abraham Lincoln
The Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service mark the 161st anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination with special events over two days. National Park Service Rangers lead guided tours through the neighborhood at 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, examining the assassination as well as buildings that would have been familiar to residents of Washington during the Civil War. Meet outside the theater to join, no registration required. On Tuesday evening, the Petersen House — the boardinghouse across the street from Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was taken after he was shot, stays open from 6 to 8 p.m., with free guided tours every half hour. Wednesday morning, the Park Service will lay a wreath at 7:22 a.m., the time the president was pronounced dead. Ford’s Theatre and its museum are open both days, though tickets ($5-$13) are required. Times and prices vary.
‘George Washington, Slavery and America’s Historical Memory’ at Tudor Place
When Martha Washington died in 1802, her granddaughter Martha Peter was given 48 enslaved people who had worked at Mount Vernon. A few years later, Martha and her husband Thomas Peter purchased the Tudor Place estate in Georgetown, where they relied on enslaved labor for decades. As part of Tudor Place’s commemorations of America’s 250th anniversary, historian John Garrison Marks gives the museum’s Landmark Lecture, “George Washington, Slavery and America’s Historical Memory,” which examines how the first president’s relationship with slavery has been remembered and forgotten over more than two centuries. While tickets to the in-person event have been claimed, Tudor Place is hosting a free virtual screening of the lecture. 6:30 p.m. Free
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