9 Great Arlington Rooftop Bars
Here’s a guide to some of Arlington’s elevated watering holes. Catch a sunset, dine on pub grub and breathe in…
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The iconic National Cherry Blossom Festival turns DC pretty in pink each year, as it offers visitors a lineup of fun flower-themed events. Experience a four-week extravaganza filled with food, fun and culture each spring throughout the Washington, DC, region.
Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival when the delicate blooms turn DC’s Tidal Basin into a lovely sea of pink. Keep your camera close at hand to capture the unforgettable sight of all those Instagram-worthy flowers.
The festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the city of Washington, DC, and honors the close bond between the people of the United States and Japan. Each year, the festival welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Events are primarily free and open to the public.
Exciting Events
See the DC area as it appears only once a year. Customize a tailored experience from a lineup of exciting events. Ogle the elaborate floats, marching bands and celebrity entertainers in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, one of DC’s largest spectator events. Admire themed art exhibits at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.
Engage in a full day of live music, art installations, a beverage garden, family-friendly activities and entertainers in the Petalpalooza Art Walk along the banks of the Anacostia River. That evening, be dazzled by the Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show choreographed to music.
Go fly a kite among the cherry trees at the Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds. Appreciate the homes decked out with flowers in the joyful Petal Porches event. And feast on delectable spring menus showcased in Cherry Picks-participating restaurants.
You can stay in Arlington just minutes from the festival activities and enjoy hotel rates that average 20 percent less than those in downtown Washington, DC.
More About the Festival
More Annual Events
Pride Month Celebrations
Honor DC’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community with concerts, parties, parades, food and dancing during the Capital Pride Celebration throughout June.
Armed Forces Cycling Classic
The capital region’s premier biking event, the Armed Forces Cycling Classic draws professionals and amateurs for a spirited racing faceoff.
Quarterfest Crawl
Sip and savor the best of Arlington’s vibrant culinary scene at the Quarterfest Crawl, a Ballston neighborhood food, beer and wine festival.
Rolling to Remember
A high-profile motorcycle rally in DC streets, Rolling to Remember spotlights U.S. POWs and MIAs, as well as veteran suicides.
Memorial Day
Spend Memorial Day Weekend in Arlington and DC where the area’s many military memorials form a dramatic, symbolic backdrop.
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
Groove to the music of the largest blues festival in the DC metro area with national headliners, great food, unique vendors and family fun.
4th of July
Celebrate the birth of the USA in the nation's capital, an the best place to be on July 4th!
Arlington County Fair
Food and fun draw thousands to the annual Arlington County Fair, one of the largest free events on the East Coast.
Rosslyn Jazz Fest
Groove to the smooth sounds of jazz at the annual Rosslyn Jazz Fest, a popular community event full of food, music and fun.
Marine Corps Marathon
One of the world’s largest marathons and the only one without prize money, the Marine Corps Marathon draws runners and spectators alike.
Veterans Day
No place is more meaningful to honor our nation’s vets on Veterans Day than at the many military memorials in Arlington and Washington, DC.