Annapolis Boat Shows will open its 52nd powerboat show this fall at Annapolis City Dock from October 3rd to 6th. This year’s show will feature 370 boats for guests to preview alongside tents stocked with the latest in nautical gear and accessories, electronics, communication equipment, education, charter companies, clubs, and more.
“Our show is an annual stop for powerboaters from all over the country, because whatever they’re looking at, there’s an opportunity to see it, touch it, and take it for a spin,” says Annapolis Boat Shows President Mary Ewenson. “I’m glad we can bring back fan favorites such as the Demo Dock and BoatUS On-Water Training and introduce guests to some new experiences as well.”
MORE EVENT INFOThe 24th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on Saturday, August 24, from 9am to 8pm.
The event was free and open to the public.
Otakon 2024, the premier convention for anime, manga, and Asian pop culture enthusiasts, was an enormous success this year, attracting a record-breaking attendance of 46,000 fans, according to Otakorp. Held from August 2-4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, the event celebrated its 30th anniversary in style, marking its highest turnout ever. The vibrant energy and excitement were palpable as fans gathered to celebrate their shared passions.
This milestone year delivered on being the ultimate celebration of Asian pop culture, featuring an incredible lineup of guest panels, exclusive screenings, and epic cosplay contests.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTSThe more than 40,000 mile “Clipper Round the World Yacht Race” spent a week docked at The Wharf in Southwest DC. Eleven clippers remained there for a week before setting off on the final leg back across the Atlantic Ocean heading to Scotland.
Get ready for the BBQ Summer Games XXXII – where wish-you-had-an- extra-stomach BBQ, get-your-groove-on music and can’t-possibly-be-bored entertainment have been lighting up Pennsylvania Avenue for 32 summers.
Foodies, families and friends will taste the triumph at this legendary two-day festival of flavors and fun. Don’t sit on the sidelines! Grab your tickets now and be a part of history…
EVENT HIGHLIGHTSThe game of Polo has been played on the National Mall for more than 100 years.
Building off of this 100+ year tradition, The District Cup (TDC) is an organization that hosts an annual charity Polo tournament on the National Mall to raise money to support educational and Polo scholarship opportunities for underserved youth from the greater Washington DC area.
The 2024 Upperville Colt & Horse Show is proud to welcome back MARS EQUESTRIAN™ as the Presenting Sponsor of UCHS, the oldest horse show in the US. This year, the show celebrates its 171st year!
The show will be held from June 3-9 at Grafton and Salem Show Grounds in Upperville, VA. During this week, the nation’s top ranked hunters and jumpers will compete alongside the local ponies, sidesaddle ladies and the future of the sport in Hunter Breeding and leadline classes.
The National Asian Heritage festival Signature Event – Fiesta Asia Street Fair is happening on Saturday, June 1 from 11am-7pm. In its 19th year, Fiesta Asia Street Fair is the longest running, most inclusive & the largest FREE Pan-Asian Festival in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
Family friendly, interactive, an incredible cultural experience and extravaganza!
MORE EVENT INFOMemorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2024 will occur on Monday, May 27.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.
The Preakness 149 weekend, scheduled for May 17-18, 2024, promises a thrilling array of events, starting with the Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday and culminating with the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
Black-Eyed Susan Day (Friday, May 17): This day is dedicated to the 100th running of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, marking a highlight of a 14-race program. The event showcases six stakes races, three of which are graded, with a combined purse of $1 million. This serves as an exciting prelude to the main event the following day.
Preakness 149 (Saturday, May 18): The 149th Preakness Stakes, known as the second jewel of the Triple Crown, will feature top contenders in thoroughbred horse racing. The race itself promises high stakes and intense competition, drawing enthusiasts and spectators from around the world.
Preakness Live: Adding a vibrant layer to the weekend, Preakness Live transforms the traditional InfieldFest into a modern festival atmosphere with live music, entertainment, and hospitality. This year, Jack Harlow headlines the event, bringing his rap performance to the infield stage.
On Sunday, May 19 from 2-5pm celebrate the 12th Annual Running of the Chihuahua races! Tommy McFly will emcee the fun-filled, free event. Features include the iconic Chihuahua races, a Pacifico Beer Garden, a DJ, 360 pet photo booth, and a giant inflatable Chihuahua for photo opportunities. Stop by the Tito's Chihuahua Lounge on Transit Pier for a cocktail made with Vodka for Dog People!
The highlight of the afternoon, the races features over 150 Chihuahuas racing in groups of eight on a sixty foot racetrack. All the action is captured on a huge video screen and the winners take home pet-friendly gifts, prizes, and more! All race proceeds benefit Rural Dog Rescue – a non-profit organization dedicated to pulling dogs from high-kill rural shelters.
From 10am - 4:30pm on Saturday, May 4, travel the world through food, art, dance, fashion, music, innovations and manufactured goods at this unique event. Non-European Union embassies open their doors and guests can experience a variety of cultural activities, such as petting alpacas, playing with robots and learning indigenous dances. Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore different countries and their traditions.
Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion and music of different countries. In the past, visitors have been treated to karate demonstrations, sari wrapping lessons, dance performances and more!
EVENT HIGHLIGHTSThe Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show returns to the historic seaport town of Annapolis every April to showcase new and brokerage boats including catamarans, monohulls, family cruisers, daysailers, and inflatables.
Schedule: Friday/Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm.
While climbing aboard the great line-up of sailboats is the major draw, there is so much more to see. Guests are invited to meet with boating clubs and charter companies, shop gear and equipment, and ring in the new season with fellow sailors and marine professionals. With live entertainment, seminars, and a festive tasting tent, the fun lasts all day. As the show winds down, guests may visit the wide variety of restaurants, shops and bars just a few steps from the show gates.
Get ready for an afternoon of adrenaline packed fun as Red Bull Showrun makes its debut in the heart of Washington DC! Join legendary driver David Coulthard, and the team at Oracle Red Bull Racing on Pennsylvania Avenue, in the heart of our nation’s capital. This is your chance to get up close and personal with the marvel of Formula One engineering, bringing together F1 fans for an afternoon of motorsports action and fun.
1:30pm Fan Zone Open (Constitution and Pennsylvania), 4:00pm Event Start, 6:00pm Event Ends
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade - Saturday, April 13
Constitution Ave NW, between 7th and 17th Streets
10am - 12pm
Get ready to be dazzled and delighted because the much-anticipated National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is set to take the streets by storm this Saturday, April 13th! It’s not just an event; it’s a spectacular celebration of spring, beauty, and cultural harmony that you absolutely cannot miss.
The Sakura Matsuri, held on April 13-14, 2024, in Washington DC, brought a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture to the heart of the city. This festival, part of the broader National Cherry Blossom Festival, is noted as the largest Japanese cultural event in the United States.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTSAnnapolis Boat Shows will be hosting the 2024 Bay Bridge Boat Show April 12-14 at the Bay Bridge Marina in Stevensville, Maryland. This year, there are expected to be over 250 powerboats on display and close to 200 total exhibitors. Educational programming continues to be a central focus of the show with paid courses and free seminars from Cruisers University, BoatUS, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
There are expected to be over 250 powerboats on display at the show with around 75% of them being in-water. Around 10% of the featured boats this year will be brokerage vessels and 56% will be under 30’.
Bloomaroo at The Wharf on March 30, 2024, was not just a celebration of spring but a vibrant festival that brought the community together with an eclectic mix of live music, artistic endeavors, and cherry blossom-inspired festivities.
This year's lineup featured a diverse array of musical talents across multiple stages, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.
National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony - Saturday, March 23 at
The Warner Theatre
This event marked the beginning of the four-week-long celebration of Spring and the 112th anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC. It also celebrated the friendship between Japan and the United States with unique performances.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, the nation’s greatest springtime celebration, will make its mark on the Nation's Capital between March 20 to April 14, 2024.
During this iconic four-week tradition, as the Tidal Basin and surrounding communities across the Washington, DC region are awash in the delicate hues of cherry blossoms, the Festival will host several community events for all ages to celebrate the gift of international friendship and to welcome spring. Many of the events are free and open to the public.
The 2024 Peak Bloom Predicated dates are March 23 - March 26, 2024!
Fashion Industry Networking - Friday, February 23 from 6-9 pm at Saint Yves
DC Fashion Week hosts Washington’s most significant fashion industry networking party.
The Emerging Designers Showcase - Saturday, February 24
Red Carpet & Cocktail Hour @ 5 pm and Fashion Show @ 6pm
National Housing Center, 1201 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
Emerging fashion designers from the United States showcase together at Fashion Week.
The 40th International Couture Collections Showcase (20 Year Anniversary)
Sunday, February 25 from 5-8 pm
International Couture designers present their latest collections at DC Fashion Week’s grand finale event.
Cupid's Undie Run - Union Stage at The Wharf from 12pm-4pm. Every February, thousands of undie runners in cities across the U.S. come together, whether it be in-person or virtually, to support those affected by neurofibromatosis (NF), a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. Cupid’s Undie Run kicks off with drinking and dancing, then we jog it out with a mile(ish) run and end it all with an epic dance party!
Since 2010, Cupid’s Undie Run was created with a mission to end NF by funding much-needed research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Over $23,700,000 has been raised to date, with proceeds funding research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the world’s leader in NF research.
Mardi Gras at The Wharf 2024 in DC brought the vibrant spirit of New Orleans to the district with a spectacular celebration. The event featured a mile-long parade with stilt walkers and floats, including appearances by the King and Queen of Mardi Gras. Attendees enjoyed live music from the Too Much Talent Band and Naptown Brass Band, Mardi Gras-themed craft stations for kids, and Thrasher’s Rum Hurricanes for adults. The festivities culminated in a stunning fireworks display over the water.