Your D.C. Weekend: Memorial Day edition
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The National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn is a free D.C. tradition. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concerts Inc. (from 2019)
Welcome to your long Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer.
Why it matters: It's all pools, boats, and crab feasts from here on out (or so we dream).
State of play: We're packing the next four days, summer-style, to make the most of it (plus a fun festival tonight because who's working Friday?).
Thursday: Spring Night Market at Hi-Lawn
- The Asian-inspired festival returns atop Union Market (5:30-10:30pm) with food from popular eateries like co-host Tiger Fork, Chiko, Baan Mae and more, plus a sake & baijiu bar, lion dancing, DJ tunes, and artisan vendor stalls ($5 entry tickets).
Friday: Putt Across America at The Wharf
- Good for dates and families alike, this 18-hole putt-putt course returns to the waterfront with features inspired by Bourbon Street, Niagara Falls and beyond (all-day tickets start at $25/adult, $22/kid). Open daily through Sept. 1.
Between the lines: It's also the start of outdoor movie season, and one of our favorites — the spooky Congressional "Cinematery" — starts Friday with a screening of "Jaws" and happy hour amid the headstones.
Saturday: RenFests!
- Party like it's 1699 and day-trip to either the Virginia Renaissance Faire at Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylvania (~1.5 hours), or the Southern Maryland Renaissance Festival in Leonardtown, which is this weekend only (~2 hours).
Meanwhile, there's a massive House Music Festival (free, Fri-Sat) at NoMa's Alethia Tanner Park for Black Pride, featuring 11 hours of nonstop tunes with cocktail and food vendors to keep the party going.
Sunday: National Memorial Day Concert
A D.C. tradition, you can watch the star-studded concert — and also the dress rehearsal on Saturday — for free on the Capitol's West Lawn before it's broadcast to the nation.
- Gates open at 5pm. No tickets needed, but plan for metal detectors, security checks and bag limits.
Bonus Sunday (aka Monday): Parades!
- The big game in town, the National Memorial Day Parade, takes over Constitution Avenue with live music and plenty of pomp and circumstance starting at 2pm (free).
- For a small-town feel, check out the 43rd annual Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival with a 5k race, live bands, food/drink vendors, pony rides and a blood drive.
More Monday funday options:
🏊 Over 20 D.C. public pools and 34 spray parks open for the season on Saturday, and will be open Sunday and Memorial Day.
- Moving forward, they'll operate on a weekend-only schedule through Sunday, June 22, after which they'll open for summer weekday hours.
🍻 All-day happy hour goes down at Calico in Shaw (2-10pm), which channels a backyard party with boozy juiceboxes, tomato pies and free arts and crafts.
🍳 Monday brunch vibes are on at Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale (free bottomless drinks with an entree, say less), Cordelia Fishbar at Union Market (channel the beach with lobster rolls and tikis), and Navy Yard's All-Purpose (go for a lovely waterfront and $21 unlimited spritzes).
Editor's note: This guide has been updated to add new information about public pool openings.