Your guide to D.C.'s best and biggest summer festivals
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Capital Pride returns starting June 12 with celebrations across the city. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Summer festival season is about to hit full volume around D.C., with this year's calendar getting a big boost from America 250 celebrations.
Yes, but: Not every event is stars and stripes. Our lineup is packed with festivals for music lovers, foodies, families, bookworms and everyone in between (and we've got a separate guide for the big patriotic events).
Driving the news: Local concert giant I.M.P. just announced Tom Morello's Power to the People Festival at Merriweather on Oct. 3, with presale tickets going live at 10am Friday.
- The lineup mixes rock royalty and activist icons, including Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band and Cypress Hill. Tickets start at $125 and include a donation to VoteRiders.
Arts & Culture
📖 Capital Rare Book Fair (May 29-31): Head to the University Club near downtown D.C. to browse books, maps and ephemera — valued from $10 to $100,000. Tickets $10-$60 (include opening night party)
🎥 DC/Dox (June 11-14): The city's documentary film festival — over 60 features and nearly 40 shorts — brings screenings and filmmaker conversations to venues around D.C. Tickets vary
🏳️🌈 Capital Pride (June 12-21): D.C.'s massive Pride celebration returns with concerts, block parties, citywide events and the big parade. Tickets vary; many events are free
🔱 Clipper Race Fleet Week (June 14-22): International racing yachts dock at The Wharf with public yacht tours, waterfront events and sailing festivities. Free
🌱 National Cannabis Festival (July 18-19): RFK Festival Grounds hosts a weekend of live music, advocacy panels and cannabis culture programming. Tickets $65+
🕹️Otakon (July 31-Aug. 2): Anime, gaming and cosplay fans take over D.C.'s convention center — all family-friendly. Tickets $90 and up (kids $55)
📘 National Book Festival (Aug. 22): The Library of Congress' beloved literary fest packs the convention center for author talks, signings and family programming. Free
🎨 Art All Night (Sept. 11-12): D.C.'s massive overnight arts festival features performances, pop-ups and installations in every ward. Free
🎉 H Street Festival (Sept. 19): One of D.C.'s biggest street festivals returns with live music, dance performances, food vendors and local artists along H Street NE. Free
Music & Dance
🧞Project GLOW (May 30-31): RFK Festival Grounds transforms into a massive EDM playground with stacked headliners, immersive art and late-night dance sets. Tickets $189 and up
🥁 Petworth PorchFest (May 30): One of the best neighborhood music fests, with musicians of all stripes turning porches into stages. Free
🎸 Vans Warped Tour (June 13-14): The iconic punk and alt-rock festival returns with throwback acts and new-school bands at RFK. Tickets $150 and up
✊ Home Rule Music Festival (June 20): D.C. takes center stage at this culture and music fest with local artists playing go-go, punk, indie and more at venues across the city. Tickets vary, some free
🎤 AfroPlus Fest (Sept. 4-6): One of the biggest Afro-Caribbean-Hip-hop festivals in the country celebrates music, food and culture over Labor Day weekend. Tickets $40 and up
🎷 DC Jazz Festival (Sept. 5-6): National and local jazz stars perform at the Wharf over Labor Day Weekend. Tickets $25 and up
Food & Drink
🍢 DMV Asian Night Market (June 6): The new festival stars 50-plus vendors, a pad thai eating competition, and more in Manassas Park, Virginia. Free
🔥 Giant Capital BBQ Battle (June 27-28): The annual smokefest fills Pennsylvania Avenue with pitmasters, live music and cook-off competitions. Tickets $21 and up
🥒 Picklefest (June 27-28): Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia — about an hour from D.C. — has lots of food fests (think strawberries, peaches etc). This ferment-fest boasts pickle pizza, boozy pickle slushies and pickle-themed games. Tickets $13-$15
🦀 Annapolis Crab Feast (Aug. 7): The 81st feast, held at the Navy's stadium, often sells out with a bounty of steamed crabs, corn, crab soup and more. Tickets $90 and up ($30 and up for kids)
🥘 Jollof Festival (Aug. 15): West African chefs compete for the best jollof rice while DJs and dance performances keep the party going at Union Market. Tickets $7 and up
🌎 Around the World Food Festival (Aug. 29): Global food vendors take over Alexandria with cultural performances for entertainment. Free