Free Holiday Events in Washington, DC
Washington, DC's free holiday events include Dumbarton Oaks, Fort Reno Concerts, Jazz in the Garden - National Gallery of Art, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Millennium Stage, and National Gallery of Art. Tree lighting ceremonies, holiday parades, and free outdoor concerts typically run late November through December.
Hope Diamond and a T. rex, completely free
10th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, extended to 7:30pm spring/summer
Actual Wright Flyer and Apollo 11 capsule, free
600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm
Giant pandas and 2,100 animals, totally free
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 · Mar 15-Sep 14: 8am-6pm; Sep 15-Mar 14: 8am-4pm
Ruby slippers, Julia Child's kitchen, all free
1300 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, extended to 7:30pm Mar-Sep
Free museum where kids sing karaoke and write poetry
925 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 · Mon, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Tue
Free splash park with fountains, under a foot deep
355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · Sunrise to 2 hours after sunset
Underground walkway, wading fountain, ice rink, all free
6th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Daily 10am-5pm
Free show every night at 6pm, no tickets
2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566 · Daily at 6pm (Millennium Stage); building open 10am-9pm
300+ bonsai trees and original Capitol columns, free
3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 · Daily 10am-4pm; closed federal holidays Veterans Day through Presidents Day
Actual assassination site, Booth's diary, free
511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 · Daily 9am-4:30pm
Largest library in the world, free to visit
101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540 · Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sundays
Free, never crowded, kids sort mail and fly biplanes
2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, closed Dec 25
The actual Declaration of Independence
701 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, closed Thanksgiving and Dec 25
1921 carousel still running, $2 a ride
7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812 · Grounds open daily dawn to dusk; carousel and theater hours vary
Free Saturday kids shows, no tickets needed
1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 · Select Saturdays 9:30am and 11am, check schedule · Ages 4–10
Whole children's floor, free daily programs
901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 · Mon-Thu 9:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 1-5pm
Hardest free ticket in DC, worth the effort
1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm · Ages 8+
Only da Vinci painting in the Americas, free
6th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Daily 10am-5pm
40+ food vendors, free to browse
1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002 · Tue-Sun 8am-9pm, closed Mon
Shares a building with the National Portrait Gallery, all free
8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 · Daily 11:30am-7pm
Free stand-up comedy, no tickets needed
1724 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009 · Comedy nights vary, check social media for schedule
Hardest free ticket in DC, book the day passes drop
1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm
Free jazz every Friday all summer
6th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Fridays 5-8:30pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day
Free, no tickets, and rarely crowded
Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560 · Museum: Daily 10am-5:30pm; Sculpture Garden: Daily 7:30am-dusk
Free concerts at DC's highest point since the 1960s
3950 Chesapeake St NW, Washington, DC 20016 · Mon & Thu evenings 7-9pm, Jul-Aug
Free — Russian imperial art, Japanese garden, and an orchid greenhouse nobody knows about.
4155 Linnean Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Byzantine art + 10 acres of terraced gardens in Georgetown — the gardens alone are worth it.
1703 32nd St NW, Washington, DC 20007 · Museum: Tue-Sun 11:30am-5:30pm; Gardens: Tue-Sun 2-6pm (seasonal hours vary)
Free Smithsonian with 40,000+ Asian art pieces — way less crowded than Air & Space.
1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm
Weekend farmers market + flea market on Capitol Hill — Saturday produce, Sunday antiques.
225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · Indoor: Tue-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm; Outdoor: Sat-Sun 10am-5pm