Our favorite part about March is that no matter the weather, spring is just around the corner! Check out our top picks for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and other great events in and around Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
Photo courtesy of The Wharf
Annapolis St. Patrick’s Weekend | March 15-17
Downtown Annapolis, MD
The annual St. Patrick’s Parade returns to Annapolis as part of a full weekend of events!
- Hooley Kick-off Party | Friday, March 15
- Shamrock the Dock | March 16-17
- Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade | March 17, 1 p.m.
Bluemont Shamrock Race | March 16, 9 a.m.
Great Country Farms, Bluemont VA
The course for this Annual 5K/10K winds through the picturesque country roads of Western Loudoun County. Awards take place at Great Country Farm with an after party at Dirt Farm Brewing.
Gaithersburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade | March 16, 10 a.m.
Rio Lakefront, Gaithersburg, MD
The 22nd annual parade at Rio Boulevard and Grand Corner Avenue. Dozens of units will march in the parade, including Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, school groups, fire trucks, equestrian units, service organizations, characters, & more.
Ireland at The Wharf | March 16, 12 – 6 p.m.
The Wharf, DC
Enjoy all the fun of a true Irish festival with Guinness, Jameson, rugby, dancing, and bands brought to you by The Wharf and Kirwan’s Irish Pub. Sláinte!
VA Irish Fest | March 16, 1 – 8 p.m.
One Loudoun, Loudoun, VA
Get out your green and shake your shamrocks at the first VA IRISH Fest featuring a variety of DJs and awesome bands. Brought to you by Shamrockfest, this is a fun day for all.
EASTER
Easter and Farm Fun | March 22 - April 1, 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
Great Country Farm, Bluemont, VA
Easter egg hunts, baby animals, spring chicks, wagon rides and so much more. There's fun for the whole family at Great Country Farms!
Easter Egg Hunt | March 23, 12 – 3 p.m.
Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA
The hunt is on for Easter eggs at Ida Lee! Each child will hunt for empty Easter eggs and receive a treat bag at the conclusion of the hunt. The Easter Bunny will also be on-site for socially distanced pictures. All participants may enter the hunt area at their scheduled time. It's sure to be a time honored egg-cellent event. There will be no day-of registration. Pre-registration ends Friday, March 22.
Easter Eggstravaganza | March 23, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lovettsville Town Green, Lovettsville, VA
Enjoy food, family and fun at the Lovettsville Eggstravaganza! Egg hunts, face painting, egg toss, pony rides and more!
MORE TASTES, FESTIVALS, AND FUN
Photo courtesy of National Children’s Museum
Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way | Through May 12
National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC
Featuring characters from the popular British animated series, Shaun the Sheep, this interactive exhibit helps kids build problem-solving and motor skills while exploring technology and literacy. Recommended for learners from ages 3-9 and their families.
College Basketball Tournaments | March 8 – 18
We all know that March Madness will soon be upon us and DC plays host to multiple conference tournaments this year. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) men’s tournament (March 8-12) and women’s tournament (March 13-18) will be held at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Congress Heights. 10 straight days of basketball with the winners receiving automatic bids to the NCAA tournaments. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men’s tournament (March 12-16) will also be held in DC at Capital One Arena. Consistently one of the top basketball conferences in the country, the ACC players will not disappoint.
National Cherry Blossom Festival | March 15 – April 14
We may not be able to predict peak blooms yet, but this favorite annual spring festival begins in March and we wouldn’t want you to miss the fun. We’ve selected a few highlights, but be sure to visit the festival website for a full list of events.
- Pink Tie Party | March 15, 7 – 11 p.m.
- Blossom Kite Festival | March 30, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Opening Ceremony | March 23, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Nowruz, Persian New Year
Starting at the vernal equinox (March 20), the celebration of Nowruz is rich in traditions that symbolize hope for the new year. It dates back thousands of years and is celebrated by millions of people in diverse communities worldwide.
- Nowruz Family Festival at National Museum of Asian Art, DC | March 10, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Nowruz Festival at Hilton Fairfax, VA | March 10, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- IACC Nowruz Bazaar in Chevy Chase, MD | March 16, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Norooz Market at Brookland Arts Walk, DC | March 16, 3 – 7 p.m.
