World Culture Festival takes over National Mall, shuts down DC roads

The World Culture Festival starts Friday in D.C. and takes over part of the National Mall — and also leads to some restrictions on the roads.

The festival features music, food trucks and yoga, and is expected to generate $29.8 million for D.C., Angie Gates, president and CEO of Events DC said last spring.

Setup for the festival started last week and many roads are impacted through Oct. 5.

Parking restrictions

You can’t legally park on these streets from Sept. 28 at 6 a.m. through Oct. 1 at 11 p.m.:

  • 3rd Street from Independence Avenue SW to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 7th Street from Independence Avenue SW to Constitution Avenue NW
  • Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street SW

This part of 4th Street will be posted as “Emergency No Parking” from Sept. 18 through Oct. 5, 2023 at noon:

  • 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Road closures

Portions of 4th Street will also be closed to vehicles from Sept. 18 through Oct. 5 at noon:

  • 4th Street from Jefferson Drive SW to Madison Drive NW
  • 4th Street from Independence Avenue to Jefferson Drive SW
  • 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue NW will be open for local traffic only

These streets are closed to vehicle traffic between 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sept. 28 through Sept. 30. They’re also closed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 1:

  • Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street SW

If it’s deemed necessary for public safety, these streets could be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sept. 28 through Oct. 1:

  • 3rd Street from Independence Avenue SW to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 7th Street from Independence Avenue SW to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 12th Street Expressway from I-395 to Constitution Avenue NW
  • 14th Street from the 14th Street bridge to Constitution Avenue NW

WTOP’s Jack Moore contributed to this report.

Jessica Kronzer

Jessica Kronzer graduated from James Madison University in May 2021 after studying media and politics. She enjoys covering politics, advocacy and compelling human-interest stories.

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