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What to do in DC this spring

Rachel Nania | rnania@wtop.com

March 13, 2018, 8:50 AM

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WASHINGTON — Put away the snowshoes and break out the sunglasses.

It’s officially spring in D.C., and here are a whole slew of different ways to celebrate.

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 23: The Washington National Cathedral is seen on August 23, 2011 in Washington, DC. According to reports the church suffered minor damage to several spires. The epicenter of the 5.8 earthquake was located in near Louisa in central Virginia. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
The National Cathedral Flower Mart The Flower Mart kicks off its opening ceremony May 4. Buy your plants for spring, tour an international flower display, take in live music and shop craft booths at this spring festival. There’s also plenty of food, plus children’s games and rides. Proceeds benefit the grounds of the National Cathedral. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
A plane takes off from Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport as Marcel Clark of Washington, right, and Rosemary Loza of Rockville, Md. picnic at Gravelly Point Park in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
National Park Week runs from April 21-28 this year. Get out there and enjoy some of America’s greatest treasures — and give a solid thanks to the National Park Service while you’re at it. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
This is the perfect time of year to curl up by the fire with some eggnog and watch a classic Christmas movie. But if you're craving a bit more of a communal experience with your holiday favorites, you're in luck. A number of movie theaters around the D.C. are showing Christmas classics on the big screen. From "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" to "Die Hard," check out what's playing when. (Thinkstock)
Filmfest DC returns April 19–29. It’s the capital’s longest running film festival,
clocking in at 32 years and promises a diverse selection of films plus discussions with guest filmmakers and special events. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
The U.S. Capitol's former columns still stand at the United States National Arboretum in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Beyond the Tidal Basin at the National Arboretum If you’re tired of the Tidal Basin routine, head over to the National Arboretum for “Beyond the Tidal Basin: Flowering Cherries at the U.S. National Arboretum.” The 3-mile, self-guided tour, which runs from March 20 to April 12, showcases nearly 40 different types of flowering cherries in all kinds of colors, shapes and sizes. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
With the Jefferson Memorial in the background, visitors on a paddle boat look at the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin Sunday, April 1, 2007 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Paddle on the Potomac With the cherry blossoms in the background, take in the springtime views from a paddle boat on the Potomac. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
A woman who did not wish to give her name photographs blooming lotus flowers at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, Saturday, July 8, 2017. The week-long "Lotus and Water Lily Festival" begins, Saturday July 15, at the park. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Anacostia will be open until 5 p.m. from April 1 until Oct. 31. Enjoy hiking, birding, photography, painting and more. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
FrenchMarket6.JPG
The Annual Georgetown French Market April 27 – 29, the streets of Georgetown turn into an open-air French marketplace. Galleries and stores move their merchandise to the sidewalk and offer many items at a discounted price. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Two red roses are on display among many other flowers during a media preview of the new National Garden at the U.S. Botanic Garden September 29, 2006 in Washington, DC. The new National Garden will open to the public on October 1, 2006 to help educate visitors about American plants and their role in the environment. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Take in the blooms at the U.S. Botanic Garden Head over to the U.S. Botanic Garden for an exhibit on orchids and another on gardening. Get your green thumb on at this free museum. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images
Langston Golf Course near the National Arboretum is open until sunset all spring long. Get your nine holes in or check out the Golf DC event calendar for more. (Courtesy Golf DC)
Courtesy Golf DC
The Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar (or Cherry Blossom PUB) encompasses two themes. At Southern Efficiency, pink and white blossom branches creep up the side wall and hang from the ceiling. A mural of the Jefferson Memorial draped in cherry blossoms covers the back wall. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
The Cherry Blossom PUB Of course, there’s another way to experience the cherry blossoms altogether — and it involves booze. Drink Company is celebrating one of D.C.’s most festive times with a cherry blossom pop-up bar, called the Cherry Blossom PUB.  (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Picture-310.jpg
Around the World Embassy Tour  Starting May 5, certain embassies will open their doors to the public to showcase the food, fashion, art and music from their respective countries. Admission is free, but pack some spare change for food and beverage purchases. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Visit Mount Vernon Starting this spring, a whole host of tours and activities — both indoor and out — will kick off at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
The Flight Deck lounge is set to open May 25, which is also National Wine Day. (Courtesy National Harbor Capital Wheel)
Spring at National Harbor National Harbor has a few events on the calendar for spring, including the National Harbor Food and Wine Festival (April 28 and 29). (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/ Evan Vucci
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2013 file photo, a row of beer taps stand ready to serve at Hop City Craft Beer and Wine in Birmingham, Ala. A new law will loosen Alabama’s alcohol laws to let craft breweries sell to-go beer directly to consumers. Alabama’s 25 or so brewers have been selling beer in retail stores for several years. But they could only sell draft beer by the glass to customers who visited a brewery. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Check out a beer festival There are several beer festivals planned in the D.C. area. Here are a few on tap for the season: Capital Brewfest, March 31.
DC Beer Festival, April 21
Maryland Craft Beer Festival, May 12 (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
AP Photo/Dave Martin
A large American flag is unfurled on the field before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets on opening day at at Nationals Park, Monday, April 6, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Show your Natitude April 5 is Opening Day at Nationals Park when Washington faces off against the New York Mets. Take yourself out to the ballgame and enjoy more than a hot dog at one of the Navy Yard’s many restaurants.  (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Giant panda at National Zoo.
Visit giant panda Mei Xiang and the other animals at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Be sure to check their events page to see what fun, and often free, activities are in store. (Skip Brown, Smithsonian’s National Zoo)
Skip Brown, Smithsonian’s National Zoo
(1/16)
WASHINGTON - AUGUST 23: The Washington National Cathedral is seen on August 23, 2011 in Washington, DC. According to reports the church suffered minor damage to several spires. The epicenter of the 5.8 earthquake was located in near Louisa in central Virginia. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
A plane takes off from Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport as Marcel Clark of Washington, right, and Rosemary Loza of Rockville, Md. picnic at Gravelly Point Park in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
This is the perfect time of year to curl up by the fire with some eggnog and watch a classic Christmas movie. But if you're craving a bit more of a communal experience with your holiday favorites, you're in luck. A number of movie theaters around the D.C. are showing Christmas classics on the big screen. From "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" to "Die Hard," check out what's playing when. (Thinkstock)
The U.S. Capitol's former columns still stand at the United States National Arboretum in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
With the Jefferson Memorial in the background, visitors on a paddle boat look at the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin Sunday, April 1, 2007 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A woman who did not wish to give her name photographs blooming lotus flowers at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, Saturday, July 8, 2017. The week-long "Lotus and Water Lily Festival" begins, Saturday July 15, at the park. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
FrenchMarket6.JPG
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Two red roses are on display among many other flowers during a media preview of the new National Garden at the U.S. Botanic Garden September 29, 2006 in Washington, DC. The new National Garden will open to the public on October 1, 2006 to help educate visitors about American plants and their role in the environment. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
The Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar (or Cherry Blossom PUB) encompasses two themes. At Southern Efficiency, pink and white blossom branches creep up the side wall and hang from the ceiling. A mural of the Jefferson Memorial draped in cherry blossoms covers the back wall. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Picture-310.jpg
The Flight Deck lounge is set to open May 25, which is also National Wine Day. (Courtesy National Harbor Capital Wheel)
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2013 file photo, a row of beer taps stand ready to serve at Hop City Craft Beer and Wine in Birmingham, Ala. A new law will loosen Alabama’s alcohol laws to let craft breweries sell to-go beer directly to consumers. Alabama’s 25 or so brewers have been selling beer in retail stores for several years. But they could only sell draft beer by the glass to customers who visited a brewery. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
A large American flag is unfurled on the field before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets on opening day at at Nationals Park, Monday, April 6, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Giant panda at National Zoo.

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