18 Legitimately Fun Things You Can Do In Washington DC Without Spending A Dime
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Maura
Author
Washington DC is one of the best places to find free experiences. It is full of completely free and fun places to visit and things to do. Whether you love history or art, outdoor spaces or live music, you will absolutely be able to find something fun to do with these free and cheap things to do in Washington DC.
You can visit the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, American Indian Museum, Arthur M Sackler Gallery, Natural History Museum, Portrait Gallery, African American History & Culture Museum, as well as 11 other museums all for free.
While technically this is part of the free museums that are part of the Smithsonian, it’s worth listing it separate. There are 1,800 animals and 400 species including the famous giant pandas.
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The Kennedy Center’s "Performing Arts for Everyone" initiative invites visitors to enjoy local, national and international artists as they perform different musical, dance and theatrical acts.
Most performances are indoor in the Kennedy Center’s Grand Foyer every day at 6pm unless noted.
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Every summer, the National Gallery of Art hosts Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, a free weekly performance of eclectic Washington area jazz artists.
Enjoy the beautiful lotus flowers and lily pads at this unique natural oasis in Washington. It’s open all year round so you can enjoy the beautiful environment even in the winter.
There are so many spectacular free monuments in DC that are a beautiful tribute to history and examples of architectural and design excellence.
Step inside the beautiful glass atrium to enjoy the US Botanic Gardens, a living plant museum. The Botanic Garden has seasonal exhibits and does an incredible holiday display.
Presented by Cultural Tourism DC, the Neighborhood Heritage Trails are the official walking trails of DC where you can stroll through DC history. These self-guided tours combine stories, maps and historic photos. Choose the neighborhood or trail and enjoy a stroll through the past!
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A peaceful place of nature, the National Arboretum is the perfect free way to feel like you’ve escaped the city without going anywhere. Check out the bonsai trees and the historic Capital Columns.
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Every summer, the Shakespeare Theatre Company presents two weeks of free performances.
Check their website for performance information and 2017 dates.
Home to the Society of the Cincinnati, you can tour the historic Anderson house for free. Visitors can view the beautiful home, as well as many of the original art and furniture that belonged to the Andersons when they lived there in the early 1900s.
The drum circle at Meridian Hill Park is a DC favorite. Locals come to listen the unique music, dance, practice music and just enjoy the culture and community.
You can pay to visit Ford’s Theatre but purchasing tickets in advance (for $3 and $2.50 for groups of 10 or more) but if you want to see the historic site for free, then get to the theatre early where they offer a limited number of same-day tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Every Saturday morning, the National Theater offers free programs that is perfect for children between the ages of 4 and 10. Performances take place at 9:30am and 11am every Saturday of the season. You can reserve tickets online before hand or arrive 30 minutes early for walk up admission.
The Yards Park is a large open park and performance venue that is perfect for relaxing, picnicking or wading in their large pool. They also offer many free events throughout the year.
The National Mall truly is like DC’s front yard and anyone can come to picnic, play, ride bikes, run read a book or just relax in the heart of it all.
An adventurer's paradise! You can enjoy trekking through the 88.5 acres of Theodore Roosevelt Island for free any time of year.
Since 1863, the district has enjoyed military band concerts every summer for free. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force bands perform on alternating days throughout the summer at different locations in the city.
These 18 free things are just a few of the amazing free things to do in Washington DC! If you’re looking for more unusual things to do, try these surprising things you never thought about doing in DC.
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