Where to Celebrate Women’s History Month Around DC
Artwork, all by women, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
March is Women’s History Month, and there are so many great ways to celebrate it around DC, with something for all ages. See some exhibits, tour local landmarks, support women in sports, enjoy live entertainment, attend a festival… all of it showcasing women and their accomplishments. Find out where you can do that over the next month — and beyond!
Women’s Art
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown DC
When: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & Sunday 12-5pm
Admission: $16/adult, $13/DC residents, free/18 & under
Enjoy a whole museum totally dedicated to women and their artistic works. The National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened last fall after a two-year renovation, and the redesigned spaces are lovely, more open and light-filled, perfect for showcasing the permanent collection and a vibrant exhibitions currently on view. And heads-up: The first Sunday and second Wednesday of every months are Free Community Days when there is no entry fee, and that includes Sunday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 13. The museum is also hosting a day of special programming on March 8 for International Women’s Day.
BGR!FEST
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: February 29 – March 9
Admission: Vary by activity
This multi-day, live, immersive experience celebrates and recognizes the exceptional cultural contributions of Black women artists, thought leaders, and creatives. The festival’s headlining feature is the Black Girls Rock Concert boasting a lineup of Black women artists. See more details on the Kennedy Center website.
First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: March 2, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Women’s History Month at the National Gallery’s First Saturday series as you explore works of art and activities by women artist. Take little ones to storytime. Connect with portrait photography in Dorothea Lange: Seeing People during its last month on view, and watch Grab a Hunk of Lightning, a documentary about Lange. Experience portrait drawing with visual storyteller Wendy MacNaughton. Plus, watch kid-friendly short films, enjoy face painting, discover a curated selection of books in the library, and more!
Trailblazing Women in Transit History
Where: National Capital Trolley Museum | Colesville, MD
When: March 2, 12-3pm
Admission: $12/adult, $10/ages 2-17 & seniors
Learn about women who made in impact in transit history at the National Capital Trolley Museum’s monthly All Aboard! program. There will be crafts and objects from NCTM’s collection available for visitors to enjoy. Plan to tour the rest of exhibits and take a trolly ride while you’re there.
Voting Rights Story Times
Where: Women’s Equality National Monument | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sundays in March, 12pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Women’s History Month by attending “Voting Rights Story Times.” Join the Yellow Roses, a youth advocacy and learning group, every Sunday in March at the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument as they share stories for children about determination, resilience, and perseverance in pursuit of equality. Learn more about the group and the story time events here.
Libraries Celebrate Women
Where: Public Libraries Around DC
When: Through March
Admission Free
DC Public Library is hosting several activities and events inspired by Women’s History Month at locations across the city. Participate in a scavenger hunt, enjoy button making sessions, go to a film screening, and listen to a panel of producers discuss women in hip hop. See the calendar for details here.
Statue-esque Women
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
Yes, there are some statues honoring women amid the many memorials and monuments dedicated to men — even one on the National Mall! Make it a mission to visit them over the month and see how many you can get to. You can find a map of them here on Curbed.
RIOT! Funny Women Stand Up
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: March 6
Tickets: Start at $29
This special comedy event is in celebration of Women’s History Month. Leading performers from across the comedic landscape come together to celebrate women in the arts through laughter! This year, RIOT! features Zarna Garg, Chloe Radcliffe, Irene Tu, and Jenny Yang. Recommended for teens and older.
Wizards Celebrate Women
Where: Capitol One Arena
When: March 8, 7pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Wizards are hosting International Women’s Night in celebration of International Women’s Day when they play the Charlotte Hornets. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Wizards-branded belt bag, and there will be a collection/donatioon of gently-used professional women’s spring clothing for Suited for Change. After the game, fans can enjoy the second of the three-part Friday Night Concert Series with a Go-Go performance from female-managed Backyard Band and local group Northeast Groovers.Purchase tickets here.
Women’s History Month Festival
Where: National Portrait Gallery | Penn Quarter, DC
When: March 9, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
This one’s for the ladies (and everyone else, too) as the Portrait Gallery hosts its annual Women’s History Month festival for all ages! See the newest portraits of Oprah, Beyoncé, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and other inspiring women. Join the celebration in the Kogod Courtyard, featuring performances and workshops from The Washington Ballet, art activities, spotlight talks, scavenger hunts and story times – there will be something for everyone!
March Family Day: Celebrating Women’s History Month
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: March 9, 10:30am – 3:30pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate amazing women in history and in your own life by creating with the Library’s collections! This event for kids and their families will feature creative, engaging activities such as contributing to a communal mural of female trailblazers, transcribing Clara Barton’s personal papers and correspondence, and reimagining the Jefferson Building to showcase the diversity of women’s achievements. And at 2pm, join a conversation with Chelsea Clinton, bestselling author of the “She Persisted” picture book series with a book signing to follow. All ages are welcome. Register for free tickets here.
Women’s History Month Community Celebration
Where: KID Museum | Bethesda, MD
When: March 10, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $15
Join KID Museum for a Community Celebration of Women’s History Month! There will be “Meet a Maker” opportunities with women inventors, innovators, scientists and artists; a special pop up exhibit of five human-sized 3-D printed IF/THEN she can women in STEM with their live counterparts offering hands on demonstrations of their work; Women in Construction demonstrating their skills and sharing opportunities to build and design; and much more!
Women’s History in American History
Where: National American History Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
The American History Museum houses several exhibits that focus on women, from a section on women inventors to displays about women’s suffrage to the First Ladies dresses and much more. See all the ways to explore women’s history through the museum here.
Women of the Freer
Where: National Museum of Asian Art | National Mall, DC
When: Daily through March, 2-3pm
Admission: Free
To celebrate Women’s History Month, everyday through March, the National Museum of Asian Art is offering docent-led tours of art by the women in their collection — ancient and modern, human and divine. The tours will introduce you to influential women and their little-known stories. No reservation needed.
More Works by Women
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
The National Gallery of Art is full of remarkable works by women artists, from Georgia O’Keefe to Alma Thomas to Mary Cassat to Faith Ringgold — and so many more. Wander around them museum to explore them or take a tour (while not solely about women, they will cover some of them).
Bountiful Baskets
Where: American Indian Museum | National Mall, DC
When: March 16, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
In honor of Women’s History month, the museum is showcasing a tradition of American Indian women. Corine Pearce (Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo), Ronni-leigh Goeman (Onondaga), Iva Honyestewa (Hopi/Navajo), and Laura Wong-Whitebear (Colville) share the beauty of Native basketry and the significance of keeping this tradition alive through the different weaving traditions, materials, stories, and inspirations that go into making a basket.
See a Spirit Match
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: March 23 & March 31
Admission: Tickets start at $14
Enjoy some exciting soccer and support women in sports at a Washington Spirit match! The team’s home opener is on March 23 against Bay FC. And March 31 is Women’s Empowerment night — more details about it wil be released soon.
Support Women in the NCAA
Where: Local Colleges
When: Throughout March
Admission: Varies
March Madness applies to women’s teams, too! See some of our local college teams play basketball — as well as other sports. Lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, and gymnastics are also happening this month. Check schedules for nearby schools:
* University of Maryland (Go, Terps!)
* Georgetown University
* George Washington University
* American University
* Howard University
* Catholic University
* George Mason University
Legacies on Call Boxes
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
Find old fire call boxes and see where several notable women are commemorated. The Wander Women Project, a travel blog that celebrates women’s creations and follows female legacy, landmarks, and heritage trails, has a map to follow, plus more info about all of the women on their website. It’s a fun way to explore downtown and learn about some pioneering women!
Girl Bosses
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free (but plan to spend — and support!)
Fun activities this month: Shopping! And eating! This is a great time to make a point to patronize women-owned businesses around DC, and there are many awesome, beloved places to do that. This Washingtonian article from a couple of years ago highlights a bunch. See a round-up local women-owned restaurants and eateries. I’d also add Labyrinth Games and Puzzles, Steadfast Supply (an amazing selection of giftable goods), the best family photographer in the area, an incredible interior designer if you’re in need of a home spruce up, and five consignment shops in Old Town Alexandria that are all women-owned.
Do you know of any activities or events that celebrate women that you don’t see listed here? Feel free to share in the comments!
