Looking for a fun family trip in 2011? Here are 10 reasons why you should make Washington, D.C. your big trip this year:
Anniversary of the Civil War – The nation’s capital and its surrounding suburbs have several events planned all year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Some of those activities include a black tie ball with period food, music and dancing on Jan. 22, 2011 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Va. There’s also an exhibition on contributions of African-Americans from the 1600s to 2009, including the Civil War period, at the National Geographic Museum in Washington and an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington on the life and death of the first Union officer killed in the Civil War.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial – under construction since 2006, this memorial on the National Mall to an influential humanitarian, will be dedicated on Aug. 28, 2011. The memorial, the first of its kind in Washington, will have a strong landscaping experience tied to four themes in King’s life – democracy, justice, hope and love. A crescent-shaped stone wall will be inscribed with excerpts of his sermons and public addresses. The centerpiece of the memorial is the “Stone of Hope,” a 30-foot likeness of King.
The Smithsonian – this collection of museums, most of which are free to the public, has some exciting exhibits planned for 2011. Some of them include a photography exhibit of the life of Ronald Reagan at the National Portrait Gallery and an exhibit at the American Art Museum on ingenuity in the 19th Century, from the painting of landscapes and scenes of everyday life to the planning of scientific expeditions and the development of new mechanical devices. The Natural History Museum is also planning a photography exhibit on the best nature shots taken in 2010.
U.S. Open – the 2011 U.S. Open will be held in mid June at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., a Washington suburb. Tickets for the week-long event can range from $110 to $385. You can catch a practice round for $50 to $250. Or you can buy a packages that include food and premium seats for $450 to $1,875. Tickets are sold through the U.S. Open website.
3-D Presidents Gallery opens – Madame Tussauds, Washington’s wax museum, is unveiling a $2 million presidential gallery featuring wax figures of all 44 U.S. presidents. The gallery will open Feb. 17, 2011, making Madame Tussauds the only place in the world where visitors can see and interact with all 44 U.S. presidents.
National Cherry Blossom Festival – this annual event features lots of parades and street festivals, as well as a 10-mile race that attracts elite runners. This year’s festival goes from March 26 through April 10, 2011. It kicks off with a family day and opening ceremony on March 27 at the National Building Museum. The schedule also includes a fireworks display on the Southwest Waterfront on April 3, a festival parade and a Japanese street festival on April 10.
Freedom Ride Anniversary – 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists who rode buses from Washington into the south to test Boynton v. Virginia, a law outlawing racial segregation in restaurants and waiting rooms in interstate bus terminals. American Experience, a PBS program, is inviting 40 college students to recreate the freedom rides from May 6 through May 16. The journey will go from Washington to Jackson, Miss. Students have to apply to be part of the journey. Applications are due Jan. 17, 2011 and decisions are announced in February.
Capital Fringe Festival – do you have some creative juices just waiting to be released? The Capital Fringe Festival may be your way of showing off your talent. The annual festival, which will be July 7 through July 24, 2011, is a self-producing, performing arts festival where established and emerging artists can present their work free of a selection process. Festival organizers arrange for space, box office, promotion, marketing, training programs and community engagements. Applications to be part of the festival are on a first-come, first-serve basis and are due Jan. 7, 2011.
Washington, DC International Film Festival-if you enjoy movies, Filmfest DC is a great way to catch more than 100 movie premieres. The 11-day event will be April 7 through April 17, 2011. Organizers have not yet announced movie details but check back here for details at the end of March.
Potomac Bonsai Festival – this annual free event, which takes place May 6-8, 2011 at the National Arboretum, features exhibits, vendors, workshops, a juried show and collections from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.
