Awesome festivities, creative lights on boats, and community engagement at its best! Amazing…read moremusics venues, Pendry Hotel tables nicely designed outdoors with a fire pit, and a Santa photo op. Various treats and freebies offered, great concert - live music. Talk about clubbing on the pier! This evening of Jack Daniels partnership on a pier at the wharf was a full on Techno, old school, pop dance party! They did not spare much...DJ sounds, free tastings of Jack Daniels apple whisky and Jack Daniels rum and coke lasted from 6-9pm. The Boat parade was demonstrated how great a community we have on the the wharf. Followed by fireworks, this 30 year celebration of the holiday boat parade could not have been a better welcoming of the holidays! Kudos to the wharf for putting on an amazing event!

My husband and I love boats and sailing (and one of the things that drew us to each other). So it…read morewas pretty humorous that we had consistently missed the Parade of Lights for the entirety of our relationship...but quite honestly, isn't that the way it seems to always go? Well, this year, we put it on our calendars well in advance, and made a point to head down for the Parade of Lights. So, first of all - if you haven't heard of it before, the Parade of Lights is on the Potomac...as in, it's a parade of *boats*. The parade starts off in Old Town Alexandria (down by the Torpedo Factory), and ends up on the DC Wharf on Water Street, where all the boats dock, and there is a big awesome after party. We opted to watch from Alexandria, as we weren't really in the mood to deal with drunken revelers (I know, so unusual for me!), and I think we were ultimately glad we did. Although the docks were crowded (seriously, get there early and stake a spot!), the view was perfect. The boats were all decked out in lights, each boat with a different theme (although there should be a drinking game...whenever a boat's theme is "Christmas", you do a shot. You'll be drunk 15 minutes into this thing). So the good: The event started right on time. The kick off was supposed to be at 5:30, and the first boat pulled into view at 5:35. Awesome. Some of the boats are decked out incredibly creatively It's not your usual parade There was a professional radio DJ (I didn't catch which one...Tommy something?) that provided the commentary and filled up the time when the boats lagged behind The not so good: The DJ that was providing the commentary ran out of material about 1/3 of the way through and he started to read off tweets...which I pretty much loathe (even though I'm a huge fan of twitter) Some of the boats really lagged, so there were periods where you would just stand there in the cold waiting for another boat to pull into view It is COLD. It's the beginning of December, on the water, at night. OMG. SO. COLD. All that being said, it's a quirky, off the wall little event, and I love the creativity that the captains put into their boats. Definitely fun and weird.

We came here on a Saturday afternoon soon after opening and was a bit disappointed at first. One,…read morethere was barely 10 people there and two, there seemed to be way more drink stands than food. All was not lost, however, when people started to pour in an hour later and we wandered around with an IPA in our hands. My boyfriend and I went to different trucks and shared our purchases. The best bite belonged to a pulled pork bahn mi sandwich from Due South that tasted as good as it looked. Meaty, rich but very well balanced. We also tried a meal from the satay truck and was also impressed. I would come back if I were in the area. It's a nice way to sample diff grub if you're with a group of people. We heard that it can get pretty rowdy after a game lets out. Maybe that's why there were 50 drink vendors.

Finally made it to Truckeroo this year (went once last summer), but it's just not the same for me…read more The first time I went, I had such a blast and couldn't wait to come back. I recently heard that they had to scale it down due to re-development in the area, but goodness, it was just way too congested and not enjoyable for me. A group of us came from Jazz in the gardens and we didn't get there until about 8:00. I'm not sure of the process of selecting which food trucks get to be at Truckeroo, but I wasn't personally impressed by any of the ones there. The lines for these trucks were super long! My friend was starving so we tried to look for a short line and decided to try capital chicken and waffle since their line didn't seem as long as some of the others. I've seen this truck around and figured I might as well give them a try. So after waiting almost 25 minutes (yes I was counting), we were able to place our orders. We both ordered the chicken and fries. My friend got a side of mac n cheese. Then began another lengthy waiting period! Sigh...finally we got our meal. Looked like regular ole chicken fingers and they pretty much were actually. Not impressed at all - was very bland and dry. Good thing I wasn't starving. OMG, the mac n cheese was disgusting - probably the worst I've ever tasted (not exaggerating). Forget trying to find a place to sit at this point. Nothing in sight!! We caught up with the others in our group and walked around. Some ventured off to get drinks. I ran into some folks I hadn't seen in awhile so that was good. Unless they find a different venue and a larger selection of food trucks, I'm in no hurry to go back to Truckeroo!

The 21st Annual Food Festival of the Americas never disappoints and it is easily one of top 5…read morefestivals in DMV region. About 30+ countries from Central and South America set up their booths and they give hospitality for free, and great food for very affordable price. They really want you to like it and they often follow up - we hope you like it (if you are trying it for the first time). I had: Lechona from Colombia - Pork flavor explosion Empanadas from Chile - burst of sweet and salty in perfect unison Coxinha from Brazil - Chicken Croquettes - crunchy outside and soft inside Caipirinha drink from Brazil - Why did I have just one - it was delicious? Mini Choripan from Argentina - Amazing sausage meat Emprados Carne from Paraguay - great taste Chipa Quazu from Paraguay - corn, cheese and eggs in symphony Postre Merengon from Colombia - Fruity sweet delight Jamaica Juice from Mexico - great hibiscus water/juice for a hot day I did not have a breakfast, I came early, so the whole experience was like a wonderful international (Latin) brunch that is almost impossible to beat. There is no entrance fee and there is constant music entertainment as you try delicacies from all over the Americas. Great thing about this festival is that it never gets old - there are so many choices that you can always try something new next year (and have Caipirinha). This was my third attendance. The Food Festival is a fun filled, family event, so bring along your family and friends and those who wish to experience the culture and gastronomy of Latin America, the Caribbean and OAS Observer States at the 22nd festival next year.

Peruvian festival is a festival of happy and friendly Peruvians and friends of Peru that just…read morecelebrated its 30th anniversary. The parking was good, no entrance fee, a lot of free stuff (ice creams, water, bags, jello's, etc...), plenty of Peruvian food choices. Entertainment was rich and fun as you can tell by the pictures - they even had the horses do the tricks... I had food that I had never tried before: Anticuchos - marinated and grilled calf hearts, was delicious meal, with the taste and texture close to a calf liver. Picarones - Peruvian doughnuts were soft and sweet. I was expecting they will be soggy but they were perfect, melting in mouth. This festival is very colorful, and had all the colors under the sun, not just red and whites (their flag). The festival is family friendly and even had a NPS stand where kids can learn and touch objects. Only problem with that is the lack of alcohol (I would have loved a Peruvian beer) but that is a small price to pay for an excellent Peruvian experience.

The 2022 H Street Festival executed on every street festival/block party need: Good food, good…read moremusic & entertainment, good vendors, a little dancing with a whole lot of celebration.. and Mother Nature brought the good weather! Not only was there diversity within the items listed above but it brought out a diverse crowd--I'm sure every identity was present at the festival making for good vibes. Food wise, there was a range of vendors that included food from across the Black diaspora (Jamaican, Haitian, Southern soul food), American cuisine, Bar food from H Street bars & restaurants, sushi & other Asian cuisine , among other fun food trucks. The music I experienced spread across multiple genres (African, r&b, reggae, hip hop, country, and pop) and was put forth by live musicians, DJs, and drag queens. Street formers were also off stage entertaining us with their percussion and brass instruments.

H Street Festival is the largest neighborhood festival in Washington, D.C. It started out 12+ years…read moreas a block party. Now it spans 11 blocks and attracts 150,000 people in one day, always a Saturday in September. It usually starts at noon and goes into the evening. Since it's a massive festival almost every business along the H Street corridor is involved (except for Whole Foods and Starbucks). In addition, almost every food vendor and truck sets up shop at the festival. They have all kinds of food and there are many vendors selling arts and crafts (usually around 4th Street). There are also several staging areas, booths giving out water, and even a few stalls from churches. It's always a great time and you'll get a taste for all types of culture in the city. It's AWESOME!

In order to appreciate this festival, one ought to know the history of the region and be aware of…read morelarge influence of Asians, African and Latino immigration to this region. The food is a reflection of that mix. Although it is hard to define a "national food" the region offers a variety of food that includes Asian and African influence food. The festival favorite appeared to be jerk chicken with rice as there were 4 vendors offering that. The portions are generous, taste is just right and cost within reality. The music was a bit loud but very engaging - I could just see the love birds dancing and enjoying the rhythm from DJ's. There is a lot of smoke going on as many grills were fired up but there is a lot of space where one can sit and enjoy food in shade of trees. There are vendors offering the region products and the location is very convenient as it can be easily reached by metro. The museums are close so one can enjoy morning museum, take a short walk and enjoy a bit more engaging atmosphere afterwards.

This event was super packed. I think I'm not quite the right demographic bc I thought it was just…read moremeh. In fact I texted my friends not to bother. I'm not vegan but eat mostly vegetarian meals. I never feel like there aren't enough vegetarian choices in my life but people here looked like they had waited all year to be visiting their favorite vendors. I was expecting a lot of free samples but there were very few and came with long lines. Everything else was not free. I tend to lose my appetite in the heat anyway so I just walked around the full circle, checked out the chef demo and left. Luckily I stopped by around 9:45am before my yoga class to pick up a ticket for the loaded tote. I went to class, walked back over at 11:00am, picked up my tote by 11:15am. There were lines everywhere! And people not seeing or acknowledging the lines everywhere too. It was not extremely organized once you got in. If you're looking to shop for t-shirts with vegan jokes, vegan and gluten free food, baked goods, gifts, etc... Then this is for you. If you're looking for free samples, stay away. I would have preferred a food festival format where you buy a pack of tickets in advance and try small portions from local places. And then the goods could be sold in a different area. Nats Park was a great venue as the concourses have a lot of shade to help you deal with the heat. There are also tons of water fountains and bathrooms. Next year I'll probably stop by for the loaded tote, listen to some speakers, and watch the cooking demos.

I had a good time here this year. The line was long, very long actually, but once the "doors…read moreopened" the line moved quickly. I showed up an hour before start to get a free tote which was packed with great goodies. If you didn't want to get a tote you could have just skipped the line and walked right in. There were many vendors, even in the rain, and they all seemed very happy to be there. You definitely could feel the community spirit. As soon as I got in I went right to the Vegan Treats line (with notoriously long lines) and only waited about 45 minutes. I say "only" because people say they usually end up waiting 2 hours. I ended up buying 8 pastries: a few brownies, cakes, cheesecakes, and even a donut topped with a funnel cake... all for about $60. Expensive, but worth every penny. I look forward to returning next year.

The DC Cherry Blossom Bus Tour with Tidal Basin Guided Walk…read more I've been a resident of the DMV for 15 years and welcome the opportunity to show the highlights of D.C. when members of my family come for a visit. My sister Mary lives in Delaware and had long wanted to experience the color and drama of the Cherry Blossom Festival. These visits can be frustrating - we never really know when the blossoms will be in full bloom, and how long they'll be pretty and photogenic. This year (2026) was no different. The DC Cherry Blossom Tour, hosted by USA Guided Tours, was our go-to provider for this outing. After I ordered our tickets for a mid-week 10 a.m. four-hour tour, I received a prompt acknowledgement from TripAdvisor that the reservations were ready. I made the reservation just a few days earlier, so it was great to see the email that acknowledged our tickets and told us where to go to join the tour. The logistics involved in getting to the correct bus were easy: my sister and I showed up at the Navy Memorial, across the street from the National Archives (which is on the Yellow line Metro). A tour representative was already there and did a great job of getting us into the proper queue for our tour (USA Tours had four different tours departing that morning). The tickets were scanned and we were on our way, right on time. Highlights of the tour included walking through the cherry trees with abundant blossoms, photographers everywhere, and really pretty expressions of an early summer day in the District. We could see across the tidal basin to the impressive carved statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., which we headed to after spending the first walking excursion in the tidal basin and then the FDR Memorial. Our guide did an outstanding job of providing backstories and context to the places we visited, including the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memoria. We had ample opportunities to stretch our legs, take free bottles of water, and use restroom facilities (as the bus did not have one on board). Both driver and guide handled their responsibilities very well, and we all had an excellent opportunity to see the blossoms. And, just as our guide had predicted, a severe thunderstorm rolled through the tidal basin later that day and wiped out 100 percent of the blossoms we enjoyed earlier that day. Luck of the draw!

It was pretty nice, fun and delightful. The costumes, foods,…read moremusics, colors, products, people, parade... all was really enjoyable! I can't wait for the next year! There is a band consist of Japanese Embassy stuff. They were good! I tried, kimono, hat,... There is a chopstick, origami, fan, anime characters, bowls,...all was from traditional Japan culture... Next year I will get ready with traditional Japan costume and make up!

Whats better than a St. Patricks Day Festival??? Yeah, I can't think of anything either…read more This years event was held in the parking lot of RFK Stadium. This thing is pretty darn cool, they bring in beer trailers of all your typical Irish beers and more, Guiness, Killians, Bass, Miller Lite, Red Stripe etc. It's more than just beer, they had a stage where they had a like 30 or 40 bands playing, including "The Roots". Yeah I was drinking, I missed them. But they also have various tents where they have different themes. There was a hip hop tent, irish music tent, etc. They also had beer pong going on in the tents. In terms of food they had typical carnival food like corn dogs, bbq, funnel cake, etc. I paid for the VIP ticket ($85), which gave you special access to all the areas at the event, plus unlimited beer. I would definately recommend this. When there are all these different types of beer, no limit is the way to go. The only knock on this place was it rained this year, but that was no ones fault, it was still a kick ass time. They tented this festival pretty good so you could find a way not to get wet. Another positive, is I've never seen so many porto-potties in my life, there were definately lines, but it was the best toilet line-ups I've ever seen at an event. I hear the festivals location changes from time to time, so we will see where it is next year. All in all a great time, I would recommend it.