Whenever you visit Washington, you are almost certain to discover that there is at least some kind of event or celebration going on in the city. Because people from all over the planet make their home in Washington as a result of it being the political epicenter of the whole world, all of the different cultures in the world tend to be represented with major parties from time to time, and barely a week goes by without at least one parade or street party somewhere in the city.

Of course the main events in the Washington Social calendar are the dates that are particularly tied into American culture, with Independence Day being the most prominent day in the calendar. People from all over the country descend on Washington DC in order to celebrate the history of the nation’s founding, and there is one of the moat amazing fireworks displays anywhere in the world to enjoy in the evening after a full day of light entertainment and parades.

One of the most unusual events in the Washington Calendar is the Cherry Blossom Festival in April. This import from Japan involves the locals wandering through the parks of the city looking for the best examples of cherry blossom in order to display them and seek some peace and quiet away from their day to day life.

It comes as no surprise that the biggest events in Washington are generally tied to Politics in some way. Aside from the incredible pomp that descends on the city once every four years for the inauguration of a new president, frequent state visits from other world leaders, parades for returning heroes from conflicts in other parts of the world, and of course the major scrum of the various elections and other events that take place.

One of the best times to visit Washington DC is in the run up to Christmas, when the city is decorated with lights and trees, and the main shopping areas are all as festive as can be. With the great deals on shopping available in the city, it is also a fantastic place to do some last minute shopping and get all of your presents.