Summer Festivals in Washington, D.C

You can get food, carnival rides, or parades almost any day of the summer, but our nation's capital offers two prominent festivals that are exclusive to the region, and are held in Washington, D.C. each year.

Mary Lou Williams wrote for such legendary performers as Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. In honor of this "First Lady of Jazz Piano," the Mary Lou William Women in Jazz Festival showcases female jazz artists from around the world in a series of concerts and events at D.C.'s Kennedy Center, taking place from May 10^th through 12^th this year.

The Free Millennium Stage, as the name implies, offers free concerts, including one of the highlights of the festival, the Women in Jazz Pianist Competition. Throughout the three day event, almost non-stop music will come from that stage, as numerous world recognized lady jazz musicians take the stage with everything from big band brass to the crying chords of the blues. Artists who will take this stage include the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet, Maureen McCusker & her Quintet, and the Mili Bermejo Trio.

During the jazz festival, The Kennedy Center will also hold a Jam Session, host the IAJE Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All Stars, plus many, many more great performances. Ticketed concerts are held in the Terrace Theater, and ticketed workshops are held at the Terrace Gallery. Find out more at http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/jazz/womeninjazz/

Held every four years, the World Children's Festival, is considered the most significant event for children. Hosted by the International Child Art Foundation, and taking place on The National Mall from June 22 - 26, the World Children's Festival brings art, technology, science, and sport to Washington D.C.

The country and state child representatives at the event were chosen from a pool of three million children from one hundred countries who created artwork around the theme "My Favorite Sport." Children will also serve as the performers and artists of this event, with specially selected youth visual art troupes performing on the "World Stage," and the National Mall itself turned into one giant artwork for the week of the festival.

With workshops and training on areas of interest such as animation and leadership, as well as a topic that is becoming increasingly important to future generations, peace education, the main purpose of the festival is to bring children from different cultures and backgrounds together in a uniting experiencing meant to inspire them to create change and equality. Find out more about this event at http://www.icaf.org/index3.html

You will not find festivals like this anywhere else in the United States. And if you miss the World Children's Festival, then you will have to wait another four years for it to come again. Make sure you stop in one of these if you are in the Washington D.C. area this summer.