Several museums on the National Mall will stay open until midnight in celebration of the Summer Solstice.
The Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. will mark the beginning of summer with a special day of programming and events on Saturday, June 25. The event is called “Solstice Saturday” and includes live music, crafts, and a yoga garden party.
The summer solstice is the day when the sun moves to the highest point in the sky and the earth experiences its longest day of sunlight. This year’s summer solstice was actually on June 21, but the Smithsonian will celebrate on Saturday.
The Summer Solstice celebration began in 2018 but was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. In addition to a day of programming on the mall, eight museums will stay open late. Check 'em out below:
Museums Open Until Midnight:
- The National Museum of Natural History
- The National Museum of Asian Art
- The National Museum of African Art
- The Smithsonian Institution Building ("The Castle")
- The Arts and Industries Building
- The Enid A. Haupt Garden
Museums Open Until 8 p.m.:
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
- The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Highlights from Solstice Saturday include Hofstra University’s Astronomy Festival on the National Mall; an astronomy clinic where visitors can view space through a variety of telescopes and get questions answered by astronomers. The National Museum of Asian Art is hosting an all-day dance party in the Enid A. Haupt Garden headlined by D.C.’s own DJ Ayes Cold and the FUTURES exhibit in the Arts and Industries Building is hosting “Living Longer Festival: Health + Wellness 2050,” a look at healthcare in the future.
The Summer Solstice celebration is running concurrently with the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, also located on the National Mall. A full schedule of events for Summer Solstice is available at si.edu.
Parking is limited, so take advantage of the DC Metro’s late service hours and free weekend parking.