National Harbor Celebrates America’s 250th Birthday with a Packed Summer Event Schedule

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National Harbor Celebrates America’s 250th Birthday with a Packed Summer Event Schedule

From summer military concerts and other live music to movies, markets, a pickleball tournament, festivals and more, National Harbor is the place to be for summertime fun!

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., April 2, 2026—National Harbor has long been known as Washington’s premier waterfront destination. With its many boutique retail shops and outlet center, renowned restaurants, water activities and unique entertainment, including a robust summertime event lineup, it provides the perfect location for summer fun. This year, as the nation celebrates 250 years, National Harbor offers even more opportunities to experience great entertainment, exceptional food and amazing activities.

“As part of our celebration of America’s 250, we’re very excited to offer our most popular summer programs and activities as well as new events,” said Deborah Topcik, senior director of marketing at National Harbor.

The summer-long celebration runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day with weekly activities including the Salute the Sunset Concert Series every Saturday at 7 p.m. The series showcases premier U.S. military bands on the waterfront. Attendees are encouraged to grab takeout from one of National Harbor’s nearby restaurants, grab a blanket and enjoy a free evening of music on the waterfront.

On Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. National Harbor features free Movies on the Potomac. During our America 250 celebration, movies will have an Americana focus. Thursday movies are “date night” movies with family movies on Sundays. “This is another opportunity to grab takeout from one of our restaurants, bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy a free movie with friends and family. Our Sunday movies are becoming a weekly family tradition,” added Topcik.

Fridays on the Plaza features “Summer Sounds” honoring America’s 250 with live musical performances featuring a variety of styles from across the U.S. Hours are 5 to 7 p.m. in May and September, 6 to 8 p.m. in June through August. In addition to great music, enjoy lawn games and beautiful sunsets over the Potomac River.

On May 23 and 24, Veterans in Pickleball will host its Annual National Harbor Pickleball Tournament featuring competition for beginner, intermediate and advanced intermediate players. Brackets will include men’s, women’s, mixed and senior 50+ divisions. The tournament takes place in National Harbor’s Spirit Park (115 Waterfront St.) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $50 per person to play and registration is required.

On Memorial Day (May 25) The Capital Wheel is saying thank you to veterans and active duty service members by offering them free rides. To redeem, just show military identification at The Capital Wheel ticket booth. Additionally, during the America 250 Celebration from Memorial Day to Labor Day, they will be offering a $17.76 ticket that includes a free digital download picture.

On June 6, July 4 and August 1, visitors to National Harbor can experience the 250th Veterans’ Maker’s Market showcasing veteran makers and artisans with handmade art, crafts, jewelry, home décor, gifts and specialty items.

The Salute to America Walk and Picnic celebrates the nation's 250th anniversary with a patriotic procession from Spirit Park to the midpoint of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Participants can enjoy a unique salute to the capital followed by a free community picnic featuring live music and waterfront views. Registration is required. Participants who wear their best red, white, and blue, or even a presidential costume will be entered for a chance to win prizes!

National Harbor’s Spirit Park celebrates America every day with one of the largest flying flags in the U.S. The large flag is surrounded by 13 smaller flags representing different military branches and first responders. Much of the park has been designed to pay homage to America’s founding and the flag. For instance, the park is 1.776 acres and includes an amphitheater with six rows of seating (representing the number of white stripes on the flag) and a 50-foot round stage representing the 50 states. Spirit Park also contains sculptures including The Journey created by John Lopez. The six-and-a-half-foot tall Bison bull weighs approximately 1,000 pounds and stands beside a six-foot-tall Bison cow and a three-foot-tall Bison calf. The sculptures have tools integrated into them that were used by National Harbor founder, the late Milton Peterson.

Sculptures of Presidents Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt, by artist Ivan Schwartz are also part of National Harbor’s art. In addition, there’s a larger art walk with Guide By Cell that includes multiple American icons and art by national and local artists. The art walk includes one of the only sculptures with military representation from five branches and continues from there up American Way.

For more information on National Harbor, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.

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About National Harbor
Situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River and just minutes from the nation’s capital, National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination unlike any other. National Harbor is home to two of Maryland’s Four Diamond rated hotels—Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the East Coast’s largest non-gaming hotel and convention center and has almost 2,000 hotel rooms and 660,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and MGM National Harbor, an integrated luxury casino resort with renowned chef-driven restaurants, a 3,000-seat state-of-the art theater and one of the largest gaming floors outside of Las Vegas. The vibrant Waterfront District features boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment options along picturesque promenades. The iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-ft observation wheel, Tanger National Harbor’s 85 designer brands, and a robust calendar of events round out this destination that welcomes more than 15.2 million visitors a year. For more information, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.