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It's a penny-pincher's nirvana: The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Washington, D.C., which lists about 1,000 freebies. Here's a sampling of some favorite (but lesser known) finds that visitors and locals can enjoy any time of the year, courtesy of the book's author, Rob Grader.
Catch a free performance
Most evenings (often around 6:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. Daily performances run the gamut from classical music, jazz, and popular music to theater, dance, and circus performances, each lasting between half-an-hour and an hour.
Take a free tour of the capital city
DC by Foot Free Monuments Walking Tours offer 90 minute free tours of the national mall that will fill you in on all of the history, symbolism and architectural details of the monuments around the mall. Guides set out most weekdays at 6 p.m. and most weekends at 2 p.m. No reservations are required. dcbyfoot.com
Wholeness for Humanity leads eco-tours around D.C. to highlight the greening of the city. The tours can lead you to many surprising destinations, including the Nationals' ballpark, the roof of the Department of Transportation, the National Geographic Building, and a stroll along the Anacostia River. Tours run a few times a month and reservations are required. wholenessforhumanity.com
Attend a blues Jam
Every Saturday at 2:30 in honor of the musician Archie Edwards. The jam brings together musicians of all levels to revel in the Piedmont Blues that Mr. Edwards championed for more than 50 years at his D.C. barber shop. acousticblues.com
BONUS TIP
Enjoy a day on the farm.
A drive of a few miles outside of D.C. in Oxon Hill, Md., visitors can get their hands dirty milking cows and working with the chickens or just have a good time petting the farm animals, overlooking the Beltway. nps.gov/archive/nace/oxhi
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I'm a fan of "free tours" after going on two BA FREE TOURs in Buenos Aires.
However unlike the "Kennedy Center", "Attend a blues Jam", or "Enjoy a day on the farm" the "DC by Foot Free Monuments" tour would not be "free" but rather pay what you want.
If you were truly to attend for free (i.e. don't tip) someone will feel awkward maybe the guide or maybe someone in your group who notices everyone else tipping. Technically it could be 100% free, and the guide should not hassle you if you chose not to tip - but you may get asked if they did something wrong.
But as I stated above I am a supporter of this type of tour because it allows you to tip what you want, which could lower the price significantly and what you give goes directly to the guide.
Posted By Iolaire McFadden on February 19, 2010, 9:51 AM
Hi Iolare,
As always, thanks for your insightful comments! The www.buenosairesfreetour.com tour sounds fascinating.
Good point about the courtesy of tipping.
Best,
Sean
Posted By Blog Editor on February 19, 2010, 11:13 AM
Some years ago there was a guidebook, See America Free, which listed freebies in all fifth states. While it is dated, it might be a good starting place for travelers.
Posted By David Reno on February 22, 2010, 11:39 AM
I too am a fan of free events in D C. The dress parade at the Marine Barracks in the summer is a must. Accessable by Eastern Mkt Metro it is a short walk through a funky neighborhood. Great Cuban food at the Banana Cafe on the corner [not free]. Contact the U S Marines for a free ticket or wait in line and see if there is extra space.
Posted By KAY NORMAN on February 22, 2010, 12:29 PM
Twice a year Washington Walks offers free walking tours (tipping not required or expected)to areas and places in DC that most people never see.
For an overview of tours and dates of the free walks go to http://washingtonwalks.com/tours/list-free-tours.shtml
You can always walk the National Mall on your own for free. But how often can you get a behind the scenes tour of the National Cathedral or St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital?
Posted By Ginger Neier on February 22, 2010, 2:03 PM
Best way to see Washington DC is to bring or rent a bike, else you'll walk your feet off especially on a hot day; the Mall is very big! Understand that you can ride anywhere on the Mall even onto the capital steps. Best to park outside DC at the Washington Marina just south of the Reagan Airport off the George Washington Memorial Parkway; you can turn in going either direction. Take the Mount Vernon trail which crosses there north and and ride in over the Arlington Memorial bridge which intersects the trail and head towards the Lincoln Memorial. The ride along the trail is very beautiful as the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument reflect in the river.
One best free thing to do is to contact your local congressman and arrange for a tour of the capital; they all hire staff that will help you. Also the Marine drum and bugle corps offer parades at the Iwo Jima Memorial on Tuesday evenings in the summer.
Posted By james kimmel on February 22, 2010, 2:53 PM
Please don't forget the free programs put on by the free museums--the Freer and Sackler Gallery usually have some film festival going on, concerts at the museums are free, the National Gallery of Art has wonderful films on Saturday and Sunday and free lectures and concerts, as does the National Museum of African Art. These programs are regular (not just special occasions). Of course, don't forget to tour the most beautiful building in Washington, the Library of Congress, Jefferson Building (for free), and if you are there between 12 and 1 p.m., there are several FREE programs on topics from science, to art and of course, books! This is a free entertainment town, and those I mentioned are just a taste of all that comes for FREE!
Posted By Eve Ferguson on February 22, 2010, 3:02 PM
If you're up for more jam sessions, the sunday afternoon drumming/dancing circle in DC's beautiful Meridien Hill Park is also pretty awesome.
Posted By Brendan on February 22, 2010, 3:15 PM
The performances at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage are not "most days" and are not "often around 6:30 p.m.). The Millenium Stage performances are every day (except maybe Christmas Day) and are at 6:00 p.m.
Posted By Doug Herbert on March 24, 2011, 3:11 PM
Lots of good info. Thanks
Posted By Judith Colucci on March 28, 2011, 4:26 PM
The Museum of Natural History is my favorite DC freebie. And all other Smithsonian museums are free, too.
Posted By A. Freeman on April 11, 2011, 9:23 AM