Drink & Discover:
These DC Museums Have Hands-On
Happy Hours & After Hours Events
Cocktails and culture are a dynamic duo, and some of DC’s museums pair them to create unique happy hours and after-hours events for those looking to explore them in a more relaxed, social setting.
Check out some of the museums with after hours below:
The Library of Congress
Every Thursday the LOC has Live! at the Library happy hours from 5p – 8p, where visitors can enjoy drinks and food in the Great Hall and Jefferson Building, as well as explore the museums’ exhibits and collections. They also have an outdoor movie screening series in the summer.
See their event calendar here.
National Building Museum
A happy hour paired with building domino structures is the kind of fun event that pops up on the event calendar for this museum, which is dedicated to architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning.
They don’t have events as frequently as some of the other museums, but their calendar is one to watch! See their upcoming events here.
National Gallery of Art
After hours at the NGA are a hot ticket in town, and the free RSVPs tend to go fast. Their National Gallery Nights event series is held during the second Thursdays of March, April and May in the Gallery’s East Building with live music, DIY stations, performances and more.
Jazz in the Garden is one of the city’s most popular museum events. It’s held in the NGA Sculpture Garden and has a live music lineup with performers from a variety of genres.
Tickets for both events are free with required registration, which is offered through a lottery system that takes place the week before each event.
See their event calendar here.
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National Museum of Women in the Arts
The NMWA hosts their themed NMWA Nights ($25 general admission), which have live music, crafting activities, cocktails, & more on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
See their event calendar here.
Phillips Collection
The 21st St NW location of this museum’s Phillips After 5 event has rotating themes with different DIY activities and food & drink vendors ($20). They also host art-making workshops there and at the location at THEARC.
See their event calendar here.
Planet Word
Join this immersive language museum on the first Wednesday of every month for Wordplay Wednesdays with activities, music, food, and beer & wine.
The event is held from 5p – 8p and tickets are available on a “pay what you can scale” ranging from $5 – $25.
See their event calendar here.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The SAAM features art from the colonial period to the present and regularly hosts events like their “Take 5” free live jazz concerts in the Kogod Courtyard.
Check out their event calendar here to see their upcoming after hours events.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Youth ages 8 – 14 and their 21+ adult chaperones can sleepover in the Fossil Hall of the Natural History Museum for a night of learning about the Earth’s history with activities and games.
Sleepovers are held in the summer and tickerts are $150 for general admission / $120 for groups. There must be 1 adults for every 5 children in the groups.