Discover Washington, D.C., with Passport DC

The District of Columbia is a great place to teach kids about politics and American history, but this coming May it will also be a great place to teach them about different cultures. Passport DC, an annual event taking place all month long, is designed to let visitors and locals, especially family travelers, learn about the many cultures represented in the nation’s capital.

Embassy visits, entertainment, cultural and art exhibits, culinary experiences and more are happening throughout the month to celebrate many of the countries represented in the nation’s capital. Many of the events are free and include family-friendly activities kids will love.

The first two Saturdays of the month give visitors a chance to visit several of the more than 170 foreign embassies found along Embassy Row, a stretch of Massachusetts Avenue NW. At the Around the World Embassy Tour, scheduled to take place May 4, embassies of 51 countries open their doors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. so visitors can experience food and entertainment representing each host country. Some of the participating embassies include Ukraine, Japan, Eswatini and Paraguay, just to name a few. Visiting families can expect to experience a maximum of four to five embassies through the course of the day.

On the following Saturday, May 11, those interested in learning more about Europe’s many unique cultures can experience them during Open House Day. This is a rare opportunity, as the embassies are not usually open to the public, but during this event E.U. member embassies will offer free tours throughout the day.

Other events throughout the month also give incredible insights into the cultural diversity of Washington, D.C., like the International City Food Festival, scheduled May 3 and 4, and Fiesta Asia!, which will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue on May 18. During these events you’ll get to meet chefs from around the world who are excited to demonstrate their creativity and share their native foods and beverages to help attendees learn more about the international society we live in. This is not only a great way to introduce the little ones to different cultures, but also to expand their palate by letting them try new foods and flavors.

Fiesta Asia! will feature a street fair where vendors will sell handicrafts at the shopping bazar; a variety of Asian foods will be available; and you will experience a variety of music, street dancing and martial arts demonstrations in addition to a cultural parade. While this event is free, there is a paid event at the beginning of the month on May 2, designed to embrace Asian cultures represented in Washington, D.C. with a dance showcase featuring “mystery and enchantment.” Tickets for the “Masquerade: Moving Tradition Forward “ Dance Showcase start at $10.