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Tag: celebrations

  • ‘This is such a historic milestone’: America 250 organizer on plans for celebrating the nation’s big birthday – WTOP News

    The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is coming up faster than you may realize.

    America250’s Rosie Rios talks about plans for the big anniversary this July.

    The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is coming up faster than you may realize.

    And plans are well underway from several different organizations with plans to celebration the occasion.

    Rosie Rios is the Chair of America250, Congress’s program to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

    “This is such a historic milestone for everyone,” Rios said.

    She said a big focus for them is encouraging people to volunteer. 

    “We are excited to launch America gives this is our national service initiative that’s going to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever recorded by our country. It’s never happened before,” Rios said.

    Freedom 250 is a separate group launched by President Donald Trump which has organized the projections on the Washington Monument and a state fair celebrating each state during weeks leading up to the Fourth of July.

    Valerie Bonk

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  • Making family celebrations personal and memorable – Growing Family

    Collaborative post

    Celebrations have a habit of running away with us. Whether it’s an undercelebrated birthday or a forgotten anniversaries, we could sometimes benefit from injecting intention into our events. After all, we all crave connection and family celebrations should be memorable.

    The trick to celebrating in style is to plan thoughtful touches and embrace personalisation – you don’t have to make a grand gesture. Here are four ideas to make family celebrations personal and memorable.

    family celebration meal in a garden

    Celebrate milestones with personal touches

    Milestones are achievements. Yet anniversaries and birthdays (and even graduations) are often tied to numbers or grades. Adding a personal touch, like favourite meals or hand-written notes, creates a human focus – it’s about your family, not society’s goalposts. These touches fill the event with intent, not box-ticking.

    The secret to long-lasting connections is rituals, so why not create a family tradition? That might be pizza on your youngest child’s birthday, or a snowy walk on a December anniversary. The beauty of this approach is that you make the rules, and can choose what works for your family.

    Involve the kids in meaningful ways

    We all know that children thrive on inclusion. But when kids get caught up in formal environments this can be difficult. Toddlers at Michelin anniversary meals? Not ideal.

    Aim for intentional involvement. For instance, being entrusted with ring bearer duties is more than just a cute way to involve the littlest member of your wedding ceremony. It can help prepare the child for transitions and affirm their importance in an otherwise fast-paced environment.

    It doesn’t have to be dramatic, either. For example, you could set aside an extra hour to let children help with preparing a birthday meal, or take them shopping to choose decorations for the surprise party.

    two people toasting with champagne glassestwo people toasting with champagne glasses

    Mark anniversaries or vow renewals thoughtfully

    Every couple has a different approach to commitment. Some celebrate at every possibility, while others forget anniversaries without fail. The secret is finding what works for you.

    Lean on those rituals; have a “special walk” or a meal at your favourite restaurant. If you want to splurge, booking a trip is a fantastic way to celebrate through new memories. And for couples dreaming of renewing their vows, choosing a second hand engagement ring is an excellent method to avoid overspending. Thoughtfulness is key here; celebrate anniversaries and vow renewals in ways that are meaningful to you and your partner.

    Capture memories to look back on

    Whoever said a picture speaks a thousand words wasn’t exaggerating. Taking photographs is a fantastic way to immortalise special moments. Spend an evening putting your photos into an album or scrapbook, and you’ve created an heirloom and time capsule all rolled into one.

    Don’t neglect the “record” button on your phone either. Videos beautifully capture memories, and while they’re traditionally burned onto DVDs, they can also be saved to cloud storage for easy sharing.

    What’s your top tip for making family celebrations personal?

    Catherine

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  • What is the Indian celebration of Diwali? – WTOP News

    Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is Monday. More than a billion people around the world are celebrating the five-day festival.

    Kannan Srinivasan and a diya, a small oil lamp made of rounded clay, on his front porch.
    (Courtesy Srinivasan)

    Courtesy Srinivasan

    Diwali celebrations typically feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colorful powders.
    (Courtesy Srinivasan)

    Courtesy Srinivasan

    At the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland, Monday evening, worship inside and fireworks outside the temple.
    (Courtesy Siva Subramanian)

    Courtesy Siva Subramanian

    People  worship inside the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland, for Diwali on Monday.
    (Courtesy Siva Subramanian)

    Courtesy Siva Subramanian

    APTOPIX India Hindu Festival
    About 2.61 million oil lamps are lit along the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali, creating a new Guinness World Record, in Ayodhya, India, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.
    (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

    AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh

    India Hindu Festival
    A roadside shopkeeper sells green firecrackers after the Supreme Court permitted sales ahead of the Diwali festival in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
    (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

    AP Photo/Manish Swarup

    Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is Monday. More than a billion people around the world are celebrating the five-day festival.

    Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.”

    Virginia State Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, who represents eastern Loudoun County, said Diwali brings people of all faith together to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.

    He pointed out that thousands of different kinds of sweets will be exchanged along with gifts, like clothes, during the festival.

    “Look at the shopping. Oh, my God, this is the number one shopping time in India. And you’re talking about a country of more than 1.3 billion people. It is a massive shopping day,” he told WTOP’s Jimmy Alexander.

    People light candles, set off fireworks, or light diyas — small oil lamps made of rounded clay.

    “There’s a tradition of doing firecrackers,” he said.

    Srinivasan, who grew up in the southern Indian city of Chennai, said it also represents the light inside us.

    “We, as a human race, have to strive to do the right thing always,” he said. “It’s a celebration of knowledge over ignorance and also good over evil.”

    It’s also a day of service and charity, Srinivasan said, adding they also pray “for the world’s prosperity.”

    “It doesn’t matter where people live, these are the principles of making sure that we improve everyone’s life in the Commonwealth, that we improve people across the board. And that is what Diwali signifies. We want prosperity all around,” he said.

    Dr. Siva Subramanian, the chief of neonatology at Georgetown University Hospital and a co-founder of the Council of Hindu Temples of North America, said there is no “Indian festival that is not accompanied by extensive food.”

    Other than sweets like pista burfi (sweet milk squares with pistachios) celebrants eat a variety of delicious meals, including biryani (rice with vegetables and meat), potato and pea samosas or pani puri (crispy puffed bread filled with spices and vegetables).

    “In your home or in your personal life, appreciate the light that comes to remove the darkness,” Subramanian told WTOP.

    Here’s where you can celebrate Diwali around the D.C. area:
    DC

    The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs will be hosting the city’s annual Diwali celebration on Thursday, Oct. 30. The event is free and open to the public.

    Maryland

    CoHNA, the Coalition of Hindus of North America, is hosting a Diwali celebration on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Elkridge Library. the event is free but registration is required.

    Virginia

    The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Diwali Festival is held in Woodbridge until Tuesday night at 9 p.m. There will be light displays, fireworks and food.

    Happy Diwali from WTOP!

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Ciara Wells

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  • Why We Eat Red Foods on Juneteenth

    Why We Eat Red Foods on Juneteenth

    Alexandra FosterEditorial Assistant, The Kitchn

    Alexandra Foster is the Editorial Assistant for The Kitchn. She is passionate about highlighting diverse voices in the food world through her storytelling. Her work has previously appeared in Food Network, Whetstone Magazine, and NYU’s Bite Magazine. In her free time, she loves trying new plant-based foods, baking, listening to music or podcasts, and being in nature.

    Alexandra Foster

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  • Juneteenth 2024: Your guide to celebrations in DC, Maryland and Virginia – WTOP News

    Juneteenth 2024: Your guide to celebrations in DC, Maryland and Virginia – WTOP News

    WTOP has curated a list of area events organized in celebration of Juneteenth 2024.

    On Wednesday, June 19, the United States will observe Juneteenth.

    A little history: In 1865, a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free and that the Civil War had ended. This news came two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people were free.

    Since then, this significant moment in our country’s history has been celebrated in the Black community. It only became recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when, following a string of protests against police violence in the wake of George Floyd’s death, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

    WTOP has curated a list of D.C.-area events organized in celebration of Juneteenth 2024.

    DC

    National Museum of African American History & Culture — Juneteenth Community Day
    1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20560
    On Saturday, June 15, the NMAAHC will celebrate the holiday early with “educational, cultural and dynamic programs that enrich understanding and honor the legacy of freedom, movement and migration.”

    Some of the programs include designing your own Juneteenth flag, a mocktail workshop and live jazz performances by Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings. All events are free, but online registration is required.

    National Archives — See the original Emancipation Proclamation
    700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20408
    The proclamation President Abraham Lincoln issued on Jan. 1, 1863, declaring all enslaved people in states engaged in rebellion against the Union “shall be free” will be on display from June 18 to June 20 in the East Rotunda Gallery.

    Also on display will be the General Order No. 3 decree, which informed the state of Texas that all enslaved people were now free, in the West Rotunda Gallery. Special extended exhibition hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    Anacostia Community Museum — Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
    1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, D.C. 20020
    On June 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum will have a daylong, family-friendly celebration featuring live music from area musicians, its new “A Bold and Beautiful Vision” exhibition highlighting D.C.’s role in Black arts education and Double Dutch lessons and contests.

    Communications director Katelynd Anderson told WTOP the Sankofa Mobile Museum — which features hands-on exhibits exploring centuries of Maryland history — will also be on-site. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, coolers and food. Concessions will be available for purchase on-site as well. It is free to attend, but registration is recommended.

    Bread for the City — Juneteenth for the City 2024
    1700 Marion Barry Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. 20020
    On Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Bread for the City’s Southeast center will turn into a block party, featuring a local Black-owned business marketplace, food, live performances and educational sessions on Black culture and history. Admission is free, but you must RSVP to attend.

    Juneteenth in the District at Bryant Street
    680 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
    The Edgewater neighborhood is coming together on Juneteenth for a “meaningful and special street festival” focused on health. Starting at 10 a.m., the event will host a yoga and meditation session, followed by a fitness boot camp (you must register to participate).

    Then, from noon to 4 p.m., the street festival begins, featuring performances by the Batalá Washington drum line and the Side-By-Side Go-go Band. Pop-up vendors will also be on-hand. Reserve your spot for free online.

    MARYLAND

    Watkins Regional Park — Juneteenth by the Prince George’s Parks 
    301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774
    Prince George’s County’s parks department is hosting its free Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 15, from noon to 5 p.m., with a festival of food, art and more, celebrating “African American history, culture, and achievement.”

    It also will include live performances from Go-go bands, including the Chuck Brown Band and Big Tony and Trouble Funk, among others.

    Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival
    Multiple locations, Montgomery County, Maryland 
    Labeled as the region’s “most prolific cultural event,” the 5-day event starts with its opening night celebration at The Bethesda Theater on Saturday, June 15, featuring performances by former America’s Got Talent contestant Kelvin Dukes and R&B and blues musician Daryl Davis. Tickets start at $60.

    On Father’s Day Sunday, the Marriott Bethesda Hotel will host Scotland Interfaith Breakfast, where various religious leaders plan to perform a special service with a goal of “fostering dialogue around shared values and hospitality.” Tickets start at $60, but virtual attendance is free.

    For the first time in Montgomery County history, the festival will be capped off with fireworks on Juneteenth at Shirley Povich Field in Rockville at 9:45 p.m., after the Children’s Caribbean Carnival at nearby Cabin John Park. See a full list of events on the festival’s website.

    National Harbor’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration
    Multiple Locations, National Harbor, Maryland
    To celebrate Juneteenth, National Harbor is hosting multiple events, including a Freedom Day Black-Owned Marketplace in the Capital Canopy, a cultural showcase featuring various musical and spoken word performances, and Sip and Paint inside Arts’tination, Prince George’s County’s new art space. 

    VIRGINIA

    Alexandria celebrates Juneteenth 2024
    Multiple locations, Alexandria, Virginia
    The City of Alexandria plans to hold multiple event to commemorate the holiday, including its annual remembrance event at the Douglass Cemetery to honor those buried at the historic African American cemetery on Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited and those attending are asked to wear appropriate walking shows.

    On Juneteenth, Alexandria’s Market Square will host a lively concert by the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices, featuring traditional music, dance and spoken word. Lastly, on Saturday, June 22, there will be activities, including music, performances and a moon bounce at the Charles Houston Recreation Center parking lot from noon to 6 p.m.

    WalkArlington Presents: Juneteenth Black Heritage Walk
    801 S. Scott St., Arlington, Virginia, 22204
    Discover Black heritage in Arlington on a two-hour guided walking tour led by board member Craig Syphax. It will take place near Columbia Pike with stops at St. John’s Baptist Church and Freedman’s Village Bridge, ending at the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington. It is free, but those interested must sign up online.

    Metropolitan Park — Arlington Community Juneteenth Celebration & Cookout
    1330 S Fair Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22202
    Under the theme “What freedom means to me,” t    he family-friendly celebration and reflection will feature live music, cultural performances, delicious food, and activities for all ages. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place rain or shine. 

    Mount Vernon — “Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day for Juneteenth”
    3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
    The historic home of George Washington plans to host multiple events discussing the history of the enslaved people who lived there. From June 19 to June 22, the estate will host multiple specialty performances and demonstrations.

    There will also be an Enslaved People of Mount Vernon Specialty Tour and a Slave Burial Ground Commemoration Ceremony to “honor the lives of the enslaved. One must purchase a ticket to attend any of the event, which range from $15-28. 

    WTOP’s José Umaña, Michelle Goldchain and Jenna Romaine contributed to this report.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Jose Umana

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  • List of Hanukkah celebrations canceled and toned down across US this year

    List of Hanukkah celebrations canceled and toned down across US this year

    With reported instances of antisemitism on the rise in the U.S. in the wake of renewed violence in the Middle East, several Hannukah celebrations have either been canceled or tempered.

    According to watchdog StopAntisemitism, since Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, it has experienced a 1,500 percent increase in reported incidents. In the first month following the attack, another organization, the Anti-Defamation League, said reports of antisemitism had risen 316 percent year-on-year.

    When questioned about its response to these cancelations, the White House faced a backlash for also noting a rise in Islamophobia that has occurred at the same time. Its own Hannukah party is set to take place on Monday, The Washington Post reported.

    Disney World, in Florida, and Disneyland, in California, meanwhile have maintained their plans to commemorate the festival—which begins on Thursday night.

    People ride an escalator past a hanukkiah installation at the World Trade Center Oculus on December 6, 2023, in New York City. Several public Hanukkah celebrations have been canceled this year.
    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    Hannukah is not a strictly religious festival, but has become a major part of Jewish culture. It is the only Jewish festival that marks a military victory: when the Maccabees successfully recovered Jerusalem from the then Seleucid emperor Antiochus in the second century BC.

    After the Second Temple was sacked by the Seleucids, the story goes, the Maccabees only had enough lamp oil for one night, but it lasted for eight days—which are represented by the eight candles on a hanukkiah lit over the course of eight days.

    But while many Jews see Hanukkah as representing light and hope, some have viewed its usual mirth as inappropriate in the context of the war between Israel and Hamas.

    The 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival, Virginia

    A hanukkiah lighting had been scheduled to take place at the 2nd Sundays Art and Music Festival in Williamsburg, Virginia, on December 10, but it has since been canceled. Shirley Vermillion, the festival’s founder, told the Daily Press that the event “seemed very inappropriate” given the conflict.

    “The concern is of folks feeling like we are siding with a group over the other[…]not a direction we ever decide to head,” she said.

    The United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula issued a statement criticizing the decision, and claimed festival organizers had offered to reinstate the event if it were held under a banner calling for a ceasefire.

    Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin urged the organizers to reconsider the decision, writing on Monday: “Singling out the Jewish community by canceling this Hanukkah celebration is absurd.”

    Latkes and Vodka, Washington D.C.

    According to the Religious News Service, an annual bash in Washington D.C. called Latkes and Vodka was also canceled this year by its host, Steve Rabinowitz, a media consultant and former press aide in the Bill Clinton White House.

    In an email on Tuesday, he reportedly said: “I just don’t feel right hosting a party this year, given October 7 and in the middle of an actual war.”

    Zony Mash Beer Project, Louisiana

    The Zony Mash Beer Project, a brewery and events space in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was due to hold a Hanukkah celebration on the first night of the festival, abruptly announced it was canceling the event on Wednesday.

    In a statement, it attributed the decision to “external tensions,l” without specifying what those were.

    “Our intent has always been to host a lighthearted and conflict-free celebration, providing a space for diverse communities to come together and enjoy the spirit of Hanukkah,” the beer project wrote. “Unfortunately, challenges beyond our control have compromised our ability to ensure a joyful and safe environment.”

    Adam Mayer, a Jewish activist who runs a pop-up called Latke Daddy, who has publicly criticized Israel’s intervention in Gaza, said in his own statement that he had been disinvited “respectfully” after other members of the Jewish community expressed unhappiness with his position.

    Hannukah House, Texas

    A Jewish-owned house in Houston, Texas which has for the past few years with a blue and white light display, encouraging others to visit it, said it would be toning down the display this year over the war between Israel and Hamas.

    In a statement on November 26, the owners said: “In light of current events, the Hannukah House is still aglow, with only white lights in the hope of peace.”

    Brad Hirschfield

    Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, an author and president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, will still be celebrating Hanukkah at home, but will not be hosting an open house this year as he traditionally does.

    “I don’t entirely know how you can celebrate a festival of victory fully and completely when we are a people at war,” he told the Religious News Service. “That’s a challenge.”