Lotus and Water Lily Festival

 

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a one-of-a-kind destination within Anacostia Park and it is a hidden gem in Washington, DC. The summer lotus and lily blossoms are a “must see” during their peak blooming period in July, not unlike viewing the cherry blossoms in the spring. We hope you will have a chance to visit the park this July. We also encourage you to learn more about the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by visiting their website and/or stopping by their table at the park when you visit the festival in July.

 

A Pink water lily with a bumble bee

Tim Ervin

The 2023 Lotus and Water Lily Festival will run from July 15th through July 22nd. The festival will feature eight days of cultural performances, classes, ranger programming and more! Each day of the festival will feature a different theme and will highlight the different perspectives that make of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens beautiful. Some days of the festival will have extended hours. Come visit the park to enjoy the varity of programs and see the water lilies and lotuses in bloom.

 

2023 Lotus and Water Lily Festival Events Schedule

The Festival will take place from Saturday July 15th through Saturday July 22nd. 

Saturday, July 15th - Healthy Parks Day 8am - 8pm

Visiting parks is a great way to improve your mental and physical health through exercise, meditation, art, music. The festival kicks off with a variety of fun physical activities. Exercise your brain by learning something new or find a quiet place to chill out in the evening after the entertainment is done for the day.  Today is all about doing something that’s good for you! 

Lily 5K Walk 
8:30 am to 12:30 pm 

Bring your neighbors and friends and start the festival by doing something healthy for yourself while enjoying the park! You can start this fun 5K walk at the entrance to the garden or at Kenilworth Park.  The first 100 walkers to complete the event get goody bags. The neighborhood with the most walkers wins this year’s “Brag Banner.”   
 

Lotus Yoga 
9:00 am 
Bring your yoga mat and enjoy flow of the garden during this free yoga class for all ages. 

Painting Class 
10:00 am 
Join our paint instructor to create a painting of plants in the garden. Class is open to 20 participants. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance. 
 

Drumming with Katy Gaughan 
11:00 am

Find your rhythm in this group drum circle led by Katy Gaughn. This festival favorite is a fun way for people of all ages to make some noise. Drums provided. 

Capoeira  
12:00 pm

Capoeira DC will perform this distinctive liberating martial art form that was developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil to help them fight for their freedom.   

VaVa Samba 
12:45 pm 

VaVa United School of Samba is back this year to perform a variety of colorful dances. Learn more about the beautiful artform and join the dance!

Painting Class 
1:00 pm 
Join our paint instructor to create a painting of plants in the garden. Class is open to 20 participants. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance. 
 

Sir Harvey Fitz 
1:45 pm 
Spoken word poet, Sir Harvey, will perform a set of his original DC centered poetry. 

Elikeh 
2:30 pm 
Ready to get your groove on?  Making their first festival appearance, the DC based, Afropop band Elikeh will close out the festival entertainment on Saturday.  Elikeh uses elements of Tongalese rhythms as it explores American-influenced blues, funk and rock.  We dare you not to dance along! 

Afternoon Boardwalk Talks 
4pm, 5pm, 6pm 
Join a ranger for a quick 15 minute talk on the boardwalk after the performances

Sunday, July 16th - Asian Cultures and the Lotus 8am - 5pm

The festival will celebrate Asian cultures who have used lotus and lily plants for centuries as symbols in art, as medicine, food and more.  Make your own paper lotus lantern, enjoy a variety of Asian dance and music, try lotus tea and more.   

Bird Walk 
8:30 am - 10:30 am  

Join park rangers and expert volunteers on this special Lotus and Water Lily Festival Bird Walk! bring your binoculars or an ID to borrow a pair from the visitors center. 
 

Boardwalk Talks
11am, 1pm, 2pm

Join a ranger on the boardwalk for a 15 minute talk about the marsh history and ecosystem. 
 

Foraging Class 
10:00 am 

Start the day on this walk to learn about the edible plants that are found in the around Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.  This walk is limited to 20 participants.  Register at the Welcome Tent just inside the main entrance of the garden. 

Buddhist Chanting 
10:45 am

The stage opens Sunday morning with chanting, welcoming everyone to the festival. 

Music and Dance of Thailand 
11:00 am 

Enjoy the beautiful dance and music of performers showcasing arts from Thailand. 

Chinese Lotus Dance 
12:00 pm

Visit the festival stage to see the captivating lotus dance. 

Classical Indian Dance 
1:00 pm 

Students from the Sharanya Dance School will be back to perform at the festival. These festival favorites bring their infectious energy each year. 

Bollywood Inspired Dance 

2:00 pm   

Cultural performances continue with this joyful and artistic showcase of Bollywood inspired dancing. 

DJ
2:30 pm 

Enjoy the DJ's musical stylings while enjoying the blooming lotuses in the park or dancing with your loved ones and new friends! 

Break Dancing by “Toyzarus” 
3:00 pm 

Sunday closes with the captivating skills of "Toyzarus". 

Monday July 17th - Ranger Day 8am - 4pm

Spend the day learning about the incredible history and ecology at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The rangers at the park will each lead individual talks emphasizing their areas of expertise. Join for one program or stay for multiple to learn different perspectives on the gardens. 

Ranger Steph's Garden Tour 
9:00 am - 9:30 am

Join Ranger Steph for a ranger program on resilience and perspective. Explore the connections between the natural ecosystem and community history. 

Ranger Kristy's Boardwalk Talk
10:00 am - 10:15 am 

Ranger Kristy will give a 15 minute boardwalk talk around the importance of marsh ecosystems and native plants. 

Ranger Remi's Garden Tour 
11:00 am - 11:30 am 

Join Ranger Remi for a tour of the gardens. Learn about the lotus, the water lily, and the animals that call the garden home.

Ranger Steph's Boardwalk Talk 
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm

Ranger Steph will give a 15 minute boardwalk talk on the human history of the marsh, from indigenous stewardship to community advocacy. 

Ranger Kristy's Garden Tour
1:00 pm - 1:30pm 

Join Ranger Kristy on a garden tour. Learn fun facts about aquatic plants and their incredible adaptations. 

Ranger Remi's Boardwalk Talk 
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm 

Ranger Remi will give a 15 minute boardwalk talk on the ever changing marsh. Learn about how the marsh changes daily and how it has changed over time. 
 

Tuesday, July 18th - Birds of the Garden 8am - 4pm

This festival day is about the birds! The rangers will bring out the spotting scope and dedicate the morning to all thing’s birds with garden tours centered on the birds connections to the ecosystem. 

Bird Walk 
8:30 am - 10:30 am  

Join park rangers and expert volunteers on this special Lotus and Water Lily Festival Bird Walk! bring your binoculars or an ID to borrow a pair from the visitors center. 

Ranger Remi's Garden Tour
11:00 am - 11:30 am 

Join Ranger Remi for a tour of the gardens and learn about the ecosystems that make Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens such a special place for birds in the region.

Ranger Steph's Garden Tour 
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm 

Join Ranger Steph on a garden tour to learn about the ways in which community advocacy brought many birds back to the  Anacostia Watershed. 

Ranger Joe's Garden Tour
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm 

Join Ranger Joe on a tour of the garden and learn the history of how the gardens became the national park site it is today! 

Wednesday, July 19th - Kids Day 8am - 4pm

Its Kids Day in the park! Activities will be geared to kids and their families. Come out to the park to make observations with your Junior Ranger and participate in the games, show and class. 

 

Beehive and Bee Activities
10:00 am - 2:00 pm  

Explore the wonders of a live beehive (the bees are safely behind glass) and other hands on fun for kids.

Art Class 
10:00 pm - 12:00pm

Get creative! Join artist Darrelynne Strother for this mixed media art class and have something you can take home after your day at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. 

 

Raptor Program 
1:00 pm

Learn about local birds of prey and their adaptations in this program with live hawks and owls by Secret Garden of Birds and Bees.  

Family Ranger Activities
10:00 pm - 2:00pm

Get your after lunch energy out and enjoy acitivites with the rangers! Learn about fish, birds and other animals while having fun in the park. 

Thursday, July 20th - Neighborhood Night 8am - 8pm

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a National Park nestled in a wonderful neighborhood. The park is inviting the neighbors over for a fun evening of activities and a place to visit with other neighbors. 

Ranger Garden Tour 
11:00 am - 11:30 am 
Join a park ranger on a tour through the gardens. Learn about the history and ecology of the park. 

 

Scavenger Hunt 
5:00 pm 

Team up with a neighbor to complete this scavenger hunt and maybe you’ll get a prize! 

Acrylic Painting Class 
5:30 pm 

Join Paint Amore to create a painting of plants in the garden. Class is open to 20 participants. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance. 

Kizomba Dance Class 
6:15 pm 

Kizomba School of Dance will perform and then will invite everyone to get their groove on with this dance class. 

Foraging Walk 
6:00 pm 

Learn about plants in the park that are edible or have medicinal properties with park neighbor, Dr. Yew. 

Class size is 20. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance.

Foraging is not allowed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and may be limited or not allowed in many park sites. Find out the rules for foraging before visiting any park.

Ranger Garden Tour 
6:30 pm
On this garden tour you’ll learn about the history of the garden, and we’ll be sticking with this year’s theme of “people using plants” to highlight some of the plants in the garden that people use for food, medicine, and other things. 

East of the River Steel Band 
7:00 pm 

Bring a picnic dinner or get food at one of the food trucks in the picnic area and enjoy the music of Ward 7’s own, East of the River Steel Band. This youth band is a crowd favorite and has performed many times at the Lotus and Water Lily festival. 

Friday, July 21st - Celebrating Veterans 8am - 8pm

In honor of the garden’s founder, Civil War Veteran, Walter Shaw, today we’re inviting and celebrating Veterans with a variety of programs and music.  
 

Bird Walk 
8:30 am 

Kenilworth has a variety of different habitats, so we get a great variety of birds at the park. Bring your binoculars and join us to see what we’ll discover on the bird walk.  Beginners are welcome. 

Forest Bathing 
9:30 am 
Forest bathing originated in Japan and is a meditative form of walking that involves using your senses. It’s also been found to lower blood pressure and improve health. Sage Raindancer has been leading walks at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens as part of the park series “Wellderness” that is sponsored by Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. 

Acrylic Painting Class 
10:00 am 
Join Paint Amore to create a painting of plants in the garden. Class is open to 20 participants. Register at the welcome tent just inside the park entrance. 

Drumming with Katy Gaughan
11:00 am

Find your rhythm in this group drum circle led by Katy Gaughn.  This festival favorite is a fun way for people of all ages to make some noise.   Drums provided. 

Mightier than the Sword: A Recovery through Writing Workshop for Veterans and Others 
1:00 pm 

Michelle Petties  author of “Living Large; the Story of a Food Addict” and motivational speaker using writing and storytelling to make change in her own life and will guide participants in this workshop to use writing as a catalyst for transformation and healing. 

Walter Shaw and the history of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Program 
2:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Learn about garden founder, Walter Shaw who was a wounded, Civil War Veteran who started a water garden as a hobby which turned into a “side-hustle” and finally a thriving business growing water plants. 

Origem Concert 
5:30 pm 

Brazilian jazz band, Origem, brings their smooth sounds to the garden for this evening show.  

Saturday, July 22nd - Festival Finale 8am - 8pm

The closing day of the festival is a celebration of African, Latin and Indigenous cultures through a variety of programs and performances. Join a ranger for a boardwalk talk, get your groove on drumming or samba dancing, enjoy our annual multicultural fashion show and learn about “Indigenous DC”.

 

Rodney’s Raptors 
10:00 am 
Start the last day of the Lotus and Water Lily Festival with a live birds of prey program led by community legend Rondey Stotts.  

Nl Bemya African Drum and Dance 
10:30 am 

Enjoy the music and moves of NI Bemya African Dance and Drumming. 

“Indigenous DC” 
11:00 am 

Washington, DC is Indigenous Land but the stories and contributions of the original inhabitants of what is now Washington, DC are often untold stories in the local and national narrative. Author and Chickasaw Scholar, Dr. Elizabeth Rule, will discuss her new book, “Indigenous DC” that explores the often overlooked stories and contributions of tribal leaders, politicians, artists and activists to the rich history of Washington, DC.  
 

Corazón Folkorico
12:00 pm 
Experience the beautiful dancing of Corazón Folkorico. Corazón Folkorico promotes and celebrates the cultural diversity of Mexico through Ballet Folklórico dance performance by building a community of passionate dancers throughout the DMV area.

Flamenco Music and Dance with Miguelito 
12:30 pm 
Miguelito is a local flamenco guitarist who’s been actively performing in the DC area for over 30 years and had performed for various embassies and other institutions.  Along with his dancers (bailaora), they will be bringing us a taste of Spanish (Andalusia) with Moorish inspired guitar playing and use of other instruments such as tamborines, bells and wooden castanets.  They have an extensive repertoire of music and dance that they perform. 
 

Stories of the Land: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 
1:30 pm 

Storyteller Opara Nubianina weave a tale about the history of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens while an artist live paints a garden mural. 

Fashion Show 
2:00 pm 
The fashion show is back for the 2023 Lotus and Water Lily Festival! Enjoy the creative stylings from local multicultural fashion designers. 

Dance Party 
3:00 pm 
Ready to get your groove on? Dance to Afrobeats by the festival main stage.

Experience Band
4:00 pm 
The festival favorites Experience Band return to bring their energizing sounds and beats. 

 

Lotus at the Gardens

Tim Ervin

The 2023 Festival Hours

Saturday, July 15th - Healthy Parks, Healthy People.
Programming: 8:30am - 4:00pm
Special Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Sunday, July 16th - Asian Culture and the Lotus
Programming: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Special Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Monday, July 17th - Ranger Day
Programming: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Regular Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Tuesday, July 18th - Birds of the Gardens
Programming: 8:30am - 2:00pm
Regular Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Wednesday, July 19th - Kids Day
Programming: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Regular Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Thursday, July 20th - Neighborhood Night
Programming: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Special Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Friday, July 21st - Honoring our Veterans
Programming: 8:30am - 8:00pm
Special Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Saturday, July 22nd - Festival Grande Finale
Programming: 10:00am - 5:30pm
Special Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

 

 

Directions

There are three easy ways to get to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is located at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE.

1. Drive: The park has a dedicated parking lot that fills up quickly on busy weekends. Please refrain from parking in the neighborhood or blocking driveways. We recommend parking on the park side of Anacostia Avenue or there is additional parking parking for visitors with disabilities is located on Anacostia Avenue between Polk St. and Ord St. NE at the old Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center campus and is a short walk from near the park entrance. There is plenty of additional parking at this location.
2. Bike: Enjoy a 20 minute bike ride along the scenic Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, starting from the Anacostia Skating Pavilion (1500 Anacostia Drive SE) to the festival site. You can also bike the Anacostia River Trail from Bladensburg, Md., to Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. Bike racks are available at the end of the spur trail that leads from the paved Anacostia River Trail into the gardens. Please leave your bike at the bike racks as biking on the paths around the ponds is not permitted.
3. Metro: Take the DC Metro to the Deanwood Station and walk 8 minutes to the Gardens.

 

People taking pictures of the lotus flowers

Tim Ervin

What to Bring

Please bring water! Bottled water is sold in the Visitor's Center. The area around the ponds does not have much shade and it can be very hot during the summer so make sure you carry water with you to stay hydrated as you walk around the park.

You can bring a picnic or snacks to the park. Picnic tables are available in the picnic and a few other locations. There are no grills in the picnic area and visitors are not permitted to bring grills to the park. On some weekends in July, there will be food trucks in the park for the convenience of park visitor since there are no places nearby to purchase food and beverages.

Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Dogs on leash are allowed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and owners are responsible for picking up waste.

Safety

Be prepared! July is a hot month in Washington, DC, so having a hat, staying hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion and wearing sunscreen are recommended. It is also a good idea to wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.

Mask wearing is no longer required outdoors for anyone who is fully vaccinated though maintaining adequate social distancing is still recommended for all visitors.

Don’t leave valuables in your car, and park only in the designated parking areas mentioned above.

If you see something, say something! Call U.S. Park Police at 202-617-7500.

 

Social Media

Follow us online and become a part of our social media community by tagging us in your photos, reacting to posts, and sharing what you love most about the Lotus and Water Lily Festival.

Facebook @kenilworthaquaticgardens
Instagram @kenilworthnps

 

Explore More

• 

  Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

  Volunteer or enjoy events with the official Friends group for the park.

• 

  History of the Aquatic Gardens

  The aquatic gardens began in the 1880s when Walter Shaw planted water lilies in ponds he had dug along the Anacostia River.

• 

  Anacostia Park

  Explore your neighborhood national park in the heart of Washington, DC!