So, if you’re living in the Washington, DC area, then you don’t want to miss this FREE opportunity! The Washington, DC’s Smithsonian is notorious for its free museums that boast of variety of historical and cultural exhibits, including paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, portraits of all of the United States Presidents, the Hope Diamond, and a collection of all of the Inaugural gowns worn by almost every United States First Lady. The Smithsonian’s museums are also ALL free to the general public. BUT, what you may not know is that the Smithsonian offers FREE events to the general public after hours, too. A few weeks ago, my good high school friend Wyatt and I went to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s FREE Flowers After Hours After Party.
For the National Gallery of Art’s After Hours events, look no further than here: https://www.nga.gov/calendar/community-events/nights.html
On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I posted a few weeks back about the National Gallery of Art’s Flowers After Hours event. The National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums, as it is the home to paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and my favorite artist Claude Monet (whose historic home I visited in Giverny, France while studying abroad in London). The museum was DECKED out in a beautiful array of floral arrangements from head to toe. There was a bar with drinks and snacks at a price for attendees to enjoy a sip as they admire ALLL the gorgeous art work. Essentially, all attendees could admire the beautiful artworks while enjoying a drink or a snack (or two!).
The Smithsonian’s After Parties are usually free for all, but you do have to sign up first tickets online in advance. Admission to get in is offered all throughout the duration of the event, with lots of people arriving right at its event start time. I usually check the Smithsonian’s website for all of their many FREE events: https://www.si.edu/events
As for me and Wyatt, we ended up arriving on the early end (right when the doors opened at 6pm) and leaving about an hour later. We, then, got beer and burgers nearby at MatchBox in Metro Center and caught up on life.
Personally, I most definitely want to check out even more of the Smithsonian’s FREE After Hours Parties, especially as they reopen after COVID-19 put literally everything to a halt. I, especially, want to check out events at other Smithsonian museums, too.
XOXO – Katie <3