2018 Lotus and Water Lily Festival

Celebrate nature, culture and community at the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The TWO-DAY festival features performances from cultures around the world, family fun games, arts and crafts and the amazingly beautiful lotuses and water lilies in full bloom!
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a one-of-a-kind experience within Anacostia Park. Celebrate the Centennial of Anacostia Park at one of D.C.’s hidden gems during the Year of the Anacostia.

 

Event Guide

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  Day ONE

  Saturday, July 21, 2018

  See Saturday's Schedule

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  Day TWO

  Sunday, July 22, 2018

  See Sunday's Schedule

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  July 23-28, 2018

  Peak Week

  Enjoy fun activities at the park during Peak Week!

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  Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

  Volunteer with our Friends group at this year's festival.

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  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.

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  Anacostia Park Centennial

  Join the celebration in 2018 when Anacostia Park turns 100 years old!

 

Social Media Connections

Social media is the place to come before, during, and after your visit to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. 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.

Like us on Facebook @kenilworthaquaticgardens
Follow us on Instagram @kenilworthnps
Follow us on Twitter @AnacostiaNPS

 

Saturday July 21, 2018 from 10 am - 5 pm

Explore the gardens and enjoy Latin drumming, Indian dancing, a multicultural fashion show, storytelling, painting classes and much more!

Lotus Stage

10:00 - Welcome from Superintendent Tara Morrison

10:05 - Latin Drumming - Luis Garay

10:40 - Cultural Dances of India - GW Raas

11:00 - Asian Dance Performances - International Buddhist Association of America

12:15 - Multicultural Fashion Show

12:45 - Cameroonian Cultural Dance

1:00 - Bangladeshi Dance and Music

1:30 - Global Dance Party - DJ Kweks

2:00 - South African Dance and Music - Lesole

2:45 - Mexican and Latin Dances - Maru Montero

3:30 - Old-timey Jazz - Ellis Dyson and the Shambles

Lily Stage

10:00 - Reptiles Alive!

Noon - “The Lotus in Buddhism” Talk - B.N. Hebbar, professor of Eastern Religions at GWU

1:00 - Sitar and Tabla Duet - Broto Roy

2:00 - Music and Storytelling - Acoustic Soul Storytellers

 

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Sunday July 22, 2018 from 10 am - 5 pm

Explore the gardens and enjoy yoga classes, Brazilian Jazz, gardening workshops, Japanese dancing, live mammals programs and much more!

Lily Stage

10:00 - Yoga - Bring your own mat and enjoy yoga with “Anacostia Yogi” Sariane Leigh in the gardens

10:00 - Ranger-led Garden Tours: start from Lily Stage every half hour

Lotus Stage

10:00 - Reptiles Alive!

11:00 - Wild World of Animals

12:00 - “Bharatanatyam” Dance Performance - Natananjali School of Dance

12:30 - African Disaspora Music Performance - Mahala

1:30 - Southern African Dance - Simunye

2:00 - Brazilian Jazz - Origem

 

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Getting There

Public transportation is the best way to get to the Lotus and Water Lily Festival. A FREE festival shuttle will run frequently from the Deanwood Metro Station from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 21 and 22. The shuttles are accessible for visitors with disabilities. The last shuttle will leave Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at 5:30 pm. The walk from Deanwood Metro Station to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is about one mile.

FREE festival parking is located at Kenilworth Park (4047 Deane Ave. NE) on July 21 and 22. A shuttle will take visitors from the parking lot to the festival from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The last shuttle will leave Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at 5:30 pm.

Accessible parking for visitors with disabilities is located on Anacostia Avenue between Polk St. and Ord St. NE near the park entrance. An accessible shuttle will also run from this parking area to the festival.

The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is a great way to get to the Lotus and Water Lily Festival. 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.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is located at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE.

What to Bring

Water stations will be provided for visitors to fill reusable water bottles.

Food will be on sale from a variety of vendors, but feel free to bring a picnic or snacks.

Picnic tables will be provided in the viewing area for performances. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Dogs on leash are allowed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and owners are responsible for picking up waste.

What Not to Bring

No alcohol is allowed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Park Safety

Visitors are highly encouraged to text LILYFEST to 888777 to receive the latest updates about the Lotus and Water Lily Festival and emergency alerts. The service is free, but carrier message rates may apply.

If driving to the festival, 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.

 

About the Festival

The annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival is presented by the National Park Service at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a one-of-a-kind destination within Anacostia Park. The aquatic gardens remain a hidden gem in Washington, D.C. and are the last remaining tidal wetlands in the city. The gardens is home to an original species of Lotus and Water Lily plants that were cultivated over 100 years ago by Civil War veteran W.B. Shaw and sold all over the world. Today, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only national park that cultivates and displays aquatic plants for thousands of visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

 

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