Event Guide
Social Media ConnectionsSocial 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. 
Saturday July 21, 2018 from 10 am - 5 pmExplore the gardens and enjoy Latin drumming, Indian dancing, a multicultural fashion show, storytelling, painting classes and much more!
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 
Sunday July 22, 2018 from 10 am - 5 pmExplore 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 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 Getting TherePublic 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 BringWater 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 BringNo alcohol is allowed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Park SafetyVisitors 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. About the FestivalThe 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. |
Last updated: June 14, 2019