🏆 July 13 + 14 | Lotus and Water Lily Festival - Free event!

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.

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.