You don't need to be rich to walk down plush red carpet and enjoy live music, dance, theater and other types of entertainment at the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Everyday from 6-7 pm you can enjoy a free performance at the Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer.
The Kennedy Center opened its doors on Sept. 8, 1971 on the banks of the Potomac River. It is a living memorial to President Kennedy and aims to present the greatest performers & performances from the U.S. and around the world.
In the winter of 1997, the Performing Arts for Everyone program was launched to “expand and increase access to the performing arts for local Washington residents and visitors to the nation's capital.”
According to the Center’s website, "Our goal is: Every resident of the Washington area, and every visitor to Washington, D.C., will think of the Kennedy Center as the place they call their own to experience the performing arts again and again."
Millennium Stage, an initiative of Performing Arts for Everyone program, brings free daily music, dance and other types of performances. Some of the most memorable performances I have seen there include: dances from Guinea, Uganda, Mexico and Peru and music from Japan and India.
If you can't make it there, you can check out the live webcast of the performancer. You can also search through the performance archive by genre, date and artist to find your favorite performance. Of course this is never the same as actually being there!
To get to the Kennedy Center, you can take the 80 bus on K St. NW or take the Metro to Foggy Bottom and wait for the free Kennedy Center shuttle bus. The address is 2700 F Street, NW.
When you get there, walk down the plush red carpet through the Hall of Nations towards the windows in the Grand Foyer. Look to your right & left, and see which side of the Grand Foyer the performance is taking place.
To get a good seat, try to show up early and get in line. Seating starts at 6 pm. You can sit in the chairs in front of the stage or on the steps to the side of the stage. Sometimes you can get a better view from the steps. If you are hungry, you can get some light snacks and drinks before the performance.
During the performance, you can take photos without flash, but video is not permitted. After the show, you may be able to buy the artists’ cds. If you are looking for some creative gift ideas, check out the Gift Shop located in the Hall of Nations.
Before or after the performance, be sure to visit the River Terrace and take the elevator up to the Roof Terrace. You will enjoy beautiful views of the Potomac River, Roosevelt Island and Georgetown from there.
Helpful Links
Virtual Tour
Online Gift Shop
Performance Schedule
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