Spirit of Independence Festival

The Spirit of Independence Festival is a three-day immersive celebration of American history, culture, and community, hosted by the National Archives Foundation on the National Archives lawn in downtown Washington, DC. The festival commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, offering free family-friendly activities, live performances, culinary experiences, and special evening programming. Attendees can enjoy Disney music, historic re-enactors, face painting, a dog-friendly happy hour, a tribute to military service members, and an evening concert with country singer Garth Brooks. The event also includes museum access to the National Archives Building, where the original Declaration of Independence is housed.

When: June 4–6, 2026, with programming from 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 through 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.

Venue: National Archives lawn on Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC.

Price: Free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.

Lineup: Garth Brooks (evening performance, date TBD), Disney music performances, historic re-enactors, and various live acts.

Activities: Family-friendly fun includes face painting, dog-friendly happy hour, tribute to military service members, historic re-enactments, and culinary experiences.

Note: Museum access to the National Archives is included as part of the festival. All ages are welcome. Tickets are required for entry and can be reserved online.