Passport DC's Around the World Embassy Tour

Event Date: 
Saturday, May 6, 2017 - 11:00am to 6:00pm
Free Event
Arts & Culture
Cost:
Included Items: 
embassy tours

100+ Embassy Open Houses Highlight Passport DC’s 10th Anniversary

This May Visit the World Without Leaving Washington

 

Passport DC celebrates its 10th anniversary in May. The annual festival commemorating International Cultural Awareness Month in the District of Columbia runs from May 1 through 31 with a wide array of cultural activities presented at a record 100+ embassy open houses, multiple street festivals around metropolitan Washington in conjunction with performing arts organizations throughout the city. On Saturday, May 6, countries who are not members of the European Union will open their doors during Around the World Embassy Tour, and the 28 members of the European Union will hold their open houses during A Shortcut to Europe the following Saturday, May 13.

Steven E. Shulman, executive director of Cultural Tourism DC, the festival’s producing organization said, “We expect 75 or more embassies to host open houses as part of Passport DC this year. When embassies open their doors, visitors can expect to encounter the art, music, crafts, cuisine, geography, and the manufacturing prowess of the participating countries. The embassies want to express that their countries are attractive places to visit and do business, and in our tenth year, more countries than ever are participating.”                                               

Recruitment for participants began in early 2017, and Brazil, a perennial favorite among attendees, was the first country to register. The delegation will present a day-long program of music and colorfully costumed dancers hosted at the magnificent Brazilian ambassador’s residence. The sounds ofBotswana will fill the air around Dupont Circle as its embassy presents a showcase of music, live art, and traditional cuisine. Nearby, on Massachusetts Avenue, the embassy of Peru plans to have live alpacas in the yard, native dancers and a taste of the Peruvian drinks and gastronomy as guests are invited to tour the embassy. The celebrations and education continues throughout Washington with embassies convenient to Dupont Circle, Van Ness, Columbia Heights, and elsewhere opening their doors. As embassies confirm participation they are added to the Passport DC website and the festival’s mobile site, which can be viewed at https://passportdc.oncell.com/en/index.html.                                    

As of April 19, the following embassies are registered to participate in Around the World Embassy Tour:

Afghanistan

Chile

Kenya

Pakistan

African Union

Dominican Republic

Korea

Peru

Albania

Gabonese Republic

Kosovo

Qatar

Angola

Ghana

Kyrgyz Republic

Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijan

Guatemala

Malawi

South Africa

Bangladesh

Haiti

Malaysia

Sri Lanka

Barbados

Indonesia

Mexico

Tunisia

Benin

Iraq

Nepal

Uganda

Bolivia

Japan

Nicaragua

Uruguay

Botswana

Kazakhstan

Oman

Zimbabwe

Brazil

 

 

 

 

Passport DC Signature Events include:

A Celebration of Global Fashion                               Wednesday, April 26

Opening Celebration at Macy’s Metro Center, featuring fashion ensembles from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Kosovo, Malawi, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Ukraine.

Flower Mart at National Cathedral                            Friday and Saturday, May 5-6

Taking place on the National Cathedral grounds, the spring time market brings together thousands of patrons each year for a colorful, family-friendly celebration of the season. A full schedule is at https://www.allhallowsguild.org/Flower-Mart/flower-mart.

 

Around the World Embassy Tour                               Saturday, May 6

 

A Shortcut to Europe                                                  Saturday, May 13       

 

Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge                          Wednesday, May 24  

Presented by TCMA at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, featuring culinary presentations by embassy chefs from 40+ countries. Ticket information is available at www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com.

To inquire about interviews with participating Ambassadors or cultural organizations, or to apply for credentials to attend and cover any of the 2017 Passport DC events, visithttp://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1.

 

ABOUT PASSPORT DC

Cultural Tourism DC produces Passport DC annually. Events DC is the Presenting Sponsor of Passport DC. Additional sponsors include Macy’s Metro Center, The Melrose Georgetown Hotel, Daimler, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, The Washington Diplomat, United States Chamber of Commerce, DuPlain Global Enterprises, Washington DC Economic Partnership, and SH International. The producers and presenters are grateful to the more than 500 volunteers who provide services throughout the month in support of the educational mission of Passport DC as well as the donors who financially support these endeavors.  Cultural Tourism DC, Inc. is located at 700 12th Street, NW #700 Washington, DC 20005. For more information visit www.culturaltourismdc.org or follow on social media using @DCCulture, #PassportDC, or #EmbassyChef.