July is prime season for lotuses and lily pads at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens D.C. The lilies stay in the ponds year-round and bloom from early May until mid-September. The stunning sea of pink lotus flowers peaks in late June and lasts until mid-August, with the peak bloom in mid-July around the time of the park’s annual Lotus & Water Lily festival. The tropical lilies only bloom from mid-June through early October, but peak in July and August. 

Be sure to visit on cool days or early in the morning as most of the blooms will close in the midday heat.

The 2024 Lotus & Water Lily Festival will run from July 19th through July 21st. The festival will feature three days of cultural performances, classes, ranger programming and more. The theme of this year’s festival” the art of Lotus’ and Water Lilies” celebrates the way these beautiful flowers are depicted in cultures around the world through art music and dance and it celebrates the many ways our community finds creative inspiration in the flowers of the garden.