Sports Events Washington 2019

The District’s professional tennis tournament set an attendance record in 2019 with 78,643 spectators. Nick Kyrgios and Jessica Pegula were crowned champions of the men’s and women’s tournaments, respectively, and Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus won the double’s competition. Now in its 51st year, the Citi Open raised $50,000 on-site for the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation. Next: August 1-9, 2020

War of Will crossed the finish line first at the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes, but another horse stole the show. Bodexpress made headlines after running the entire Pimlico course without a rider after dislodging his jockey at the start. Meanwhile, mega-famous EDM music producers Kygo and Diplo rocked the crowd during the rowdy Infield Fest. Next: May 16, 2020

This year, race organizers kicked things up a notch by offering an inaugural 50K, which world-renowned ultra-marathoner Michael Wardian won with a 3:11:52 finish. Registration for the 31.25-mile race sold out in less than an hour. Among the 26,502 marathon participants were notable names such as Republican West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Democratic New Mexico Congresswoman Deborah Haaland, and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer. Next: October 25, 2020

Established in 1909, the annual Congressional Baseball Game continues to be one of D.C.’s most time-honored traditions. Virginia native Big Kenny, from the country duo Big & Rich, performed at the bipartisan event, which once again drew a crowd of baseball fans to Nationals Park, although this time no future World Series champs were on the field. The Democrats continued their winning streak with a 14-7 win, their eighth win in nine years. Next: June 2020

The region's premier college football bowl game, the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman raised at least $100,000 for the USO in 2018, the ninth year in a row that fund-raising reached six figures. The University of Cincinnati beat Virginia Tech 35-31, as a crowd of 32,832 cheered from the stands of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Next: December 27, 2019

New to the list
Established in 1958, the show attracts more than 26,000 spectators to watch hundreds of riders compete for more than half a million dollars in prize money. Top talents included Laura Kraut, who won the $136,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, and Schuyler Riley and Aaron Vale, who tied the $25,000 Land Rover Puissance high jump by both clearing the great wall at a height of of 6'9”. The show saw a record number of attendees on October 24 for its family-friendly barn night, during which professional riders and their horses compete wearing Halloween costumes. Next: October 20-25, 2020

New to the list
Since its inception in 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk have raised more than $9.5 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This year’s event contributed $400,000 to the funding. Race participants are selected on a lottery basis months in advance. Next: April 5, 2020

The region’s premier road cycling event features races to suit riders of all ability levels. The weekend begins with the Challenge Ride held in Crystal City, during which amateur riders can test their racing abilities. On the second day of the two-day classic, elite cyclists hit the course for the Clarendon Cup, known as one of the most difficult criterium races in the U.S. Next: May 30-31, 2020