Lucky you. You just found NOVAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Northern Virginia each month.

Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.

(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)

Floral enthusiasts

Bluebells at the Bend | Saturday, April 11 | 10 a.m. | Riverbend Park, Great Falls | $10+ | Looking to see the bluebells around NOVA? Stop by this event and go for a wildflower walk at Riverbend Park. There will also be nature exhibits, live music, and other family-friendly activities.

Netherlands Carillon Tulip Festival | Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12 | Times vary | Netherlands Carillon, Arlington | Free | You won't want to miss this two-day festival. On the first day, you can expect a concert and a night sky viewing. Then, on the second day, you can take part in various activities.

Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale | Saturday, April 25 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Church of St. Clement, Alexandria | Price of purchase | Get a diverse selection of native plants at this end-of-April sale, with another opportunity to shop at a second sale in September.

Local festivals

Del Ray Dog Fest | Sunday, April 12 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | George Washington Middle School, Alexandria | $13+ | This one is for the dog lovers. Bring your pups to this festival and enjoy food trucks, live music, a dog fashion show, and other activities for you and your furry friend.

Volunteer opportunities

Concerts

Romeo Santos & Prince Royce: "Mejor Tarde Que Nunca Tour 2026" | Sunday, April 5 | 8 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | $130+ | Latin music superstars Romeo Santos and Prince Royce are bringing their "Mejor Tarde Que Nunca Tour 2026" to the area, delivering a night of bachata hits and high-energy performances.

Sports

Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:

Go to our Events page.
Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.