Nowruz Festival

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Cultural & TraditionalHerndon
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe festival's centerpiece is its communal
Language["en"]Currency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Nowruz Festival in Herndon

The Nowruz Festival in Herndon, Virginia gathers the Washington DC area's Persian and broader diaspora community each spring to mark Nowruz, the ancient new year tied to the vernal equinox. Founded in 2012 by Shohreh Assemi, the one-day event fills a hotel ballroom with more than 60 vendors selling Haft-Sin items, pastries and crafts, plus a full stage of live music, dance and poetry.

Shohreh Assemi launched the Nowruz Festival in 2012 at Reston Town Center, giving the Washington DC area's Iranian-American community a public gathering built around the Persian New Year.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's centerpiece is its communal Haft-Sin display, the seven-item spread of sprouted greens, sweet wheat pudding, dried oleaster fruit, garlic, apples, sumac and vinegar that Persian families set out to welcome the new year, here multiplied across dozens of vendor tables so visitors can compare regional and family variations side by side

02

The mystery stays covered

Live sets from Persian classical and pop musicians run through the afternoon alongside traditional dance troupes, and a poetry stage gives space to Rumi and Hafez readings in Farsi and English

03

The city starts moving

Because the event now runs inside a hotel ballroom rather than an open plaza, it continues rain or shine every year

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Nowruz traditions center on renewal: the Haft-Sin table

Water and renewal

Living ritual

spring cleaning known as khouneh tekouni

The sacred route

Living ritual

jumping over bonfires on Chaharshanbe Suri the Tuesday before the new year

The local code

Living ritual

and Sizdah Bedar

Tradition 5

Living ritual

an outdoor picnic on the thirteenth day after Nowruz that closes the holiday season

Tradition 6

Living ritual

Nowruz has been celebrated for more than 3

Tradition 7

Living ritual

000 years across the Persian-speaking world and neighboring regions and is recognized by the United Nations as an International Day observed on March 21

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing works fine since the event runs indoors in a hotel ballroom; many attendees do wear Persian-inspired outfits or colorful spring clothing to mark the holiday, and...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["en"] · USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.97 N, 77.39 WOpen in Google Maps

Herndon, United States

TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Herndon via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Herndon, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing works fine since the event runs indoors in a hotel ballroom; many attendees do wear Persian-inspired outfits or colorful spring clothing to mark the holiday, and some women wear traditional Persian dress, but there is no required dress code.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Nowruz Festival?

Nowruz Festival is listed for Past edition: 15 March 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Nowruz Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Herndon, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Herndon, United States

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLnowruzfestival.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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