Venue FAQs

The Festival Grounds at RFK Campus: Learn More

Whether you're shopping at the DC Open Air Farmers Market or celebrating Earth Day at Broccoli City Festival, we have all the info you need to know before you go to the Festival Grounds at RFK Campus.

Please confirm bag policies, health and safety protocols and other information with the individual event organizer/promoter before attending any event at the Festival Grounds.

Due to heightened security measures, we strongly urge all guests to arrive at the Festival Grounds as early as possible to avoid entrance delays. If medication is required, be sure to have it with you upon entry. All guests entering the Festival Grounds are subject to search and screening by hand-held and/or walkthrough magnetometer. Refusal to comply may be grounds to prohibit admission.

Guests will not be permitted to enter events at the Festival Grounds if they are visibly intoxicated.
 

Fans must be 21 or older to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages at the venue. Proper identification is required to purchase any alcoholic beverage, and we reserve the right to check proof of legal drinking age. Guests will not be permitted to enter if they are visibly intoxicated. Drunk and disorderly behavior will result in ejection without refund. A maximum of two (2) alcoholic beverages may be purchased per person per time. This may be reduced without prior notice. All alcohol sales typically end at least 1 hour prior to the end of an event, but may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of event management.

Banners are permitted provided they are not commercial, political, offensive or in poor taste. Banners may not obstruct the view of any fans or present any safety hazard.

The RFK Stadium Box Office is open for the DC101 Chili Cook-Off and other select events on the Festival Grounds. Please see event calendar for specific box office hours for these events.

Small, still photography cameras are permitted on the grounds. Please refrain from using flash photography. Video cameras are strictly prohibited. For more information, please see the list of prohibited/permitted items.

Children age 24 months and under may be held in an adult’s lap (if applicable) and are not required to have a ticket to the event.

Proper behavior is expected from all of our guests. Offensive language and/or rowdy behavior will not be tolerated and is cause for ejection. Retain ticket stubs for event staff to verify event entry. Be prepared to show your ticket stub each time you enter assigned event area. All patrons are subject to search.

First Aid station locations vary by event. Please contact the event organizer directly for more information. In the event of a medical emergency, please notify the nearest venue personnel.

Any item that may have been lost during an event can either be collected at the venue the night of the event by visiting the security office or by calling 202-608-1100 the next business day.

On-site paid parking is available for all events and managed by U Street Parking. 

  • Diaper bags (with a child of appropriate age)
  • Blankets, coats/jackets, binoculars and camera cases
  • Metal, plastic and glass containers of any kind
  • Backpacks and large bags
  • Large flags and banners (except as noted)
  • Poles and staffs (metal, plastic or wooden)
  • Weapons, dangerous objects and illegal substances
  • Food and beverages
  • Professional cameras with detachable zoom lenses and/or tripods
  • Video cameras
  • Pets
  • Whistles, Artificial noise makers
  • Laser pointers
  • Umbrellas

Smoking is allowed in designated areas only. Guests who fail to comply with the policy after appropriate warnings may be subject to ejection.

There are no public telephones located on the Festival Grounds.

Starting March 2012, a minimal facility maintenance fee will be assessed on ticketed events on the Stadium-Armory campus. The fee will help fund capital improvements to the properties and support ongoing operations on the campus. The fee per ticket is $1.25 for Festival Grounds events.

Ticket scalping or selling tickets is a misdemeanor under District of Columbia law, and could result in arrest and criminal prosecution. Ticket resale at face value or less constitutes solicitation and/or commercial activity, both of which are prohibited by District of Columbia law. Such conduct could result in citation and criminal prosecution.