1. St. Patrick's Day: March 17 is celebrated as St. Patrick's Day, a day to honor the patron saint of Ireland. In Washington D.C., the holiday is marked with a parade downtown that includes marching bands, Irish dancers, and floats.

2. Presidential Inaugurations: March 17 holds a historic significance in Washington D.C. as it was the date of both Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inauguration in 1933 and Dwight D. Eisenhower's second inauguration in 1957.

3. Women's Suffrage: On March 17, 1917, a group of suffragists led by Alice Paul picketed the White House demanding the right to vote for women. This marked the beginning of a 18-month long series of protests that ultimately led to the passage of the 19th Amendment.

4. Cherry Blossom Festival: The National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual springtime celebration in Washington D.C., typically kicks off around March 17. The festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States in 1912.

5. Civil Rights: On March 17, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers gave a speech at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. The following June, Evers was assassinated in Jackson, Mississippi, but his speech in D.C. remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for civil rights.