National Pickleball Tournament to be Held in Washington, D.C.

In honor of National Pickleball Day, the Trust for the National Mall and Humana have announced program details for the three-day monumental event, National Mall of Pickleball.

The event celebrates America's most intergenerational sport September 27-29 on 11 temporary courts in the shadow of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The weekend is themed "One for the Ages," showcasing a new era of pickleball where multiple generations play together and have a chance to share stories and form new intergenerational friendships.

The popularity of last year's event demonstrated the enthusiasm for pickleball, with advance court reservations completely booking up within two minutes. To meet the demand for court time, the National Mall of Pickleball 2024 will feature two additional courts.

Additionally, D.C.'s very own D.C. Pickleball Team and its new roster will offer a limited number of spots for beginner, intermediate and advanced pickleball clinics.

"National Mall of Pickleball is back and better than before, with fun new ways to join us in the stands and on the court," said Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall.

Similar to the inaugural event, there will be plenty of free opportunities for players to engage beyond reserved court time, including dedicated walk-on courts for community play, and lessons led by U.S. Senior Pickleball and USA Pickleball Ambassador volunteers.

The pickleball programming includes:

• Media Match: The Washington Post will play to defend its title of best press pickleball team in D.C. when it competes in a round-robin tournament against other members of the national press corps;

• Pickle Madness: A showing from D.C.-area colleges and universities where current students and alumni will pair off to see who is the brightest on the courts

• Knock Out: Anyone who considers themselves a pickler will be invited to play on Center Court and play for the title of National Mall of Pickleball Knock Out Champion in a friendly game of knock out to close out the courts each day.

Funds raised through the 2024 National Mall of Pickleball will support the Trust's mission with the National Park Service and will fund restoration and sustainability projects and educational enrichment programs.

To learn more, visit https://nationalmall.org/support.