WASHINGTON, DC – Leave your luggage, skip the TSA line, and visit Europe without the travel hassle. Join the Delegation of the European Union to the United States and the 28 European Union Member States on May 10, 2014 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) for the EU Open House Day. No passport required.

This popular annual event offers a rare look inside the embassies and provides a unique opportunity to experience the cultural heritage and national traditions of Europe. Free shuttle bus service will be provided throughout the day with stops at embassies and select Metro stations. The EU Member State Embassies and EU Delegation will offer authentic music, dance, food, film, art and fun for the whole family.

New this year for guests are free souvenir European-style passports that can be stamped at each embassy visited.

“The EU Open House is a highlight on the Washington, D.C., events calendar,” said Ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida, head of the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S. “This is the eighth year running that the European Union member countries and the EU Delegation have worked together to present this fantastic event, which draws thousands of visitors to our embassies. There is no better way to demonstrate the EU’s motto of ‘unity in diversity’ than by showcasing the range and richness of European culture and society.”

Throughout the month of May, there are many more opportunities to experience Europe during the European Month of Culture in Washington, DC. Programming includes musical performances, dance, lectures, film screenings, art and other exhibits, and most events are free. Nearly 80 events will be held at some of Washington’s most prestigious institutions including the National Gallery of Art, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage, The Phillips Collection, the Library of Congress, EU embassies and Cultural Institutes. It is held during the month of May to coincide with Europe Day, May 9, which commemorates the historic declaration that led to the formation of the EU.

Further information on EU Open House: www.euopenhouse.org