National Cherry Blossom Festival

Our city blossoms

No other Washington DC event celebrates the city quite like the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Kicking off this Saturday, March 27th, and extending through Sunday, April 11th, the festival celebrates a specific contingent of flora known as Sakura - or Japanese cherry trees. The cherry trees dot the National Mall and East Potomac Park - ground zero of pink power is the Tidal Basin. The best way to see the DC cherry blossoms is on your two feet of course, but it’s not the only way…

Chocolate Box Cherry Blossom - Flickr CC user Michael Foley Photography

Experience the Blossoms

• Rent a paddle boat: Tidal Basin Paddleboats, now accepting peak-time reservations, rents at a rate of $10/hour for a two-person rig and $18/hour for four.
• Join a Blossoms by Bike tour: $32 for adults and $22 for children for a two hour guided tour with Bike the Sites (rental and all gear included). Or map out your own "Lost Blossom" ride. If you want to ditch the bike, no worries, WABA will stash it.
• Run the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run: The field is set - are you running? You can still be a part of the action as a volunteer.

More Blossom Events

• Lantern Walks: Cherry Blossoms under the stars - guided hikes are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday during the festival from 8 PM to 10 PM
• Firewoks Show: First fireworks of the season blast off on Saturday, April 3rd at 8:30 PM. Arrive early for the Prelude.
• Smithsonian Kite Festival: Go fly a kite - if you have what it takes.

For two weeks every year, Washington DC oozes shades of pink and white. The blossoms are gone before you know it, but it's one heck of a party while it lasts.

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