In Bloom

National Cherry Blossom Festival

The iconic National Cherry Blossom Festival turns DC pretty in pink each year, as it offers visitors a lineup of fun flower-themed events.

Experience a four-week extravaganza filled with food, fun and culture each spring throughout the Washington, DC, region. Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival when the delicate blooms turn DC’s Tidal Basin into a lovely sea of pink. Keep your camera close at hand to capture the unforgettable sight of all those Instagram-worthy flowers.

The festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the city of Washington, DC, and honors the close bond between the people of the United States and Japan. Each year, the festival welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Events are primarily free and open to the public.

Exciting Events

See the DC area as it appears only once a year. Customize a tailored experience from a lineup of exciting events. Ogle the elaborate floats, marching bands and celebrity entertainers in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, one of DC’s largest spectator events. Admire themed art exhibits at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.

Engage in a full day of live music, art installations, a beverage garden, family-friendly activities and entertainers in the Petalpalooza Art Walk along the banks of the Anacostia River. That evening, be dazzled by the Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show choreographed to music.

Go fly a kite among the cherry trees at the Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds. Appreciate the homes decked out with flowers in the joyful Petal Porches event. And feast on delectable spring menus showcased in Cherry Picks-participating restaurants.

You can stay in Arlington just minutes from the festival activities and enjoy hotel rates that average 20 percent less than those in downtown Washington, DC.