Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival annually commemorates the 1912 gift to the city of Washington of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and celebrate the continued close relationship between the two peoples.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival® is planned to coincide as nearly as possible with the blooming of the trees.

Peak Bloom Date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry trees are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions.


The cherry blossom trees currently grow in three National Park Services locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Haines Point), and on the Washington Monument grounds. (Notice the plane taking off from the Regan airport in the last pic)


The cherry blossom trees given to the US as a gift from Japan in 1912 are not fruit-bearing trees. They only produce the beautiful pink, white and combinations thereof blossoms that are such a joy to see.

A walking tour is held on the Saturdays and Sundays of the festival by Washington Walks. A bike tour is held every day of the festival by Bike the Sites. Additionally, the National Park Service offers walking tours led by park rangers.

This is the view from along the bank of the Potomac parallel to the Tidal basin and directly opposite to the Arlington skyline.


The Smithsonian Institution holds its 42nd annual Kite Festival with competitions in design, performance, and other categories.


There are special colonial style rides and the option of boating on the tidal basin.



The tidal basin stage has performance everyday by a bunch of small time music bands. Overall, its a good weekend spent if one is in the region during the festival time.