With peak bloom expected to hit the region between March 22 and 25, and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival scheduled to run from March 20 to April 16, now is the time to get petal-ready! Don’t miss all of the events.
March
Participate in the Petal Porches contest for a chance to win special prizes, and then check out all the decked-out porches (and yards and windows) during the festival. For more information, see nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
March 16
Pink Tie Party. Tickets to the see-and-be-seen event cost $225 and support the festival’s mission to keep events primarily free and open to the public. (Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
March 25, 5–6:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony. Featuring performers Anna Sato, Toshiyuki Sasaki, and others. (Warner Theatre, 513 13th St., NW, livestream)
March 25, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Blossom Kite Festival. (Washington Monument Grounds)
April 8, 1–9 p.m.
Petalpalooza. A family-friendly art and music celebration featuring DC sports mascots and fireworks. (Capitol Riverfront at the Yards)
April 15, 10 a.m.–noon
Cherry Blossom Parade. Full of floats, marching bands, and performers, the annual parade costs $25–$40 to attend, but portions of the route between Ninth and 15th streets are free. (Constitution Avenue NW between Seventh and 17th streets)
Feature image courtesy the National Cherry Blossom Festival
This story originally ran in our March issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.