Travel
Cherry Blossom Festival 2018: Guide To Can't-Miss Events
With cherry blossom season upon us, here's a guide to National Cherry Blossom Festival events and places to see blooms without the crowds.
Cherry blossom season is upon us, drawing many visitors to DC to see the beautiful pink flowers bloom along the Tidal Basin. The 2018 National Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 17-April 15 just as the peak bloom begins.
The National Park Service predicts the peak bloom of the cherry trees will happen March 17-March 20. At this time, the festival will begin with the opening of the Tidal Basin Welcome Area and ANA Performance Stage, followed by four more weeks of events through mid-April.
Whether you prefer heading to the Tidal Basin for all of the festivities or seeing the blooms without the big crowds, there are options around the DC region. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here's a guide to the National Cherry Blossom Festival and bloom viewing opportunities.
March 1-April 29
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Where: 1843 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Sunday-Thursday: 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday: 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
The second annual pop-up bar in Shaw is quickly becoming a favorite during the Cherry Blossom Festival. It's not hard to see why with cherry blossom-themed drinks and cherry blossoms, paper cranes, a garden room, animatronic Godzilla and more decor.
March 17-April 1
Tidal Basin Welcome Area and ANA Performance Stage
Where: 1501 Maine Avenue, SW
Welcome Area open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Performances daily noon-6 p.m.
The National Park Service rangers will be on hand to provide information about the festival. Visitors can also get visitor services, first aid, food, souvenirs, books, and more. Plus visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival tent in the Paddle Boat Parking Lot for fun interactive entertainment, merchandise and more.
March 23-24
Where: The Park at CityCenterDC, 10th Street and New York Avenue, NW
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For two days only, The Park at CityCenter will be filled with more than 40,000 tulips. Entry into the garden is free and you can take a piece of spring home with you for $1/stem. Every purchase made supports DC Central Kitchen.
March 24
Opening ceremony
Where: Warner Theatre
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival and the spring season kicks off with American and Japanese performances celebrating the anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the U.S. and friendship between the two countries. This event is sold out. Look out for a live stream on Facebook.
March 31
Blossom Kite Festival
Where: Washington Monument
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Boaters can also see historical sights of Washington D.C. Check out the schedule here.
Tastes of Spring Cherry Blossom Food Crawl
Where: Various locations
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy all the spring flavors DC has to offer on the Tastes of Spring Cherry Blossom Food Crawl. Eat your way through downtown DC on a self-guided food tour sampling diverse cuisine at some of DCs most popular restaurants. Just check-in, grab your wrist band and passport and head out on a culinary crawl of the district. At each participating location, show your wrist band to enjoy some delicious Cherry Blossom inspired tastings! Passport includes tastings at up to eight restaurants. Plus, enjoy an additional day of tastings offered on Saturday, April 7 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
April 7
Petalpalooza
Where: The Wharf, 1100 Maine Avenue, SW
1 p.m.-9:30 p.m., fireworks at 8:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
New this year is Petapalooza debuting at the new Wharf. Formerly the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival, Petalpalooza will include interactive art installations, games and activities, a Pop-Up Puppy Parklet, live music on three outdoor stages, a roller rink, a beer garden, a fireworks show and more.
April 14
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
Where: Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets NW
10 a.m.-noon
The parade is one of DC's most anticipated events of the festival—and the year. Spectators will be dazzled by giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers in the 10-block parade along Constitution Avenue.
This year's Grand Marshal is Carla Hall from ABC’s "The Chew." Other celebrity performers are hip-hop group Arrested Development, pop/classical string quartet Well Strung, "The Voice" season 11 contestant Billy Gilman, "The Voice" season eight contestant Sarah Potenza, country singer Ty Herndon and extreme pogo stunt team XPOGO. More performers will be announced throughout March.
Grandstanding seats available for $20. Standing room along Constitution Avenue from 9th to 15th Streets NW is free, but arrive early.
Dates throughout Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry Blossom Sightseeing Tours
There are numerous options to see the cherry blossoms without venturing through the crowds. The Potomac Riverboat company offers cruises with up-close views of the cherry blossoms. Tours leave from Georgetown, The Wharf and Alexandria. Spirit Cruises and Odyssey Cruises take sightseeing a step further by offering dinner and entertainment aboard.
The blossom-themed cookie is baked with cherries, milk crumbs, rose extract and a sprinkling of dried cherries and cranberries to pay homage to the District’s favorite springtime tradition. Cookies will be available at Milk Bar’s CityCenterDC location as well as the new Wharf location while supplies last.
See the cherry blossoms with fewer crowds
Green Spring Gardens: 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, VA
River Farm: 7931 E Boulevard Dr, Alexandria, VA 22308
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA 22182
National Arboretum: 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
National Cathedral (cathedral grounds and Bishop's Garden): 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Kenwood neighborhood: Bethesda, Md.
Where do you go to see the cherry blossoms? Let us know in the comments below.
Image via U.S. Department of the Interior
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