Washington, DC News: National Cherry Blossom Festival Officially Kicks Off March 26, Blooms Peak March 23-24
An estimated crowd of 1.5 million is expected to find their way to the Tidal Basin and witness the awesomeness of cherry blossoms there, which were earlier expected to peak on March 23 and 24, according to the National Park Service.
The peak bloom date of the cherry blossoms is based on the date when 70 percent of the plant surrounding the Tidal Basin are in full bloom. It goes without saying that the date is not constant every year as it is highly dependent on weather conditions.
This year, the annual Washington's National Cherry Blossom Festival covers the period from March 20 to April 17, and event organizers have already prepared a good line up of event as it aims to outdo the festival's performance in the previous year.
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One of the events that one can look forward to in this year's National Cherry Blossom Festival is its sixth annual Blossom Kite Festival happening on April 2. The festival celebrates the tradition that has been around for 50 years already as it carries on the Smithsonian Kite Festival at the National Mall, which first took place in 1967. This part of the festival does not only provide entertainment to the attendees but also showcases the creativity of kite makers, too.
Another must-see event lined up for the festival is its National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade that will span 10 blocks of the Constitution Avenue. Those first-timers planning to witness the event this year should brace themselves to be left in awe as the gigantic helium balloons and intricately designed float pass by their very eyes.
There are many other events in store for this year's festival, which formally opens on March 26. Nonetheless, there is no denying that the cherry blossoms in full bloom are the main attraction.
The Washington's National Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration commemorating the 3,000 cherry blossom trees given by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, DC in 1912. The festival started as a small event in 1927 and evolved into a five-week festival beginning in 2012 when the originally planted trees turned a century older.
Out of the 3000 trees planted, 100 still live to this day, thanks to the care and attention given by the National Park Service.
