Cherry Blossoms Peak Prediction Announced for 103rd Festival
After a long, cold winter, the District could use some brightening up. Luckily for all of us, and tourists who will soon be visiting DC, cherry blossom season is nearly here. The Tidal Basin will begin to glow with the beautiful pinks and whites, reminders of the great gift from Japan. This year marks the 103rd year since Toyko, Japan gave those beautiful cherry blossoms to the city. Over the years, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has continued to grow. This year the festival spans from March 20 – April 12.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival held a kick-off news conference at the Newseum on Tuesday, in collaboration with the National Park Service, to highlight key events for this year’s festival, as well as release the information everyone’s been waiting for during the dreary winter — when will we see the cherry blossoms?
Spokesperson for the National Park Service, Mike Litterst, carried around a light pink envelope all morning. Inside, the predicted peak dates. “It’s like being at the Oscars, ” he said. Upon opening, the Park Service announced the predicted peak dates to be: April 11 – April 14. (The peak bloom is indicated by 70 percent of the cherry blossom trees being in bloom.)
“3700 trees make up the cherry blossom inventory, and the fact that for over a century, they’ve been not only a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States, but I think most importantly especially on a cold day like today where they’re predicting more ice and snow, it’s a sign that maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but there is a date that spring is coming,” said Litterst.
You don’t have to wait for all of them to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and the activities this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival has to offer. There are events happening everyday throughout the District to celebrate Japanese culture and the gift of the cherry blossoms 103 years ago.
A few highlights:
Thursday, March 19: Pink Tie Party Fundraiser 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center)
Saturday, March 21: Opening Ceremony 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW)
Friday, March 27: Cherry Blast: Art + Music Dance Party 7 p.m. to midnight (BLIND WHINO: SW Arts Club, 700 Delaware Avenue SW)
Saturday, March 28: Blossom Kite Festival 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Washington Monument Grounds)
Saturday, April 4: Blossoms & Baseball: Washington Nationals v. New York Yankees 1:05 p.m. (Nationals Park)
Saturday, April 11: National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade 10 a.m. to noon (Constitution Ave NW, between 7th and 17th Streets)