WELCOME TO THE NATION’S GREATEST SPRINGTIME CELEBRATION!

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Today’s Festival now spans four weeks and welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Events are primarily free and open to the public.

PEAK BLOOM DATE & BLOOMING PERIOD

In Washington, DC the Cherry Blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom between April 3-6.

The National Park Service defines the peak bloom date as the day on which 70% of the blossoms of Yoshino cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open. The date varies from year to year depending on weather conditions. The blooming period is defined as the time when 20% of the blossoms are open until the petals fall and leaves appear. The blooming period starts several days before the peak bloom date and can last as long as 14 days. However, frost or high temperatures combined with wind or rain can shorten this period. The following is a comparative record of past bud development. The date listed is when 70% of the buds have reached each stage.

Visit The Nation's Capitol to view the Cherry blossoms in full bloom

For everything you need to know, visit the Website of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. To celebrate all year, shop our Cherry Blossom Collection, a curated selection of notebooks, journals, and paper crafts inspired by the beautiful Sakura.