Facts About Washington DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival

The Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual calendar event in the US national capital, marks the onset of the lovely Spring season. Additionally, it is the time when the lovely cherry buds bloom into beautiful flowers, spreading the joy of life.

Here are some interesting facts to know about this Festival:

1. The US organizes this festival in celebration of the US-Japan friendship. Notably, it marks Japan’s gifting of 3000 cherry trees to the US in 1912.

2. The Cherry Blossom Festival was first celebrated in the year 1935 but was suspended during the World War II years. It was re-organized in 1947 and has been celebrated every year ever since.

3. Before the official National Cherry Blossom Festival came into seen, the tradition actually roots back to the year 1927, when a few students had the re-enactment of the whole gifting ceremony.

4. Out of the original 12 varieties, 2 are the most dominant now- Yoshino and Kanzwan. Notably, the Yoshino cherry trees yield white cloud-like flowers. Additionally, you can find them in Tidal Basin and around the Washington Monument. On the other hand, the Kanzwan variety blooms in the East Potomac Park, displaying clear pink hues.

5. On an average 700,000 people flock to Washington to witness the blossoming beauty of the cherry trees during the festival every year.

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6. Further, apart from a grand opening ceremony at the National Building Museum, bike tours along the Tidal Basin, and fireworks near Washington Channel at the closing of the event; many other activities stage shows, cherry blossom classes, art exhibits, and others make part of this 2 week-long festival.

7. Popular surveys tell that one of the most desired wedding locations is one under the cherry trees. Moreover, cherry Blossom Weddings is a never-dying trend in DC.

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8. Moreover, Japan and the US are not the only ones to celebrate the blossoming of the cherry flowers. Also, in Brisbane, Australia too, people celebrate the ‘Cherry Blossom Day’ on 15 September every year by dressing in pink.

9. Last year’s Cherry Blossom festival witnessed a 1.5million+ attendees, and the event reached an audience of about 121 million US via TV media coverage.

10. The Cherry Blossom Festival has emerged not just as a cultural event marking the friendship between two nations but also contributes greatly to the economy of the State.

11. Also, the festival has received many accolades and has made it to the list of Top 100 Events in North America by American Bus Association(2015), Biz Bash’s Top 100 Events among others. Book flight tickets to the USA well in advance to catch all the fun.

Schedule of some signatory events:

• Blossom Kite Festival at National Mall on 2nd April 2016.
• The Fireworks Show at Southwest Waterfront on 9th April 2016.
• The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade at Constitution Avenue on 16th April 2016.
• Sakura-Matsuri (Japanese Culture celebrations) at M Street and New Jersey Avenue, SE on 16th April 2016.
• Cherry Blast at Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, 801 K Street NW, Washington DC on 16th April 2016.

So, most events are ticketed, and apart from these each day a number of exciting activities will be going on across different parts of Washington D.C. So, if you want to have the feel of this beautiful springtime celebration, hope you are already there or have at least booked your flights to Washington. If not, you can still try finding last minute flights. Or maybe have a trip scheduled for next year. This special celebration is worth to be a part of at least once in a lifetime.

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