What’s the best time to come to the festival?

The festival’s prime time is known as “peak bloom,” when the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, in West Potomac Park and on the Washington Monument grounds are at their most colorful and alluring. But that burst of color typically lasts a week, while the festival is almost a month long. The dilemma for festival organizers is that peak bloom changes every year, due to weather, making it tough to coordinate events and blooming times. Instead, the festival hedges its bets by scheduling a different “signature event” each weekend, alongside numerous smaller (but still compelling) happenings. Here are the key dates to know; more information on these events can be found on nationalcherryblossomfestival.org . March 18 : The National Park Service’s Tidal Basin Welcome Area , located on West Basin Drive near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials, kicks off the festival. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through April 2, with live performances on the ANA Stage, daily tours led by Park Rangers, and Saturday night guided walks, which begin at 6:30 p.m. (Bring your own flashlight.) March 20 : The annual Opening Ceremony concert at the Warner Theatre includes performances by J-pop band Travis Japan, classical duo Petael and other artists. Tickets are sold out, but the performance will be live-streamed on the Cherry Blossom Festival’s YouTube page from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 25 : The Blossom Kite Festival brings a dazzling array of kites and master kite fliers to the Washington Monument grounds between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Grab a kite kit to decorate before you fly. March 31 : Cherry Night features DJs, cocktails and cherry blossom-themed fun at an array of D.C. restaurants and bars, including Wunder Garten, Hook Hall and Focus Social Club. RSVPs are required. April 8 : Music, art installations, hands-on family activities and a beer garden are highlights of the annual Petalpalooza in Yards Park. The event runs from 1 to 9 p.m., and is capped with a fireworks display at 8:30. April 15 : Mickey and Minnie Mouse are the grand marshals of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade , which fills Constitution Avenue NW with marching bands, floats and entertainment between 10 a.m. and noon. C&C Music Factory is among the performers; Carson Kressley provides live commentary. April 15-16 : The Sakura Matsuri Japanese street festival expanded from one day to two in 2022 to celebrate its 60th anniversary, and organizers are keeping the expanded format for at least another year. The festival includes four stages on Pennsylvania Avenue for music and martial arts performances, a traditional marketplace, food and drink vendors and hands-on cultural exhibits.

When will the blossoms really be in bloom?

The National Park Service defines “peak bloom” as the period when at least 70 percent of the Tidal Basin’s cherry trees have blossomed, creating the fluffy pink clouds of flowers perfect for photos and paintings. Due to a mild winter, the Park Service says the trees never entered their dormant stage, leading to a predicted peak bloom of March 22-25. The Post’s Capital Weather Gang, which makes its projections independently, now estimates the blossoms will hit peak bloom between March 19 and 23 , thanks to “unseasonably mild weather in February and early March.” (Its initial projection, made in late February , called for a peak bloom of March 25-29.) Either way, when the peak bloom arrives, the flowers usually last around a week, though weather — heavy rains, a freeze or mild temperatures — can lengthen or shorten that viewing period. In 2022, the festival ran from March 20 to April 17, and peak bloom occurred March 22-26, just before the major events began. The previous year, when festival events were scheduled between March 20 and April 11, peak bloom began March 28. Over the last 30 years, the average peak bloom has been March 31, according to the Capital Weather Gang.

When is the best time to see the blossoms in person?

The narrow paths around the trees at the Tidal Basin can become extremely crowded during and just after peak bloom — and basically any weekend throughout the festival. If you want to see the blossoms in all their glory — or have a shot at getting your new profile photo without hordes of people in the background — the best times to visit are early in the morning, when joggers seem to outnumber tourists, and in late-afternoon twilight. Just be warned that footpaths can be trickier to navigate during high tide, when they’re inundated with water, especially around the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.

What’s the best way to get to the festival?

The Tidal Basin is about a half mile from the Smithsonian Metro Station’s Independence Avenue exit. It can be crowded on weekends, and you may wish to walk an extra 10 minutes from L’Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle. The D.C. Circulator bus , which makes a constant loop of Union Station, the National Mall and memorials, has multiple stops near the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial and costs $1. Capital Bikeshare operates three stations around the Tidal Basin: one on East Basin Drive SW, just south of the Jefferson Memorial; one on Ohio Drive SW near the welcome center; and one on Independence Avenue near the John Paul Jones Memorial. There are other docks a short walk away, including at the Lincoln Memorial and on Hains Point. Parking is extremely limited, with some spaces near the memorials reserved for handicapped access. The closest parking is at the metered lot at the Tidal Basin boathouse, which has a three-hour time limit.

What else is there to do at the Tidal Basin besides look at flowering trees?

The National Park Service runs a welcome area off Ohio Drive SW, between the Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. It features activities for children, including the chance to earn a “Bloomin’ Junior Ranger badge” with games and a scavenger hunt, and a stage with live music and entertainment during the peak bloom period. This is also where rangers host talks twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wandering around the Tidal Basin and East and West Potomac parks brings you to a number of memorials, which also offer tours and thematic talks. The Lincoln and World War II memorials are just across Independence Avenue, as is the D.C. War Memorial. Head south from the Tidal Basin and you’ll come across the East Potomac Golf Links , home to D.C.’s only outdoor mini-golf course — a 92-year-old landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Or, take this bingo card and see how many activities and experiences you can check off. Finally, there are paddle boats , for a completely different way to see the blossoms. Just be prepared to pay for the experience — one hour on the water costs $38 during the week and $40 on weekends — and book in advance. There are three swan-shaped boats, but they are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where can we eat and drink — and use the bathroom — near the blossoms?

First, the essential information: The FDR and MLK memorials have indoor restrooms adjacent to their bookstores. The FDR Memorial also has more restrooms near its south entrance, toward the Japanese Pagoda. The Jefferson Memorial is undergoing restoration work , and temporary restrooms are situated in a trailer in its rear parking lot. (Hey, they’re nicer than port-a-potties.) As for sustenance, a kiosk between the Jefferson Memorial and the George Mason Memorial sells quick, basic refreshments, such as ice cream, hot dogs and sodas. There’s usually food for sale at the Park Service’s Welcome Area and a refreshment stand near the paddle boats, but better options are nearby. East Potomac Golf Links, located south of the Tidal Basin, is home to the Potomac Grille , known for its old-school cheeseburgers and hearty chili cheese dogs. You don’t need to play nine holes to visit the snack bar, or even grab a cold beer and sit on the veranda. From the Jefferson Memorial or the paddle boats, it’s an easy walk down Maine Avenue to the Wharf, which has a wide variety of sit-down restaurants or, if the weather’s nice, places to get something to go and sit outside with a water view. Fast-casual favorites include Shake Shack, Colada Shop and Falafel Inc., while pricier sit-down options include Hank’s Oyster Bar, Moon Rabbit and Mi Vida. Of note: Gordon Ramsay has opened two restaurants at the Wharf, which were recently reviewed by The Post’s Tom Sietsema: Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen .

What are the best things to do with kids?

Most of the festival is family-friendly. The first weekend kicks off with the popular Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds (March 25). Children can decorate and build their own kites, watch Japanese kite masters demonstrate their techniques, and listen to Japanese drumming . (There are even more kites at the Oxon Run Pinknic and Kite Fly at Oxon Run Park on April 2.) The final weekend brings both the parade on Constitution Avenue (April 15), with grand marshals Mickey and Minnie Mouse, marching bands, giant balloons and dancing in the street, and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival (April 15-16), with multiple stages of music and dance performances, hands-on activities and much more. In between, there are family days at museums, including the Library of Congress and Smithsonian American Art Museum (see below); the Bloomaroo festival at the Wharf (April 1) and Petalpalooza festival at Yards Park (April 8), both of which have family activities and are capped by fireworks; and a day exploring the great outdoors at Frying Pan Park in Herndon (April 1).

What are the best activities for adults?

So you think you’re too old for kites and parades. That’s fine. What about browsing vintage clothes and records, dancing at an after-hours museum party, or hanging out in a wine garden and listening to live music? Coming weeks contain a number of smaller festivals, some officially part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and others that just coincide with it. While Bloomaroo at the Wharf or Petalpalooza at Navy Yard do have activities for families, for example, they also offer attractions just for adults. National Harbor kicks off its festivities with the CocktailPro Cocktail Competition (March 24), pitting 10 bartenders from restaurants and bars around the Harbor against one another. The $75 tickets include tastes of each drink and a chance to vote for the winner. Cherry Night (March 31) features pop-up cherry-blossom-themed events at bars around D.C. The full schedule for Cherry Night hasn’t been officially announced, but the 2022 edition included a Kirin beer garden at Wunder Garten and a night of sake and yakitori grilling at Dirty Habit. The first weekend in April brings a trio of outdoor festivals: The inaugural Pink in the Park party (April 1) at Arlington’s Long Bridge Park brings four hours of music, including performances by Crush Funk Brass Band and Black Alley, along with a beer and wine garden and photogenic art installations. Free tickets are required. The Wharf’s Bloomaroo (April 1) features a giant beer garden on the District Pier, along with live music, art and a fireworks show. The two-day Art Blooms in Fairfax’s Mosaic District (April 1-2) brings a marketplace of 90 makers and vintage vendors, music on multiple stages, and a farmers market with food and drinks. (You can also bring the kids to meet singing princesses.) Last year’s Petalpalooza at Yards Park sprawled throughout the neighborhood, with interactive art installations and selfie stations, a maze, beer and wine gardens — including rosé from District Winery — and cover bands. This year’s edition (April 8) is also capped with fireworks. If art is more your style, the wildly popular National Gallery Nights (April 13) takes a “Garden Party” theme, with a chance to craft wearable flower art, pop-up gallery talks about nature in art, cherry blossom printmaking, and swing dancing to Gretchen and the Sidecar Six. Admission is free, but you’ll need to move fast when registration opens at noon on April 6: Tickets for the March event were snatched up in two minutes. The Torpedo Factory is getting into the act with the Cherry Blossom Jubilee (April 14), a special edition of its Late Shift after-hours party. Tour three floors of artist studios and galleries, watch artists at work, try hands-on activities, and listen to live music.

Do any museums have cherry-blossom-related exhibits or activities?

Washington’s larger cultural institutions are celebrating the cherry blossoms with events, rather than exhibitions, and orienting them toward families. Events are free unless otherwise noted, and some require advance registration. The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Cherry Blossom Family Celebration (March 25) gives kids the chance to make a kite to fly at the Kite Festival or craft a cherry blossom tree to take home while watching drumming and dance performances. The Library of Congress’s Japanese Culture Day (April 1) is similarly hands-on, letting young visitors try their hands at origami, calligraphy and coloring woodblock prints before making a tiara with the Cherry Blossom Princesses. For an older or mixed audience, the Smithsonian’s own Cherry Blossom Festival takes place at the National Museum of Asian Art (April 1), with curator-led tours of exhibits, live performances and a kimono pop-up. (There are also hands-on activities for kids.) That’s just one of the events planned throughout the bigger festival, including a concert with Japanese musicians Anna Sato and Toshiyuki Sasaki (March 24). The National Gallery of Art’s new monthly First Saturday program (April 1) has something for all ages, from short films for children to silk-screening lessons and a Q&A with plant expert Hilton Carter. If you’re looking for exhibits, it’s worth checking out D.C.’s smaller museums and cultural centers. Digital art museum Artechouse takes advantage of its location near the Tidal Basin to host an interactive art installation inspired by the cherry blossoms each spring. This year’s version is “ Pixelbloom: Timeless Butterflies ,” so visitors will enter rooms covered in blossoms and butterflies and learn about the migration of monarch butterflies (March 11 to June 11. $17-$25; children younger than 4 admitted free). The Japan Information and Culture Center — a cultural arm of the Japanese Embassy — presents “ Blossoming Flowers in Japanese Art and Poetry ,” pairing art from the embassy’s own collection with haiku and visual art created by local students (March 17 to May 5. Free).

Which restaurants have the best cherry blossom dishes or cocktails?

Each year, the festival runs a program called Cherry Picks, which promotes restaurants using cherries as ingredients in dishes and cocktails, in partnership with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. The list has more than 100 participants, ranging from Michelin-starred Cranes and critic favorite Immigrant Food to suburban chains and, not surprisingly, a number of hotel restaurants. There’s a map on the festival website . Look for more information on menu items as the festival gets closer. New this year: a foodie scavenger hunt, created with the app Goosechase , that gives points for tasks such as visiting restaurants in different neighborhoods or taking photos of various dishes, in order to win prizes. The competition begins March 20. On the cocktail front, the big news is the return of the Cherry Blossom Pop-Up at Silver Lyan , in the basement of the Riggs hotel, from March 27 through April 1. For the second year in a row, the award-winning bar is collaborating with Katana Kitten , the New York-based, Japanese-inspired hot spot ranked ninth on the 2022 edition of the World’s 50 Best Bars . Last year’s weekend-long event featured wildly creative cocktails using Japanese whisky, yuzu, ume plums and salted cherry blossoms, paired with panko-crusted sandos. Reservations are highly advisable.

The Tidal Basin is too crowded. Where else can I see cherry blossoms in the D.C. area?

There are nearly 4,000 cherry trees at the Tidal Basin and in East Potomac Park, primarily of the Yoshino variety. But a few miles to the northeast, the National Arboretum is home to more than 70 varieties of cherry trees, including some hybrids developed there. Because of this diversity, the flowering season is much longer than the Tidal Basin’s — some trees bloom weeks later. An app makes it easy to take a guided tour of the trees on the 446-acre campus. On March 18, an afternoon-long program explores the history of Japanese cherry trees on this side of the Pacific. Elsewhere in D.C., get your cherry blossom fix at Oxon Run Park in Southeast, which has more than 200 trees, including some grown from cuttings taken at the Tidal Basin, and Cherry Hill, a section of the grounds at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown that takes its name from the wide selection of flowering trees. Bethesda’s Kenwood neighborhood is probably the best-known destination outside of D.C. proper, with more than 1,200 trees lining the subdivision’s streets. Just be warned that traffic jams are inevitable, and parking is difficult. Other options include Vienna’s Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, which has more than 200 cherry trees on display, and National Harbor, where visitors can take in 200 trees while exploring a Japanese festival, origami classes and other activities in March and April. For details and even more options, check out the roundup below.

I’m from the D.C. area, and we’ve done the cherry blossom festival more times than I can count. What’s new this year?

The festival has two official “premiere events” in 2023. Pink in the Park comes to National Landing’s Long Bridge Park on April 1, after the neighborhood hosted smaller gatherings in 2022. Head to the wide-open space — just across the 14th Street bridge from East Potomac Park — for music from a half-dozen bands and DJs, a beer and wine garden, and food trucks. Comedian Orlando Jones is the host. Earlier that day, the Long Bridge Aquatics Center hosts Pink in the Pool , a family pool party with face painting, a kite-making class and more fun. Registration is required for both events. Words Beats & Life, an arts nonprofit that teaches young people about the arts through hip-hop skills like DJing and graffiti art, is teaming up with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District for Jazz and Blossoms on April 8 in Franklin Park. The afternoon-long event promises live music, poetry, lawn games and picnic space with a mocktail bar.

Everything you need to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival

By Fritz Hahn

Updated March 14, 2023 at 1:35 p.m. EDT|Published March 3, 2023 at 3:10 p.m. EST

Cherry Blossom Festival attendees at the Tidal Basin in March 2022. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

18 min

The third-warmest winter on record has led to changes at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Festival events were initially scheduled to begin March 20. Then the National Park Service projected that peak bloom — the period when 70 percent of the Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin will be at their pinkest, fluffiest and most photogenic — will occur between March 22 and 25, with trees beginning to blossom before those dates.

Get the full experience.Choose your plan

To ensure that visitors can make the most of the whole blossom experience, the Park Service’s Welcome Area at the Tidal Basin, which features live performances, tours and activities for families, will now open March 18, meaning the festival stretches to five weekends instead of the planned four.

Headed out to see the D.C. cherry blossoms? Play our bingo card.

So how do you take advantage of the extra time with one of Washington’s most popular tourist attractions, responsible for drawing 1.6 million visitors before the pandemic? Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local who never tires of the trees but wants to see something new, this guide will tell you everything you need to know to have, well, a peak experience.