2020 National Cherry Blossom Festival

How They Start

When the flowers begin their bloom!

Washington DC

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Saturday, April 4. Standing room is free; stadium seating requires tickets. The parade runs along Constitution Avenue between the National Archives building and the Washington Monument and features performers, marching bands, giant balloons, and floats, many related to the general cherry blossom theme.

A Site To See

A Walk Through

The tradition of cherry blossom festivals in the U.S. dates to 1935, when the National Cherry Blossom festival began to honor Japan’s 1912 gift of some 3,000 trees.Eleven species of flowering cherry tree ring the Tidal Basin fronting the Potomac River in National Capitol Park.

Fun Fact: Removing a blossom or branch is considered vandalism of federal property in Washington, D.C., which can lead to a citation or even an arrest.

Peak bloom varies each year in Washington D.C., but typically occurs around April 4 and can last up to 14 days. So the festival is usually sometime in late March early April.