The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held all in-person next year, after it was affected by the COVID-19 crisis in the past two years, according to the event’s organizers.
The festival is scheduled to run from March 20 to April 17 in 2022, with an opening ceremony, a parade, and lively events such as a pink tie party, and a kite festival.
Petalpalooza, which is also part of the festival, features a full day of live music and various events involving art and games at several outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a beer garden, and other activities for families and people of all ages. The celebration ends with a stunning fireworks show.
“DC is open and that means that the National Cherry Blossom Festival is back in person,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement. “In neighborhoods across DC, the cherry blossoms have been a bright spot during the past two years, a beautiful reminder of hope and renewal. Now, we can’t wait to welcome visitors back to Washington, DC to experience the full in-person 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival and all that DC has to offer.”
A few minutes ago, the 2022 Official Art "Blossom Dance" was unveiled! The Official Artist, @BlueHueLea was inspired by her love and respect for the environment by showcasing monarch butterflies amongst a plethora of blooms 🌸#OfficialArtist #OfficialArt #CherryBlossFestLaunch pic.twitter.com/0YWYqln0vp
— National Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸 (@CherryBlossFest) November 9, 2021
Organizers also unveiled the official artwork for the 2022 festival, entitled “Blossom Dance,” designed by contemporary artist Lea Craigie-Marshall.
Among the festival’s sponsors are Amazon, Events DC, DowntownDC, Mars, Destination DC, National Park Service, the DC government, Embassy of Japan, and more.
In 2021, the festival took place without its famous parade due to pandemic restrictions.