The nation’s largest springtime celebration, 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held along the Tidal Basin from March 20 through April 14.
In honor of the enduring friendship between the people of the U.S. and Japan, the festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C.
The festival now spans over four weeks and welcomes over 1.5 million people to “enjoy diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.”
“The development of the cherry blossoms are dependent on the weather. Regardless of when the blooms open, we have a full month of flowers and festivities to look forward to during the National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said a National Park Service (NPS) spokesman.
BREAKING NEWS! 🌸Peak bloom for the cherry blossoms has been predicted for April 3 – April 6! The 2019 @CherryBlossFest is March 20 – April 14. Visit https://t.co/NZSiy9fa7n for the full schedule of events! #springblossomshere @NationalMallNPS pic.twitter.com/Hf37Vj07pI
— National Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸 (@CherryBlossFest) March 6, 2019
According to Gregory O’Dell, president and CEO of Events D.C., the festival provides a significant boost to D.C. economy as approximately 1.5 million people visit the city to experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival over a four-week time period. “That equates to over $100 million in economic activity for the city,” said O’Dell.
Several activities are scheduled throughout the festival, including a 10-mile race, an annual parade, a kite festival, as well as cultural experiences.
The sixth annual Anacostia River Festival, which celebrates Anacostia Park’s 100th birthday this year, will mark the ending of the event.
Events are free and open to the public.