Cherry blossoms reach peak bloom during the Cherry Blossom Festival on March 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Katie Perschau / Fourth Estate)
The cherry blossom season brings vibrant events, sights and cultural expression to D.C.
BY KATIE PERSCHAU, CULTURE EDITOR
Every year, locals and visitors fill the National Mall to witness the peak bloom of the Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year the festival takes place from March 20 to April 12, and it includes many events perfect for a spring excursion from Mason’s campus.
The Opening Ceremony on March 21 in the DAR Constitution Hall celebrates the gifting of the cherry blossom trees from Japan in 1912. It will feature Japanese and American artists and performers. Tickets are $5, making the ceremony an affordable way for students to experience a lively artistic display.
For students who prefer celebrating the festival beneath the blossoms, the Kite Festival on March 28 at the Washington Monument is a unique and awe-inspiring event worth attending.
Hundreds of visitors picnic on the monument grounds and fill the sky with colorful kites as live music creates a vibrant atmosphere welcoming spring to the capital. Students can pack a blanket or bring a kite and enjoy a cost-free afternoon surrounded by nature and community.
Festival-goers fly kites on the Washington Monument grounds at the Kite Festival on March 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Katie Perschau / Fourth Estate)
The festival also provides opportunities to learn about Japanese and Japanese-American history through seasonal exhibitions in the Smithsonian museums.
The National Museum of Asian Art has several events and displays during the festival, including a “Kyoto Kimono” pop up on March 27 and March 28 with vintage Japanese kimono robes available to try on. The museum also has free showings of three anime films from April 4 to 5.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum will host a cherry blossom celebration on March 28, featuring a taiko drum performance and a scavenger hunt through the museum’s galleries.
To fully experience the cherry blossom season, don’t miss the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 11. Students can watch the floats and performers along Constitution Avenue without purchasing a ticket, but reserved seating at the beginning and end of the parade route is also available to purchase on the festival’s website.
Students searching for a photo-op with the blossoms can find a perfectly pink backdrop at the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. Crowds can make getting a good shot difficult, so planning your visiting time in advance is important. The area sees less visitors on weekdays and in the mornings and evenings according to the festival’s website.
Whether you wish to experience the distinctive arts and culture of the nation’s capital or get outside after a long winter, there is something for every Mason student at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
