Letting the Good Times ‘Blossom’ in Washington, DC

By David Kriso

Throughout the year, one can think of all of the special occasions celebrated around the United States. In New York City, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is viewed by millions on TV and in person, signaling that the holiday season is officially underway. On Saint Patrick’s Day, New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Savannah are known for the most festive parades in the country. The Chicago River is even dyed green to accentuate the occasion. In Washington, DC, the month-long National Cherry Blossom Festival takes center stage in March and April. From corner to corner, end to end, DC proudly dons its pink and white. It’s more than just a holiday season underway. It’s “petal to the metal.”

If anyone hasn’t experienced the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the Nation’s Capital, it’s a must-add to the must-do list. The four-week festival celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan with diverse and creative programming. The NCBF commemorates Japan’s gift of Cherry Blossom trees to the United States in 1912. Two countries and twelve different Cherry Blossom varieties are celebrated in one month-long festival, and there’s no better time to be in Washington, DC. It’s about more than discovering florals that thrill the human mind. It’s all about finding one’s “bloom.”

The National Cherry Blossom Party kicks off mid-March, with a “blooming” occasion known as the Pink Tie Party. The highly anticipated Pink Tie Party is hosted at Washington’s beautiful Union Station. As one of the festival’s signature events, this is the must-attend soirée of the season. Presented by Union Station and Design Cuisine, with support from Al Nippon Airways, the signature event brings together style, art, and celebration in a night that delivers unforgettable moments at every turn. The theme of this year’s Pink Tie Party was The Art of Fashion. Guests are encouraged to step inside the creative design process. The evening unfolds fully as an immersive experience, filled with surprises, sensory delights, and joyful discovery. Interactive activations bring the theme to life, inviting guests to engage directly with art and fashion. This year’s emcee, fashion expert Carson Kressley, demonstrated unique fashion and visual arts pieces created for this event by local designers.

What makes the Pink Tie Party such a hot ticket and such a memorable spectacle to attend? Sarah Rabin Spira, the NCBF’s Director of Marketing and Communications, shared her commentary on the magnitude of the event. “The Pink Tie Party is the perfect combination of the festival magic and spectacle that make the National Cherry Blossom Festival special. It’s where glam meets joy, with gorgeous blooms, live music, dancing, and some of the District’s best restaurants, mixed with the artistry that defines the festival.”

The Pink Tie Party may be the kick-off event, but the opening ceremony marks the true beginning of the excitement. It is hosted at DC’s iconic Warner Theater. The NCBF’s signature Opening Ceremony is an artistic celebration of the 1912 gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC, and an annual tribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the United States. This unique, one-time-only performance features special performances from acclaimed artists with ties to both countries. This year’s opening ceremony performers were Futago Onikenbai, Takehiro Ueyama, and Ayaka Hirahara.

Undoubtedly, the festival is family-friendly. The next two weekends are fun-filled: The Blossom Kite Festival is one of the most vibrant and unique celebrations on the National Mall, with kite-making activities and musical performances for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic and launch their kites among thousands of other participants. Aside from kite flying, attendees are invited to participate in National Park Service educational activities and youth craft activities, including origami and paper art, as well as friendship bracelet making. The event also featured Sakura Taiko Fest, produced by Washington, DC-based Japanese drumming group, Miyako Taiko. It was capped off with a variety lineup of Taiko drummers from all around the United States at the Sylvan Theatre.

Ms. Rabin Spira hit the nail directly on the head when describing how special the month-long festival is, saying, “The first attribute I think of is joy. Everything we plan, from the events to how we communicate, is centered on helping people celebrate spring and experience joy. The second is that every experience feels new. People look to our signature events as part of their spring traditions, but they also seek out new experiences. We’re always adding something different, so whether it’s anyone’s first time or twentieth, there’s always something fresh to discover.”

Ms. Rabin Spira was asked if she could offer any encouraging advice to would-be DC visitors on attending any part of the NCBF. “Many of our events are free and also bring the community together!” she shared. “Art programming, multi-cultural performances, iconic celebrations, and more are all free. In addition, the festival’s community programming engages everyone from students through the Student Art Showcase to legacy residents through the Blossom Tea Party.”

She continued, “Our theme this year is ‘Find Your Bloom,’ and that means that there’s something about the festival that will bring you joy. For next year, we invite all travelers to help us celebrate DC’s longest-running festival and the hundredth anniversary of the very first festival celebrating the beloved cherry trees.” When asked what makes this event so special for DC residents and travelers combined, she replied, “What makes it special is that it’s not just one thing. It’s a full citywide celebration of spring, from the Tidal Basin and beyond. For a few weeks, everything feels lighter, brighter, and more connected. It’s hard to replicate that anywhere else, and once you experience spring here in Washington, DC, you understand why people come back year after year.”

How does a month-long celebration end on a high note? The answer is, of course, by having a parade. The NCBF Parade is the encore of the entire festival. It brings down the curtain on four weeks of culture, music, art, and spiritual happiness. One of DC’s largest spectator events, the energy-filled NCBF Parade runs for ten blocks along Constitution Avenue. Giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the parade route in a grand spectacle of music and showmanship seen only once a year. Headlining the parade’s lineup of performers this year were award-winning actor and singer Anastacia McCleskey, legendary singer Anita Ward (known for the hit song “Ring My Bell”), R&B-pop band Club Nouveau, Gospel/R&B/Soul singer Gabby Samone, and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band The Spinners. Adding to the excitement were the Chicago Turnwheel Jam, the Washington Nationals mascots—George, Abe, Teddy, and Tom—the Washington Wizards Dancers, and representatives from Al Nippon Airways (ANA). 2026 marks ANA’s fortieth anniversary of providing non-stop service between Washington-Dulles International Airport and Tokyo. What better reasons could anyone share that this event has reached its “full bloom”?

Washington, DC, is a majestic city blooming with tradition, politics, art, history, and international culture. It is the nerve center where all great things come together. It is a city where historic moments are commemorated, where travelers’ memories are made, where new ideas are shared, and where old and new traditions come together, blended as one. The festival is a celebration of joy that serves as a reminder that two countries, once bitter enemies during World War II, can share a bond of peace and happiness through the symbolism of nature. The cherry blossom tree may show its pink hues for four weeks, but the festival’s impression is what stays with everyone for the longest time. From dressing in pink and white to dancing the night away, kite flying, engaging in artful expression, and celebrating the joy of spring on Constitution Avenue, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is the celebration of celebrations. It is the memory of memories. It is DC’s proudest tradition. Candidly, it is one of the most joyous expressions of culture any traveler could witness. It’s more than a spectacle of peace and harmony, but a joyous reminder of spring starting off “petal to the metal.”

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Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org to learn more.