DC Cherry Blossom Festival: Peak Viewing, Online Gifts, BloomCam

WASHINGTON, DC — Organizers of the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., are forecasting peak bloom of the cherry trees between April 2-5, although the National Park Service is still evaluating whether the area around the Tidal Basin will need to be blocked off to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival will run from March 20 through April 11, with opportunities for virtual viewing of the cherry trees and chances for socially distanced celebrations.

"This year, the National Park Service and our Cherry Blossom partners are asking everyone to experience peak bloom virtually, making use of the many online tools and experiences," Jeffrey Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks for the National Park Service, said Monday at a news conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C.

"It's an amazing way to learn about the history of the iconic Washington institution of the Cherry Blossom Festival safely from the comfort of your own home," Reinbold said.

The National Park Service is still working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether the public will have opportunities to view the cherry blossoms in person.

"What we want to make sure of is that we don't have a repeat of last year. We do not want large crowds down at the site," Reinbold said.

The National Park Service will consider a variety of options, including whether the public can be allowed to see the cherry blossoms during early morning hours or whether "the prudent thing to do is just to close the entire site," he said.

The National Park Service plans to make a decision on in-person viewing in the next two to three weeks.

Whether the cherry trees are open to the public or not, people around the world can watch the blooming of the trees virtually using the festival's Bloom Watch, which includes a BloomCam. Reinbold said the BloomCam was viewed more than 750,000 times in 2020.

BloomCam, provided by EarthCam, provides a live feed of the Tidal Basin, allowing people to virtually view the blossoming cherry trees in real time. BloomCam will be streaming live on both the Bloom Watch page and the Trust for the National Mall website throughout the festival, with round-the-clock views of the cherry trees along the TidalBasin.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration Show, a nationally syndicated variety entertainment show, will be co-hosted by actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore and Alison Starling, news anchor for ABC 7, and will feature performances and special appearances by singer Amy Grant, gospel legend CeCe Winans, 2020 “American Idol” winner Samantha Diaz, Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and talk show host Rachael Ray.

The celebration show will be broadcast online by Events DC on Friday, April 9, locally on WJLA-TV (ABC 7) on Saturday, April 10 at noon and on WJLA 24/7 News on Sunday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m., and will be syndicated nationally throughout April, May, and June.

Several items commemorating the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival are already available for sale in the festival’s online gift shop. Official festival merchandise, from face masks and the 2021 official National Cherry Blossom poster, to tote bags and jewelry, can be purchased on the website.

The 2021 official National Cherry Blossom Festival poster was created by Patrick Guyton, the official 2021 artist. The poster shows the Tidal Basin in springtime, with cherry blossoms set against the backdrop of the Washington Monument.

More than 170 restaurants across D.C., Maryland and Virginia are participating in festival's 19th annual Cherry Picks program, which encourages the community to support local restaurants throughout the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Due to the pandemic, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Miler is having a virtual run this spring, in addition to an in-person race, which has been moved to Sep. 12. Registration for the virtual run is now open, and virtual runners can run their event anytime between March 20 and April 11.

As a guide, National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers have come up with 14 Ways To Step Into Spring together with the festival. They are:

1. Go on a Blossom Hunt. Head out on a search for the 25 giant Art in Bloom sculptures, painted by 25 talented local artists and installed in various locations across Washington, D.C., and in Maryland’s National Harbor and Virginia’s Aurora Hill and National Landing neighborhoods. Strike a pose, take a photo, and post it to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #ArtInBloom anytime starting March 20.

2. Prettify your porch! Get into the spirit of spring by decorating your porch, yard, window, or balcony with all things spring for the Petal Porch Parade. Register on the Petal Porch Parade web page and then challenge your friends and neighbors to a friendly DIY design challenge. Install your creative design by March 20 and then plan a walk or drive around your community to see how others have brought the celebration of spring to their homes through Petal Porch Parade.

3. Welcome spring in a special way. Don’t miss the Opening Ceremony, an artistic celebration of the 1912 gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington and annual tribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the U.S. The one-of-a-kind production will be livestreamed on March 20 at 6 p.m. will be co-hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist, and Michelle Marsh, journalist with ABC 7 (WJLA), and feature special performances from acclaimed artists with ties to both countries, plus narration from festival dignitaries.

4. Party with your pod! Gather your inner circle of friends and family for a fun evening of food, drink, fashion, entertainment, and more at the 2021 Pink Tie Party on March 27. This much-loved annual social event has been reimagined for a virtual platform. You might be sitting in your living room, but you’ll be dressed to the nines, interacting with other partygoers, dining on a festive three-course dinner from a top local restaurant, entertained by top-notch local musicians, participating in a lively silent auction, and enjoying a sake tasting presented by sake samurai.

5. Find a new favorite restaurant. Choose from more than 170 restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia participating in Cherry Picks, starting March 20. With loads of dynamic food and drink choices, plus takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining options, there’s something for everyone. Try some new restaurants or support a couple of old favorites.

6. Let’s go fly a kite! Make or buy a kite and join in the longstanding spring tradition of kite flying in your backyard or neighborhood park through Blossom Kite Fly anytime on March 27 or March 28. Get prepared with virtual kite-making workshops and videos of world-class kite flying demonstrations from Wings Over Washington Kite Club. Then, show everyone how you soared by sharing photos and videos on social media using the #BlossomKiteFly and #StepIntoSpring hashtags.

7. Flaunt your furry best friend. The first annual Paws & Petals Parade will give dog owners the opportunity to have Fido included as part of an entertaining virtual parade that will be posted to the Festival’s Instagram Story on April 3. People in the Washington, D.C., area and beyond can submit short videos of their dogs walking, prancing, doing tricks, and donning costumes for the chance to be featured in the Paws & Petals Parade video. The full gallery of submissions will be available for viewing on the Festival’s website after the Instagram debut.

8. Tune in to the Celebration Show. This nationally syndicated variety entertainment show will bring the spirit of spring and the 2021 Festival into your living room. Co-hosted by Drew Barrymore and ABC 7’s Alison Starling, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration Show will feature an all-star lineup of performances and special appearances, including Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Norm Lewis, Samantha Diaz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Rachael Ray. It will premiere on GATHER by Events DC on April 9; air locally on WJLA-TV (ABC 7) on April 10 and WJLA 24/7 News on April 11; and syndicate nationally throughout April, May, and June.

9. Be amazed by your City in Bloom! Starting March 20, the D.C. region will be covered in all things “pink” and “cherry blossoms” to welcome spring in a big and beautiful way. Think pink lighting in windows, cherry blossom decals on storefronts and taxis, and floral projections across buildings. The District and surrounding areas, including National Harbor in Maryland and Mosaic District and National Landing in Virginia, will come to life through City in Bloom. Keep your eyes open for those beloved blossoms!

10. Look out for parading art vehicles. The neighborhoods with the densest number of decorated Petal Porch Parade homes could be chosen for the inaugural Petal Procession on April 10 and April 11. Ten TOYOTA vehicles — all uniquely painted by local artists — will bring lots of springtime cheer as they roll through the community.

11. Get the kids involved. There are plenty of ways for young people to step into spring, including the Blossom Kids interactive website and the Girl Scouts’ Gift of Trees Patch Program. And, with most 2021 Festival activities, programs, and virtual events being family-friendly. Also, don’t miss the Student Art Showcase, featuring creative masterpieces from D.C. public and charter school students. After the Virtual Gallery Opening on March 30, all submissions plus commentary from D.C. arts leaders and Patrick Guyton, the 2021 official artist, will be viewable on the Student Art Showcase website.

12. Bookmark the Bloom Watch page. The leading destination for virtual “bloom watchers,” Bloom Watch is the go-to source for official updates about peak bloom, with details about the bloom stages and a link to National Park Service’s #BloomCam. Now, Bloom Watch will include new virtual ways for you to see the beloved cherry trees along the Tidal Basin and experience their peak bloom from anywhere, including an on-demand virtual tour by National Park Service rangers and a 360-degree “bike ride” experience around East Potomac Park.

13. See the official artwork in person. The official 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival artwork created by Patrick Guyton is on public view at Macy’s Metro Center through April 11. The piece is artfully displayed in a window showcase, so you can see its intricacies and feels its emotion. Guyton beautifully captured the energy and colors of the Tidal Basin in springtime, with a metallic, reflective spiraling vortex of cherry blossoms set against the backdrop of the Washington Monument. To create the piece, he merged gold and silver leafing techniques from the 14th century with contemporary creative methods to develop his signature style, which he describes as “gilded modernism.”

14. Treat yourself! Head to the festival’s online gift shop to check out 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorative items — from face masks, magnets, and the 2021 official National Cherry Blossom poster, to tote bags, earrings, and coloring books. There’s nothing that doesn’t look great paired with a cherry blossom.