The National Cherry Blossom Festival Begins March 20 With Parade, Music, Food, Art, Fun

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival will return to a full in-person celebration. The four-week festival runs March 20 through April 17 and commemorates the 110th year of when Tokyo's mayor gifted trees to Washington, D.C. with peak bloom dates predicted to fall during March 22-25.

“As mayor of Washington, D.C., I am thrilled to welcome back residents and visitors to rediscover our celebrated and renowned National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year, we are pleased to finally be back in person and have the opportunity to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees that were given to us by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1912,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “Whether you are a fifth-generation Washingtonian like me or a first-time visitor to our nation’s capital, I hope you will immerse yourself in the spectacular radiance of our beautiful and blossoming cherry trees and take advantage of all that our city has to offer.”

The 2022 festival will be held in person, supplemented with programs and activities that allow visitors to skip the crowds and engage with the festival based on their comfort level. The opening ceremony will take place March 20 starting at 5 p.m.

The annual parade will be held April 9 from 10 a.m. to noon in Washington, D.C., on Constitution Avenue NW (between 7th and 17th Streets).

Petalpalooza will kick off April 16 at 1 p.m. at the Capitol Riverfront with live music on three outdoor stages, interactive art installations, games, activities, roving performers, adult beverages, fireworks and more.

For the first time in two years, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will once again kick off kite-flying season with the Blossom Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument (Constitution Avenue and 17th Street NW) March 26 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the beloved springtime kite-flying tradition. The outdoor event is free and open to the public.

To view all of the activities, visit here.