It’s cherry blossom season again, and officials in the capital are predicting a great year for the iconic pink flowers. To usher in the iconic flower, the nation’s capital prepares weeks of events including parades, concerts and fireworks for both local residents and the tourists who flock to the city each year for the cherry blossom festival. ing.
Based on hotel bookings, organizers expect tourist numbers to reach 1.5 million for the first time since before the pandemic.
Here’s a primer on Washington’s iconic flowering trees.
When will the cherry blossoms be in full bloom?
Here’s when the popular D.C. cherry blossoms are expected to peak
National Park Service officials estimate peak bloom will begin between March 23 and March 26 and last about 10 days. By that time, 70% of the city’s 3,700 cherry trees will have bloomed. The cherry blossom blooming period is from March 20th to April 14th.
Where is the best place to get a good look at the trees?
The highest concentration of cherry trees in the nation’s capital is around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial, a short walk from the National Mall. However, cherry blossoms are scattered around the capital.
Officials recommend using public transportation as parking is minimal.
What events are planned?
Locals consider cherry blossom season the unofficial start of Washington’s tourist season, and organizers are planning a number of events. Additionally, restaurants in the area traditionally offer a variety of cherry-flavored specialties, from martinis to milkshakes.
At a press conference in Washington on Thursday, February 29, 2024, Jeffrey Reinbold, director of the National Park Service for the National Mall and Monuments, announced peak cherry blossom bloom. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A complete list of events is available on the Sakura Festival website. Some highlights include:
– Blossom Kite Festival will be held around the Washington Monument on March 30th.
–Cherry blossom parade on April 13th.
—Petalpalooza Music and Arts Festival on April 6 at the Capital Riverfront, with fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
How did Washington get its cherry tree?
This tradition dates back to 1912, when the mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 trees to Washington. The Japanese Embassy remains deeply involved in the annual festival, and this year Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to make an official visit to Washington during the festival on April 10th.
Why are cherry blossoms blooming earlier than in the past?
Officials point to climate change and say its effects may be accelerating. Peak flowering is coming a little earlier each year as global temperatures steadily rise. Full bloom in 2013 was on April 9th, about two weeks later than now.
Jeff Reinbold, the National Park Service’s superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said a warmer-than-usual January disrupted the trees, preventing them from entering the winter dormancy period they should.
“This has been a puzzling year for reading trees,” he said. “We are seeing the effects of both warmer and highly variable temperatures on trees.”
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Officials also warned that hundreds of trees around the Tidal Basin are under threat of creeping flooding from rising sea levels.
