A visitor’s guide to the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Washington’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing more than 1.5 million visitors for three weeks of street parties, concerts, family activities and days to go fly a kite. And, of course, the chance to see the fluffy pink and white petals that turn the trees around the Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument into a dazzling floral display, reminding us that winter is over and brighter days are on the way.

Whether you’re a first-time festivalgoer or a local who never tires of the trees but wants to see something new, this guide will tell you everything you need to know to have, well, a peak experience.

- - -

What’s the best time to come to the festival?

The festival’s prime time is known as “peak bloom,” when the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, in West Potomac Park and on the Washington Monument grounds are at their most colorful and alluring. But that burst of color typically lasts a week to 10 days, while the festival stretches more than three weeks. The dilemma for festival organizers is that peak bloom changes every year due to weather, making it tough to coordinate events with blooming times months in advance. Instead, the festival hedges its bets by scheduling a different “signature event” each weekend, alongside numerous smaller (but still compelling) happenings. If you’re visiting D.C., these are the events to plan around. More information can be found at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

March 20: The splashiest new event at the National Cherry Blossom Festival is Stumpy’s Petal and Paddle Race, named after Stumpy, the popular (and mostly bare) cherry tree that was removed from the Tidal Basin after the 2024 festival. Participants will race paddleboats across the Tidal Basin and back, with the fastest paddlers - and the best-dressed teams - receiving prizes. The late-afternoon race is free to watch.

March 22-April 6: The National Park Service’s Tidal Basin Welcome Area, located on West Basin Drive near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, features more than 100 music and dance performances on the ANA Stage; tours led by park rangers; food and souvenir stands; activities for kids, including earning a junior ranger badge; and even guided evening “lantern walks.” (Bring your own flashlight.) It’s open daily at 10 a.m., closing at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and staying open until 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

March 22: The annual opening ceremony concert at the Warner Theatre includes Japanese tap dancer Kazunori Kumagai, singer-songwriter Ka-Na, traditional Japanese puppet company Seiwa Bunraku and Hawaiian drumming group Maui Taiko. The performance, running from 5 to 6:30 p.m., will also be streamed on the Cherry Blossom Festival’s YouTube page. Admission is free (excluding a $5 ticket fee), but tickets are required.

March 29: The Blossom Kite Festival brings a dazzling array of kites, competitions and master kite fliers to the Washington Monument grounds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Grab a kite kit to decorate before you fly, and pair the kites with Sakura Taiko Fest, a day of traditional Japanese drumming performances and demonstrations at the nearby Sylvan Theater.

March 29: The Wharf’s Bloomaroo is not an official National Cherry Blossom Festival event. Still, it draws large crowds to the Southwest Waterfront for a day of free activities, including bands on two outdoor stages, a kids’ craft area, a karaoke stage, dance performances and evening fireworks. The fun starts at 4 p.m., and the fireworks are launched at 8:30 p.m.

April 5: Live music, art installations, hands-on family activities and a beer garden are highlights of the annual Petalpalooza along the Capitol Riverfront near Navy Yard. The event runs from 1 to 9 p.m. and is capped with a fireworks display at 8:30.

April 13: Mickey and Minnie Mouse return as grand marshals of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, joined by new grand marshal Ken Jennings of “Jeopardy” and Princess Ariel of “A Little Mermaid.” The annual spectacle fills Constitution Avenue NW with marching bands, floats and entertainment between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Performers include Deejay Young, who portrayed Aaron Burr in “Hamilton” on Broadway; “The Voice” winner Asher HaVon; and funk legends Cameo. Viewing the parade from the sidewalk between Seventh and 17th streets is free, though grandstand tickets are available for purchase if you need guaranteed seats.

April 13-14: The Sakura Matsuri Japanese street festival, run by the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., has entertained Washingtonians for more than 60 years. The two-day festival includes multiple stages on Pennsylvania Avenue for music and martial arts performances, a traditional marketplace, food and drink vendors, pavilions dedicated to topics such as technology and the regions of Japan, and hands-on cultural exhibits. There are special stages and activities for children throughout the weekend. New this year: Sunday is billed as “Sumo Sunday,” with a pair of professional Japanese sumo wrestlers competing in an exhibition bout. Festival tickets cost $10 to $25 (and aren’t required for children 12 and under).

- - -

When will the cherry blossoms really be in bloom?

The National Park Service defines “peak bloom” as the period when at least 70 percent of the Tidal Basin’s cherry trees have blossomed, creating fluffy clouds of flowers perfect for photos and paintings. Due to a colder-than-usual winter, the Park Service has predicted peak bloom will be between March 28 to 31, while warning that dates could shift depending on the weather. The Post’s Capital Weather Gang, which makes its projections independently, forecast that the peak will be between March 23 and 27. Either way, when the peak bloom arrives, the flowers usually last around a week, though weather - heavy rains, a freeze or mild temperatures - can lengthen or shorten that viewing period.

Over the past 30 years, the average peak bloom has been March 31, according to Capital Weather Gang.

- - -

When is the best time to see the cherry blossoms in person?

The narrow paths around the trees at the Tidal Basin can become extremely crowded during and just after peak bloom - and basically any weekend throughout the festival. If you want to see the blossoms in all their glory, or have a shot at getting your new profile photo without hordes of people in the background, the best times to visit are early in the morning, when joggers seem to outnumber tourists, and in late-afternoon twilight.

- - -

What’s the best way to get to the festival?

The Tidal Basin is about a half mile from the Smithsonian Metro Station’s Independence Avenue exit. The stop can be crowded on weekends, so you may wish to walk an extra 10 minutes from the L’Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle stations. The D.C. Circulator buses, which ferried visitors around the National Mall during recent festivals, shut down at the end of 2024.

Capital Bikeshare operates three stations around the Tidal Basin: one on East Basin Drive SW, just south of the Jefferson Memorial; one on Ohio Drive SW near the welcome center; and one on Independence Avenue near the John Paul Jones Memorial. There are other docks a short walk away, including at the Lincoln Memorial, near the Washington Monument and on Hains Point.

Parking is extremely limited, with some spaces near the memorials reserved for disabled access. The closest parking is at the metered lot at the Tidal Basin boathouse, which has a three-hour time limit and fills quickly. Parking lots are also available along Ohio Drive SW, south of the Jefferson Memorial, and some street parking is available on Independence Avenue SW between the Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin. There are multiple parking garages at the Wharf, on the Southwest Waterfront, which is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Tidal Basin. Spot Hero, an official partner of the festival, offers reserved parking spaces in hotels and office buildings within a few blocks of the Tidal Basin but can be expensive.

- - -

What else is there to do at the Tidal Basin besides look at flowering trees?

The National Park Service runs a welcome area off Ohio Drive SW, between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. It features activities for children, including the chance to earn a “Bloomin’ Junior Ranger badge” with games and a scavenger hunt, and a stage with live music and entertainment during the peak bloom period. This is also where rangers host daily talks and tours. It’s dog-friendly and offers the chance for your pup to become an official “bark ranger.”

Wandering around the Tidal Basin and East and West Potomac parks brings you to a number of memorials, which also offer tours and thematic talks. See the Park Service’s website for a schedule. The Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, D.C. War Memorial and World War II Memorial are all across Independence Avenue from the Tidal Basin and MLK Memorial. Head south from the Tidal Basin and you’ll come across the East Potomac Golf Links, home to D.C.’s only outdoor mini-golf course - a 94-year-old landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which received a makeover last year.

Or take this bingo card and see how many activities and experiences you can check off.

Finally, there are paddleboats, for a completely different way to see the blossoms. Just be prepared to pay for the experience - one hour on the water costs $38 during the week and $40 on weekends - and know that there are no advance reservations during the festival.

- - -

What impact will Tidal Basin construction have on visiting the festival?

In 2024, the National Park Service began a multiyear project to shore up and replace the crumbling sea walls at the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park. About 300 trees, including 158 cherry blossom trees, were removed. The southern section of the Tidal Basin, between the Jefferson and Roosevelt memorials, is essentially a construction zone. In other sections of the Tidal Basin, visitors walk atop the sea wall, which doubles as a sidewalk. South of the Japanese Pagoda, however, the water’s edge is fenced off to visitors and everyone is funneled onto a sidewalk toward the Inlet Bridge. Because of the construction, there’s really not much to see in this area, other than a model of what the sea wall will look like when it’s been rehabilitated. Our suggestion is to avoid it altogether: Either start at the Jefferson Memorial and walk counterclockwise around the Tidal Basin to the Roosevelt Memorial and the Park Service’s welcome area, or start at the Roosevelt and MLK memorials and walk clockwise toward the Jefferson Memorial, rather than circumnavigating the entire Tidal Basin.

- - -

Where can we eat and drink - and use the bathroom - near the blossoms?

First, the essential information: The Roosevelt and MLK memorials have indoor restrooms adjacent to their bookstores. The Roosevelt Memorial also has more restrooms near its south entrance, toward the Japanese Pagoda. The Jefferson Memorial recently underwent restoration work, and there are bathrooms, including single-stall restrooms, on the ground floor of the memorial.

As for sustenance, a kiosk between the Jefferson Memorial and the George Mason Memorial sells quick, basic refreshments, such as ice cream, hot dogs and sodas. There’s usually food for sale at the Park Service’s welcome area and a refreshment stand near the paddleboats, but better options are nearby.

For those taking Metro, the path from the Smithsonian station to the Tidal Basin goes right by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cafeteria, which is in the South Building and open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. There’s a food court with multiple stations, including Korean bibimbap, sushi, noodles, burgers and a salad bar. Adults have to show a valid ID to enter the building.

East Potomac Golf Links, south of the Tidal Basin, is home to the Potomac Grille, known for its old-school cheeseburgers and hearty chili cheese dogs. You don’t need to play nine holes to visit the snack bar, or even grab a cold beer and sit on the veranda. As a bonus, you can peruse more cherry blossoms on the trees at Hains Point.

From the Jefferson Memorial or the paddleboats, it’s an easy walk down Maine Avenue to the Wharf, which has a wide variety of sit-down restaurants or, if the weather’s nice, places to get something to go and sit outside with a water view. Fast-casual favorites include Shake Shack, Colada Shop and Falafel Inc., while pricier sit-down options include Hank’s Oyster Bar and Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

- - -

The Tidal Basin is too crowded. Where else can I see cherry blossoms in the D.C. area?

There are nearly 4,000 cherry trees at the Tidal Basin and in East Potomac Park, primarily of the Yoshino variety. But a few miles to the northeast, the National Arboretum is home to more than 70 varieties of cherry trees, including some hybrids developed there. Because of this diversity, the flowering season is much longer than the Tidal Basin’s - some trees bloom weeks later. An app makes it easy to take a guided tour of the trees on the 446-acre campus. It’s our pick for the best place to see cherry blossoms in D.C., hands down.

Elsewhere in D.C., get your cherry blossom fix at Oxon Run Park in Southeast, which has more than 200 trees, including some grown from cuttings taken at the Tidal Basin, as well as picnic areas and a playground, and Cherry Hill, a section of the grounds at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown that takes its name from the wide selection of flowering trees.

Bethesda’s Kenwood neighborhood is probably the best-known destination outside of D.C. proper, with more than 1,200 trees lining the subdivision’s streets. Just be warned that traffic jams are inevitable and parking is difficult. Other options include Vienna’s Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, which has more than 200 cherry trees on display, and National Harbor, where visitors can take in 200 trees while exploring a Japanese festival, origami classes and other activities in March and April.

- - -

What are the best things to do with kids?

Most of the festival is family-friendly. At the popular Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds (March 29), children can decorate and build their own kites, watch Japanese kite masters demonstrate their techniques, and listen to Japanese drumming. There are even more kites at the Oxon Run Pinknic and Kite Fly at Oxon Run Park, which boasts 200 cherry trees of its own (April 6). The final weekend brings both the parade on Constitution Avenue (April 12), with grand marshals Mickey and Minnie Mouse, marching bands, giant balloons, and dancing in the street, and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival (April 12-13), with multiple stages of music and dance performances, hands-on activities, and much more.

In between, there are family days at museums, including the Library of Congress and Smithsonian American Art Museum (see below), and the Bloomaroo festival at the Wharf (March 29) and Petalpalooza festival at Yards Park (April 5), both of which have family activities such as music and crafts and are capped by fireworks.

- - -

What are the best activities for adults?

So you think you’re too old for kites and parades? That’s fine. What about browsing vintage clothes and records, dancing at an after-hours museum party, or hanging out in a wine garden and listening to live music?

The first full weekend of the festival brings a trio of outdoor events: The Wharf’s Bloomaroo (March 29) is a day-long event with a giant beer garden on the District Pier, multiple stages of live music including Jimi Smooth and HitTime, karaoke, and a fireworks show.

National Landing hosts a trio of Thursday happy hours dubbed “Pink Beats” (March 27-April 10), part of its Pink in the Park series of events, with live music, lawn games, and food and drink specials from vendors at the Water Park outdoor food hall. During the final weekend of the festival, Art of Pink (April 11) brings a pop-up gallery with more than 30 artists and a breakdancing performance with music by DJ Fleg, who spun during the 2024 Olympic competition, to Metropolitan Park for a free outdoor event.

At National Harbor, Sakura Sunday (March 30) offers a beer and sake garden, cultural performances, family activities, and a marketplace with food and vendors. That same day is the Dupont Cherry Blossom Celebration, with brunch deals at multiple restaurants on 17th Street NW, a pop-up market on sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, an afternoon tea party with free samples in Dupont Circle and a talk about kimono at Dupont Underground.

The first weekend of April is action-packed. Petalpalooza (April 5) sprawls throughout the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, and previous editions have included interactive art installations and selfie stations, beer and wine gardens - including rosé from District Winery - and multiple stages for entertainers and cover bands. This year’s edition is also capped with fireworks. Across the Anacostia River, the Move and Bloom event (April 5) at Sandlot Anacostia is a fitness-focused event with free yoga and boxing classes, a bike ride, and a vendor marketplace.

The two-day Art Blooms in Fairfax’s Mosaic District (April 5-6) brings a marketplace of more than 100 makers and vintage vendors, music on multiple stages, and a farmers market with food and drinks. (In previous years, kids have been able to meet singing princesses.) Take advantage of the free shuttle from the Dunn Loring Metro station.

D.C. Sake Co’s annual Spring Sake Festival (April 17) comes a few days after the festival officially ends, but the tasting at the Morrow Hotel is still a delicious part of the celebrations. Sample more than 100 sakes, including rare seasonal releases and brands not currently available in D.C., while chatting with sake professionals. Attendees also have the option to purchase discounted bottles to take home. (Tickets $85-$95; VIP $125-$135.)

- - -

Do any museums have cherry-blossom-related exhibits or activities?

Washington’s larger cultural institutions often celebrate the cherry blossoms with events, rather than exhibitions, and orient them toward families. Events are free unless otherwise noted, and some require advance registration.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Cherry Blossom Family Celebration (March 22) begins with a taiko drumming performance on F Street before moving into the Kogod Courtyard, where kids have their faces painted and make cherry-blossom-themed crafts while Les the DJ spins Japanese pop and funk music. There’s also a scavenger hunt through the galleries.

More than 30 floral designers are taking over historic Anderson House during Art in Bloom (March 20-23), which finds the Dupont Circle landmark open for self-guided tours. View floral installations alongside antique porcelain and portraits, or attend a class in seasonal design or creating a floral headdress. ($22-$28; classes $50.)

The Textile Museum’s Family Day (March 29) is focused on Japanese fashion - “art you can wear” - so visitors can try on a happi coat or yukata before touring the galleries, watching dance performances, or making friendship bracelets and other crafts.

The Library of Congress’s Japanese Culture Day (April 5) is a hands-on experience, letting young visitors make paper cherry blossoms and origami, learn about Japanese musical instruments, create tiaras with the Cherry Blossom Princesses, or settle in for storytelling. Displays in the Thomas Jefferson Building will also feature items related to Japan and cherry blossoms. Timed-entry tickets are required.

Digital art museum Artechouse takes advantage of its location near the Tidal Basin to host an interactive art installation inspired by the cherry blossoms each spring. This year’s version is “Blooming Wonders,” in which visitors explore virtual worlds, engage with digital cherry blossoms and insects, and touch plants to make them sing. (Through April 30. Adults $18-$35; ages 4 to 16 $16; children younger than 4 admitted free.)

The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, on the grounds of the National Arboretum, hosts an exhibit called “Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey,” a collection of the sketchbooks of acclaimed landscape architect Ron Henderson, documenting a trip to Japan to explore famous old cherry trees there. (Open daily through April 20.)

- - -

Which restaurants have cherry blossom dishes or cocktails?

Each year, the festival runs a program called Cherry Picks, which promotes restaurants using cherries as ingredients in dishes and cocktails, in partnership with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. A list of restaurants sorted by neighborhood is available on the festival website. But fun dining opportunities abound across the region. Some restaurants dress themselves up for the occasion: The rooftop Ciel Social Club covers its chandeliers in blooms to match a themed cocktail menu, while Blagden Alley’s Calico drapes its greenhouse with silky (fake) flowers. Hotels, including the Willard and the Waldorf Astoria, host fancy afternoon teas with optional champagne. The Going Out Guide will have more coverage of food and drinks throughout the festival.

© 2025 , The Washington Post