What to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most popular events in Washington, DC. More than 1.5 million people from around the world come to visit the pretty pink blossoms around the nation’s capital. Residents and visitors alike flock down to the Tidal Basin and Downtown for all the events.

Since the National Cherry Blossom Festival is so popular, it’s important to plan ahead. Knowing where to stay, where to go, and what to do will make the festival more enjoyable.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is one of my favorite events of the year, and I’ve attended many of the city’s festivities. As a DC local, here’s what I think you should know before you go. 

But first, I’ll start with a quick rundown of hotels:

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Where to Stay for the National Cherry Blossom Festival

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks:

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row
• 🗺️ Best Location – Salamander Washington DC
• 💎 Best Luxury – Waldorf Astoria Washington
• 👪 Best for Families – Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House by IHG
• ✨ Best Outside of DC – Hotel Heron Old Town Alexandria
• 🛏️ Best Budget – Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center

For more advice on areas & hotels, see my complete guide to where to stay in DC. 

About the National Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event held in Washington, DC. In 1912, Japan gifted America over a hundred cherry blossom trees to honor the friendship between the two countries. The blooming trees have become a fun way to celebrate spring in the District.

When the cherry blossoms bloom, they create picturesque sights. Delicate white and pink blossoms against the still water of the Tidal Basin and lining the streets of Downtown is a magical sight to see.

The city also puts on events like a parade, art markets, and the Blossom Kite Festival while the blossoms bloom. Restaurants will often have special themed drinks and food on the menu. And there are plenty of fun events like wine festivals and brunch cruises that take place during festival time.

Visiting Information

📅 Festival Dates – March 20, 2025 to April 13, 2025

🌸 Peak Bloom – The National Park Service will announce peak bloom predictions on February 27, 2025. However, between late March and early April is when peak bloom tends to be. If you want to see the cherry blossoms with the most foliage, this is the time to go. Earlier than this, they may still be buds. Later in April, there will be more leaves among the flowers.

🌟 Best Time to Go – Early in the morning, sunrise is around 6:30 AM. If you want to see the cherry blossoms with fewer people around, you have to go early in the day. As the day goes on, the Tidal Basin will get busier and busier. Afternoons and evenings, especially when there are events, will be particularly busy. Weekends will also attract a lot of people.

Want to get shots of the cherry blossoms without crowds? Photographers and a few residents are likely the only ones paying the cherry blossoms an early morning visit.

🚶‍♂️ Getting Around – Take public transportation. The Cherry Blossom Festival exacerbates already crowded DC traffic. During this time, it’s best to use the metro or bus to get around the city.

Things to Do at the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Blossom Kite Festival

The Kite Festival is one of the favorite events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s free to attend and takes place on March 29, 2025 on the Washington Monument Grounds. Kites fly in the air, and there are demonstrations and kitemaker competitions for adults and kids. It’s a great event for families.

Check out local restaurants

While you’re out enjoying all the festivities of the day, you can stop by some of the local restaurants for cherry blossom-themed food and drinks. Baan Siam, Blue Duck Tavern, and The Hamilton are delicious places near the festival, and they typically serve themed specials.

Rent a Pedal Boat

Get a different view of the cherry blossoms when you rent a pedal boat. Pedal boats hold up to four people, so it’s great for a group of friends, families, or couples. You’ll get to see the cherry blossoms while floating on the water. There’s even a pedal boat race in honor of Stumpy, the city’s former favorite cherry blossom tree. 

Take a River Cruise

Cruise down the Potomac River and take in the sights of the pink trees lining the banks. There are brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises that include food, drinks, and live music. There’s even a special fireworks cruise to celebrate the festival.

Opening Ceremony and Parade

The opening ceremony starts the National Cherry Blossom Festival and is co-presented with the Japan Foundation. The ceremony features performers that represent Japanese culture. It takes place on March 22, 2025. The Parade is on April 12, 2025 and takes place on Constitution Avenue. The parade features marching bands, floats, and celebrity entertainers.

Petalpalooza

Petalpalooza is an all-day festival that takes place on April 5, 2025 on the Capitol Riverfront. There are multiple stages with music performances, art and music festivals, activities, art installations, and food and drinks. The festival ends with a fun firework display. 

Tips for Seeing the Cherry Blossoms

Consider alternative places to see the cherry blossoms

The Tidal Basin is the main place to see the cherry blossoms, but it’s not the only place. The Tidal Basin can get incredibly busy and hectic during the festival, especially during the evenings and weekends.

If you still want to see the pretty blooms but want to avoid crowds, consider a few alternative places around the city. The National Arboretum is one of the main places that also has flowering trees. While it still may draw visitors, it won’t be as many as the Tidal Basin.

Similarly, the grounds of the National Cathedral also have cherry blossoms you can visit. You can try the cafe and picnic on the grounds. Arlington National Cemetery is another landmark with plenty of cherry blossoms.

Many parks around the city, including Lower Senate Park, Anacostia Park and East Potomac Park have plenty of blooming trees. And you can walk around many of the residential neighborhoods and see cherry blossoms lining the streets.

For those that don’t mind a day trip from DC, Fort McHenry in Baltimore also has cherry blossoms on the grounds lining the water. As do the grounds around the State House in Annapolis. 

Avoid Driving 

If there’s any time to avoid driving in DC, it’s during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The traffic can be terrible and you may end up sitting in gridlock on the roads. You may even want to consider avoiding rideshares, or opt to get dropped off a couple of blocks away to avoid getting stuck.

Instead, it’s a good idea to take public transportation. You can take the metro to the Smithsonian, Metro Center, or L’Enfant Plaza stations and walk the rest of the way to the Tidal Basin. The 52 South bus will also take you to L’Enfant Plaza.

You may also want to consider some alternative transportation to get around the city or the festival events. Rent a bike from the Capital Bikeshare or a scooter from one of the many companies dotted around. These are good for getting around long and short distances.

Plan to Walk 

Walking is generally the best way to get around DC, but especially during the cherry blossom festival. You should plan to do a lot of walking if you come during this time. Even if you take public transportation or a rideshare, you will most likely have to walk to the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin.

You’ll probably walk a lot around the Tidal Basin and throughout Downtown to attend the various events, too. Pack comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk a few miles.

Book Early 

As stated, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most popular events of the year. Because of that, you’ll want to plan in advance.

Search for DC hotels and book a spot as soon as possible. The closer the festival gets, the more expensive hotel rooms become. There’s also less availability as you get closer to festival time. 

You’ll want to book excursions that require tickets, like pedal boats and dinner cruises, in advance. Restaurant reservations aren’t a bad idea either, especially if you want to snag a spot Downtown or at popular places.

Go Early to Avoid Crowds 

Spring is one of the best times to visit DC, thanks to the cherry blossoms. But it’s also incredibly busy. Afternoons and evenings are particularly busy, as are days of major events like the kite festival or the parade.

Early mornings have fewer people around the Tidal Basin. Around sunrise is a great time to see the cherry blossoms without crowds and the best time to get pictures of just the trees.

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The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of DC’s largest events. Whether you come to the city to stroll around the blooming trees or participate in all of the events, planning in advance will help your trip go smoothly. 

Next, see my article about why I think you should skip the summer and visit DC during the colder months.