National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

The festival in bloom is coming, and it's bringing the spring fever!

The history of this special festival dates back over a century. In 1912, the Japanese government brought joy to the people of the United States by gifting 3,020 cherry trees, known as Sakura, to the city. This gift arrived in March, just as the cherry blossoms began to bloom. First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two of these trees on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.

Sakura has a very strong symbolic meaning in Japanese culture. As the coming of spring promises new life, the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy. If you're curious about who cares for these trees year-round, it's the dedicated members of the Tree Crew for National Capital Parks-Central.

In 1915, the United States expressed gratitude to Japan with a similar gesture, gifting them flowering dogwood trees. It was a beautiful exchange of goodwill!

Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival spans over four weeks and features more than 50 special events and programs! Meet us in Washington around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Hains Point), and on the Washington Monument grounds.

The 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 20 to April 13. Don’t hesitate—pack your bags! Seeing the wonderful cherry blossom trees in full bloom is a one-of-a-kind experience!

What to Expect When Attending National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

As mentioned, more than 50 events will occur over these four weeks! Here are some of them:

The Opening Ceremony marks the start of the festival with performances that blend Japanese and American culture. It will take place at Warner Theater on March 22 from 5 to 6:30 PM and feature traditional music, dance, and contemporary performances.

At the Cherry Blossom Parade, you'll see colorful floats, marching bands, and performers moving down Constitution Avenue, drawing thousands of spectators. This entertaining parade will happen on April 12, starting at 10 AM.

On March 29 and 30, the Blossom Kite Festival, held on the National Mall, will bring families and kite enthusiasts together to fill the sky with colorful kites! Kids especially love this magnificent event!

Petalpalooza, scheduled for April 5, is one of the most popular and lively events at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s a full-day festival that takes place along the Capitol Riverfront near The Yards Park and includes entertainment, interactive activities, food, and a spectacular fireworks show to cap off the night!

Though it’s unpredictable, the peak bloom of the cherry blossoms generally falls between late March and early April. To make sure you catch it, consider staying for the entire festival!

Expect nice but chilly weather conditions. Average daily highs will range from around 55°F to 65°F (13°C to 18°C). Evenings can be cold, with lows averaging 40°F to 50°F (4°C to 10°C). Rain showers are possible, so bring an umbrella and have a wonderful time!

Tickets

Many events are free to attend, but some require a ticket. For example, you'll have to buy a ticket for the Pink Tie Party or the Spring Sake Festival. The prices will soon be updated; you can check them out on the event's official page.

Security Protocols

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has several security protocols in place, particularly for major events like the Parade, Blossom Kite Festival, and Opening Ceremony:

• Bag inspections: All bags, backpacks, and packages are subject to inspection at designated entry points.
• Prohibited items: Large bags, dangerous objects, alcohol, and drones aren't allowed.
• Police officers: Throughout the venues, the police officers will help manage the crowd and keep everyone safe.
• First aid stations: These are strategically located near high-traffic areas such as the Tidal Basin, the National Mall, and other main event sites.

How to Get To or From the Event

• Metrorail: The closest stations to the Tidal Basin and National Mall are Smithsonian Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) and L'Enfant Plaza Station (Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow lines).
• Metrobus: Buses run frequently throughout the city, including routes near the festival sites. Plan to use the DC Circulator’s National Mall route, which has stops near popular locations around the blossoms.
• Car: Each year, the street by the MLK Memorial (West Basin Drive) is closed off to traffic and parking and converted into the Tidal Basin Welcome Area. Because of this, it's not convenient to go by car. If you have to, you'll have to park somewhere nearby and then take a walk or use public transport.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Bag Policy

The venue for the Opening Ceremony will only allow clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and/or small clutch bags (4.5″x 6.5″). Outdoor events will allow bags, although not large ones.

The festival's venues don't have designated areas to store luggage. However, some venues, like Warner Theater, will let you leave your coat at coat checks.

Bounce is here to solve the problem for all those carrying luggage. Our platform, which you can find online or on the mobile app, provides secure places worldwide for storing travelers' belongings.

Contact us, and we'll get you booked in no time!

National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Bag Storage

Store Your Bags With Bounce and Enjoy Marvelous Time Surrounded by Sakuras

The process is easy with the help of our Bounce partner.

Bounce partners with local businesses, with 13,000 locations for storing your luggage in more than 2000 cities, including Washington DC.

A Bounce partner will assist in finding a convenient luggage storage location.

Explore Washington DC and pick out a convenient Bounce location. After contacting the Bounce partner online and paying, consider everything done! The price is just $4.10 per day, and there is no cancellation fee if you can't make it! We also offer 24/7 support for anything you need.

How to Stow Your Bag at National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 With Bounce

• Book easily: Choose the location, contact the Bounce partner, and pay online.
• Go to the location: Arrive at the location, show the confirmation, and store your belongings.
• Have fun at the Cherry Blossom Festival: Go to the event and enjoy!

How to Make the Most Out of National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

• Enjoy the peak blooming period: Wait until you find out the peak bloom date, and don't miss out on charming Sakuras in their most beautiful colors!
• Capture the moment: Bring your camera or use your smartphone to take awesome photos of the surroundings and capture the festival experience with your loved ones.
• Attend all the events you can: We highly recommend visiting the previously mentioned events, and if you have time, try out other very interesting ones, like the Pink Tie Party or Sakura Matsuri. Look at the list of all events and see what you like!

Store your luggage with Bounce while in Washington, DC, and celebrate the start of spring, symbolized by the lasting friendship between Japan and the U.S.!