WASHINGTON — In 1927, the District held its first ever National Cherry Blossom festival, and the activities have since been expanding.
This age-old festival celebrates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city in 1912. It also also celebrates the bond between the United States and Japan.
Currently, the festivity lasts four weeks, and welcomes over 1.5 million people. During the Cherry Blossom Festival, participants can expect a myriad of events, ranging from a pop-up bar to a blossom bike tour.
Here's a day-by-day breakdown of the festival and what it has to offer.
Monday, March 18
Tuesday, March 19
- ARTECHOUSE: In Peak Bloom
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Wednesday, March 20
- Festival Night at Cherry Blossom PUB
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Thursday, March 21
- The Future of the US-Japan Friendship
- Simon Bull Gallery
- Cherry Blossom Flower Crown classes
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Friday, March 22
- Pink Tie Party
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Saturday, March 23
- Opening Ceremony
- Blossoms by Bike
- Japanese Culture Day
- SAAM Cherry Blossom Celebration
- National Park Service Ranger Lead Programs
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Sunday, March 24
- Gallery Talk: The Tale of Genju in Japanese Art
- Blossoms by Bike
- The 6821 Quintet at Evermay
- The Tale of Genji: A Musical Narrative with Violinist Ikuko Kawai
- "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super Live
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Monday, March 25
- The 6821 Quintet at Renwick Gallery
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Tuesday, March 26
- Student Art Contest & Community Art Show
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Wednesday, March 27
- Story time: Call Me Tree
- Art at the Center
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Thursday, March 28
- Through the Lens: Tokyo Transect
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Friday, March 29
- Moet and Chandon Tasting in the Rose Suite
- Cherry Blossom Sunrise with SAAM + Daybreakers
- Indigo Threads: American Icon Meets Japanese Craftmanship
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Saturday, March 30
- National Cherry Blossom Festival Day in the Fairfax County Visitors Center
- Blossoms by Bike
- Blossom Kite Festival
- Tastes of Spring Cherry Blossom Food Crawl
- Cherry Blast
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Sunday, March 31
- CUENTA-CUENTOS: Story time in Spanish (Llamame Arbol)
- Sakura Taiko Takover
- Blossoms by Bike
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Monday, April 1
- Japanese Jazz Series
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Tuesday, April 2
- U.S.-Japanese Leadership and Collaboration in Emerging Technologies
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Wednesday, April 3
- Japanese Classic Film: The Makioka Sisters
- Story time: Under the Cherry Blossom Tree
- Blossoms and Baseball with the Washington Nationals
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Thursday, April 4
- The Spring of Akira Nishimura: Jasper Quartet
- Paws and Petals Happy Hour
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Friday, April 5
- Hirshhorn/Draw: Cherry Blossoms in the Sculpture Garden
- Blossom Bash presented by iHeartRadio
- The Shrines at Ise: Architecture as Metaphore
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Saturday, April 6
- Petalpalooza
- Blossoms by Bike
- 21st Annual National Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk - "Fractured: The Faces of Family Separation"
- Cherry Blossom STEM day at the Lab
- Open Studio: Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival
- Ikebana Floral Design Workshop
- Ikebana Floral Design Workshop for Kids
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Sunday, April 7
- 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival Greenscape Corridor Bike Ride
- Blossoms by Bike
- Art Blooms at Mosaic District
- Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk
- Growing Community
- Oxon Run Pink-Nic
- Official Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Tuesday, April 9
- Cherry Blossom Night at D.C. United
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Wednesday, April 10
- Kimono Fashion Show and Luncheon
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Thursday, April 11
- Cherry Blossom Yoga and Sunset Celebration
- Japanese Kimono Fashion Show and Luncheon
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Friday, April 12
- 27th National Japan Bowl
- Newseum Nights: In Bloom
- Cherry Blossom Grand Ball
- Fridays@Freer|Sackler: Cherry Blossom Edition
- Film and Performance: Dragnet Girl
- Tagawa University Taiko Drumming and Dance Troupe
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Saturday, April 13
- Parade
- Blossoms by Bike
- Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
- Into the Woods at FPFP
- Second Saturday Art Walk - Cherry Blossom Bonanza
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Sunday, April 14
- Tour of the Bonsai Pavilion and Bonsai Care Demonstration
- Blossoms by Bike
- OGM - One Giant Meditation
- Anacostia River Festival
- Sakura Sunday
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Monday, April 15
- Cherry Blossom Galore Tour
Thursday, April 25
Sunday, April 28