Every year when spring rolls around, the pink and white cherry blossoms bloom all over the Washington, D.C., area attracting a plethora of events and festivities, along with thousands of tourists wanting to experience the warm and sunny weather and blooming trees. 

Despite popular belief, the cherry blossoms have not always been native to the D.C. area; the first cherry blossom seeds arrived in Washington, D.C., as a gift from Japan in 1912. The sprouting of the sakura (the Japanese word for cherry blossom) has been a tradition in Japan for thousands of years, and the country decided to give the U.S. the sacred seeds as a symbol of unity and peace between the two nations.

This year, the National Cherry Blossom Organization hosts different events throughout the spring months. The first event is, of course, opening ceremonies, which includes Minyo Crusaders, a band that plays “various rhythms from Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Caribbean music,” along with food vendors and the newly bloomed flowers according to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Other events include a kite festival, a petapalooza full of music, dancing, art, and a parade. The parade is pink-themed and includes dancers, singers, and floats. The most unique event of the festival is the “pink tie” event, where you can wear your favorite pink suit or dress and hit the town for the social. For dates and more information on the cherry blossom events, visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.

The most popular place to view the cherry blossoms is the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. You can get a beautiful view of the pink flowers, which match perfectly with the white limestone of the historic buildings. “I went [to the monuments] last year to see the cherry blossoms, and I was able to get some pretty cool pictures,” junior Matthew Serrano said. 

Although the National Mall is the most popular place to go, surrounding neighborhoods and parks are also abundant in cherry blossoms. Oxon Run Park is a great place to chill and includes a “playground, trails, picnic tables, and grills,” according to the Washington Post. 

The Kenwood neighborhood in Bethesda is a more popular option. You can walk the streets surrounded by beautiful homes and covered by the pretty pink pedals. There are also lemonade stands run by the children of the neighborhood in case you need a quick refresher. “The flowers are very pretty around those areas,” Serrano said. 

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Photo taken by JoshBerglund19. The cherry blossoms bloom in Washington DC in 2019 near the Thomas Jefferson memorial.