Cherry Blossom Festival to Go Live and In-Person in 2022 (photos)


After a two-year pause, the National Cherry Blossom Festival announced plans to return to “live and in-person” events in 2022.” The announcement by Cherry Festival President Diana Mayhew became official at a Festival Launch event at The Hamilton Nov. 9. At the same event, the official artwork for the Festival was presented by artist Lea Craigie-Marshall of Falls Church. 

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C,, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

The 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled to run from March 20, the first day of Spring, to April 17.  The opening ceremony will return to the Warner Theater on March 20 featuring entertainment from Japan including samurai sword dancers. Also back will be the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival which will now be a 2-day event on April 9 – 10; and a special performance of world class Taiko artist Kenny Endo.

Also returning will be the performance stage at the Tidal Basin for a four week period; the Blossom Kite Festival on March 26; and the National Cherry Blossom Parade on April 9. This year’s parade will feature a special performance by pop-icon Taylor Dayne.

Satellite activities will include Petalpalooza at the Capital Riverfront on April 16, featuring live music and fireworks. The Anacostia River Festival will take place on April 10.

The National Park Service will re-institute the popular BloomCam. The pink and white petals are a symbol of hope and renewal and the arrival of spring in the Nation’s Capital, declared Jeffrey P. Reinbold, National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent.

“D.C. is open and that means the National Cherry Blossom Festival is back in person,” declared Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, symbolically clad in hot pink attire. 

View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos from the Festival Launch and Official Art Reveal at The Hamilton Live by clicking on the photo icons below.

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