Cherry Blossom Festival to Go Live and In-Person in 2022 (photos)
By • November 10, 2021 0 2642
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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- “DC is open and that means that the National Cherry Blossom Festival is back in person,” declared Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Koji Tomita, Ambassador to the US Ebassey of Japan (via telescreen) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Lillian Iversen · Vice President – National Cherry Blossom Festival (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Unveiling of the 2022 Official Artwork: (l to r) Festival President Diana Mayhew; Brian Keller, Social Media Global Operations Manager at Amazon (a sponsor); artist Lea Craigie-Marshall; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; and Greg O’Dell, president of Events DC. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- Diana Mayhew · President at National Cherry Blossom Festival. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- At the Hamilton Live (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Unveiling of the 2022 Official Artwork – artist Lea Craigie-.Marshall. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Pictured from left to right are artist Lea Craigie-Marshall, Embassy of Japan Deputy Chief of Mission Tamaki Tsukada and Festival President Diana Mayhew. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The staff of the National Park Service (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Andrew Savoia, cellist, will be performing at Petalpalooza. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC and Councilwoman Brooke Pinto. (photo by Jeff Malet)
