National Cherry Blossom Festival In-Person Again; Peak Bloom March 22 to 25
By • March 3, 2022 0 4587
The 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival announced March 1 — with Mayor Muriel Bowser, National Park Service and other city officials, and festival stakeholders — that it will bring back well-loved traditions and new collaborations from March 20 to April 17. The post pandemic in-person celebration will offer “four weeks of food, fun, culture, and entertainment beyond the fully open Tidal Basin,” the festival said.
The National Park Service predicts that the peak bloom dates will be March 22 to 25.
“The National Cherry Blossom Festival, like springtime and the cherry trees themselves, symbolizes hope, renewal, and new beginnings,” said Diana Mayhew, National Cherry Blossom Festival President and CEO. “The trees, a gesture of goodwill from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., now, more than ever, serves as a reminder of the importance of unifying communities and sharing in the celebration of peace and international friendship.”
“As Mayor of Washington, D.C., I am thrilled to welcome back residents and visitors to rediscover our celebrated and renowned National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year, we are pleased to finally be back in-person and have the opportunity to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees that was given to us by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1912,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Whether you are a fifth-generation Washingtonian like me or a first-time visitor to our nation’s capital, I hope you will immerse yourself in the spectacular radiance of our beautiful and blossoming cherry trees and take advantage of all that our city has to offer.”
On Sunday, March 20 – the first day of spring and the opening day of the 2022 Festival – the District and surrounding communities will come alive “with in a pink, spring, and blossom-themed collective community celebration through visual art installations, neighborhoods decorations, cherry blossom projections on buildings, and more,” festival organizers said.
“As the proud caretakers of Washington’s beautiful and historic cherry trees, the National Park Service is thrilled to once again welcome visitors to the National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks. “Whether you travel to see the blooms in person or enjoy the blossom experience online with the #BloomCam and other virtual resources, we hope you’ll join us in Washington’s grandest springtime tradition!”
Other speakers at the March 1 announcement at 1331 on Maryland Avenue included Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications Chinyere Hubbard of Events DC, and Ryo Kuroishi, Counsellor for Public Affairs, Director of Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.
