Bring on the Cherry Blossoms!
By • March 11, 2025 0 301
By Zoe Howard-Barr
On Feb. 27, National Cherry Blossom Festival leaders, clad in pink, held a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria to announce peak bloom dates for D.C.’s beloved blossoms, along with plans for special events and programming to welcome spring to the nation’s capital.
Dr. Kevin Griess, National Mall and Memorial Parks superintendent for the National Park Service, revealed a prediction for the peak bloom dates: March 28 to 31. Griess had some celebrity help from “Jeopardy” host Ken Jennings, who will be the grand marshal of this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, April 12.
Running from March 20 through April 13, the 2025 festival will feature a vibrant lineup of events, beginning with a memorial Petals & Paddles race on March 20 honoring Stumpy, a beloved cherry tree that was removed last May.
Jamaican artist Anna August created the official artwork for the festival, a colorful painting of cherry blossoms presented at the press conference.
Photo by Zoe Howard-Barr.
Nisha Patel, Waldorf Astoria marketing director, announced a new themed cherry blossom suite at the historic hotel, located at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, as well as a cherry blossom afternoon tea in the Peacock Alley atrium lobby and Sakura-inspired spa treatments.
“This festival is one of D.C.’s most cherished traditions,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “It brings our city to life, boosts our local businesses and showcases the very best of Washington, D.C.” She added: “Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Washingtonian, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is a fabulous time to come together and celebrate our city in full bloom.”
Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, also spoke at the event, calling spring in D.C. a “time of joy and renewal.”
Representing the friendship between Japan and the U.S. and the spirit of togetherness, the cherry trees first arrived in D.C. in 1912, a gift from the mayor of Tokyo.
Fumito Miyake, minister for public affairs at the Embassy of Japan, emphasized the unifying power of the festival and the enduring U.S.-Japan relationship. He announced that 250 more trees have been gifted to the U.S. as a 250th birthday present. The new trees will be on display by next year.
The complete festival schedule is available here.
