National Cherry Blossom Festival Information

I wanted to share this article with anyone interested in going to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms. It highlights some of the events...don't miss them! Today is the last day they are in Peak! 

Important dates:

2008 Cherry Blossom Festival: March 29-April 13
2008 Peak Bloom Forecast: March 27-April 3
2008 Blooming Period Forecast: March 26-April 9

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week, citywide event celebrating spring.  The 2008 Festival is March 29 - April 13, and will feature daily cultural performances, sporting events, arts & crafts, demonstrations and other special events.  The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the 96^th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the citizens of the United States and Japan.

•1.      Robert Lang is building a giant giraffe during Family Day - out of Origami.Family Day - 10:00am - 3:30pm - National Building Museum - 401 F Street, NW. Free

•2.      Tateshina High School has an all-female jazz band, and they're performing with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Miss Tateshina at Opening Ceremony? Catch the jazzy performers from Japan the next day at the Target Tidal Basin Stage at 1:45pm. Opening Ceremony - 4:00pm - 5:30pm - National Building Museum - 401 F Street, NW. Free

•3.      The blossoms are not the only beauties: Riyo Mori, Miss Universe, joins the Festival for the Opening Ceremony; and Kirsten Haglund, Miss America, sings in the Parade.

•4.      Locals and tourists should keep a camera handy: two lucky winners of the 2^nd annual Festival photography contest get roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines. Enter to win at www.lulu.com/blossoms. Contest from March 31 - April 30, 2008

•5.      What does country music band Catfish Honeymoon and the Japanese Choral Society of Washington have in common? Not much, but they're both performing at the Jefferson. Target Tidal Basin Stage - see www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org for schedules

•6.      Trevor Corson, author of The Zen of Fish, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about fish - then sends you off to taste all the sushi and sake you can. Sushi & Sake Tasting - Wed, April 2 - 6:00pm - National Geographic Museum - 1600 M Street NW

•7.      Who are the five friendly, helpful people in pink jackets at all the events? The Goodwill Ambassadors, they're extremely knowledgeable, and here to answer your questions.

•8.      Talented teens perform in the Parade: Mark Indelicato from prime time's Ugly Betty; 14-year-old Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee; and local Virginian Caitlin Brunell, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008.

•9.      You can watch the Parade anywhere along the route from 7^th - 17^th Streets on Constitution Avenue, but if you buy a $15 ticket for Grandstand seating, you get a better view and free admission to Madame Tussauds DC wax museum. Saturday, April 12 - 10:00am - tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com

•10.  What's better, the Tidal Basin at dawn, or the blossoms under the stars? That's what the one million visitors expected at the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival are here to find out.

  For schedules and information visit http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ or call the Festival hotline at (877) 44BLOOM.