Visit Washington during the Cherry Blossom Festival
Ah, Cherry Blossom in Washington! Unmissable, and if you’re in the area, it’s the best time to visit the city. Strolling under cherry trees—lots and lots of them, all in bloom—is absolutely magical. As long as you forget the crowds. The parking problems. The tour buses. The full hotels. And did I mention the crowds?
Every spring, Washington, D.C., adorns itself with its floral assets and becomes, after Tokyo, the cherry blossom capital. For four weeks, 1.5 million visitors flood the city and celebrate the gift of 3,000 cherry trees, long ago (1912) by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki. Let’s just say, and just to simplify the story, that if President Taft’s wife hadn’t lived in Japan, the National Cherry Blossom Festival wouldn’t exist today.
The first two cherry trees planted are still there, a few steps from a sculpture in memory of the first admiral of the Revolutionary Army (the one that fought against the English). John Paul Jones even spent a few months in France, commanding American ships that attacked England—in vain.
For the record, the first 2,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington in 1910. Infected with harmful insects, they were burned by force on the orders of President Taft. Fortunately for Washington, Mr. Ozaki didn’t mind and immediately sent back 3,000 cherry trees, which forever changed the city’s appearance.
Today, every spring, the Cherry Blossom Festival delights young and old alike. Besides strolling beneath the cherry blossoms, there’s also the Kite Festival. For one day, hundreds of kites flutter around the George Washington Obelisk. Many end up in the trees, some even on the White House grounds .
During the festival parade, the Japanese ambassador and his wife ride in a pink convertible, waving to the thousands of onlookers gathered along Constitution Avenue (best known for its role in the inauguration of the new American president). Less formal are the majorettes and bands from Washington’s schools, or even the cheerleaders of the city’s professional basketball team!
To avoid the crowds, come early in the morning (before 10 a.m.) or late in the evening (after 6 p.m.). It’s even better to come on a weekday! There will be busloads of tourists, but fewer than on weekends. And if you can’t make it just on a Saturday at 3 p.m., too bad, come anyway. The Cherry Blossom is definitely worth it.
Every year, Washington En Français organizes guided tours in French dedicated to the Cherry Blossom. The tour lasts 3 hours, circles the basin and ends at the White House. To learn more or book, you can visit this page.
