Saturday, March 28 - Sunday, April 12
Target Stage at the Tidal Basin. Begins at Noon daily. Jefferson Memorial - 900 Ohio Dr., SW. Enjoy cultural performances featuring music, dance, and song as over 100 local, national and international performing artists entertain every day of the Festival. Free. (877) 44BLOOM.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue/Orange Lines. 13A 13G 13B 13F Bus.
Circulator:Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Loop.
Saturday March 28 - Opening Day
National Cherry Blossom Festival® Family Day presented with the National Building Museum. 10 am - 3:30 pm. National Building Museum - 401 F St., NW. The NCBF and the NBM celebrate the official opening of Washington, DC's 2008 cherry blossom season with a family festival full of hands-on fun exploring Japanese arts & design and springtime; Japanese craft demonstrations and performances by DC youth groups. Presented by Target and funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Free. (877) 44BLOOM.
Metro: Judiciary Sq, Red Line.
National Cherry Blossom Festival® Opening Ceremony. 4 - 5:30 pm. National Building Museum - 401 F St., NW. The ceremonial kick-off to the two-week Festival, Washington dignitaries welcome residents and visitors alike; Miss Universe Royo Mori will make an appearance and performers such as taiko drummer Kenny Endo, the Tateshina High School Jazz Club and Howard University Jazz Ensemble entertain. Presented by Target and funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Free. (877) 44BLOOM.
Metro: Judiciary Sq, Red Line.
The 43rd Smithsonian Institution Annual Kite Festival. 10 am - 4 pm. Washington Monument Grounds - Constitution Ave. & 17th St., NW. The Smithsonian Institution holds its 42nd annual Kite Festival with competitions in design, performance, and other categories. Displays and activities for all ages. Free. (202) 633-3030.
Metro: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle, Blue/Orange Lines. 52 Bus.
Circulator: Constitution Ave. & 17th St. (Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Loop)
Sunday, March 29
Lantern Lighting Ceremony . 2:30 - 4 pm. Tidal Basin at Independence Ave. & 17th Streets. Presented by the U.S. National Park Service and the National Conference of State Societies, the 357-year old stone lantern is lit in a formal ceremony featuring traditional Japanese performers, Washington dignitaries, and the Cherry Blossom Princesses representing the U.S. State Societies. Free.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue/Orange Lines.
Circulator: 17th & K sts., NW (Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Loop)
Wednesday, April 1
The Grand Sushi & Sake Tasting w/ Lecture by Trevor Corson. 6 - 9 pm. National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall - 1145 17th St., NW. Trevor Corson presents an anecdotal lecture on his book Zen of Fish, followed by a tasting of extraordinary sushi and sake examples presented by Grand Master Sushi chefs from Japan and local members of the National Sushi Society. $95/person. (202) 661-7585.
Metro: Farragut North, Red Line or Farragut West, Blue/Orange Lines.
Circulator: 17th & K sts., NW (Georgetown-Union Station Route)
Saturday, April 4
Southwest Airlines presents the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival®. 10 am - Noon. Constitution Ave. from 7th to 17th sts., NW. Enjoy this long-standing Washington tradition featuring marching bands, floats, balloons, and other family entertainment. 15/Grandstand seat; Ticketmaster: (202) 397-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com. Standing along route is free. (877) 44BLOOM. Click to read more information about the parade.
Metro: Federal Triangle, Blue/Orange Lines or Archives-Navy Mem'l-Penn Quarter, Green/Yellow Lines. 32, 34, 35 or 36 Bus.
48th Annual Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival. 11 am - 6 pm. Downtown DC -
Pennsylvania Ave. b/n 14th & 10th and 12th Street b/n Pennsylvania & Constitution aves.
The Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C. presents the nation’s largest Japanese street
festival, stretching for six blocks through downtown DC! Free. (202) 833-2210.
Metro: Federal Triangle, Blue/Orange Lines.
The Navy Memorial hosts the 18th Annual Blessing of the Fleets
1:00pm - 3:00pm, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Passed down through generations of mariners and navies around the world, the centuries-old Blessing of the Fleets ceremony is intended to safeguard crews and ships from the danger of the seas. Culinary specialists from the White House Mess will serve Navy bean soup to visitors in the adjacent Naval Heritage Center and several musical groups will perform live on the Memorial Plaza. Free. www.navymemorial.org
Baseball and Blossoms!
6:05pm, Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC
Baseball meets blossoms in the perfect springtime match-up. For the first time, the traditional exhibition game between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles on April 4 will be part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Earlier that day, catch National’s mascot Screech and the Racing Presidents in the Parade.
Tickets: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com
Sunday, April 5
Cherry Blossom, Inc.: Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. 7:45 am - Noon. Washington Monument Grounds - 15th St. & Jefferson Dr., NW. World-class runners and 12,000 running enthusiasts take part in the 36th running of the “Runner’s Rite of Spring.” Entry closed; Free for spectators. (301) 320-3350.
Metro: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle, Blue/Orange Lines.
Circulator: Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Loop..
Thursday, April 9
Gala Dinner Cruise Aboard the Odyssey. Boarding at 6 pm; Cruise from 7 - 10 pm. Gangplank Marina - 6th & Water sts., SW. Cruise past the cherry blossoms that line the Potomac while enjoying a four-course dinner, live entertainment and dancing in the glass atrium dining rooms with monumental views of the nation’s capital at night. $125/person. (202) 661-7585.
Metro: Waterfront-SEU, Green Line.
Circulator: 6th St. & Maine Ave., SW (Convention Center-SW Waterfront Route)
Saturday, April 11
National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show. 5:00 - 8:30pm. Southwest Waterfront Park - 7th St. & Maine Ave., SW. The Washington Waterfront Association kicks off the fifth annual Prelude to the Fireworks – a free, three-hour festival of family entertainment that includes live musical performances, kids craft activities, cuisine from local restaurants and special guest appearances for the kids to enjoy. Fireworks are from 8:30 - 9 pm. Enjoy a spectacular fireworks show from the Washington Channel. Best viewing points are along the Southwest Waterfront Promenade and East Potomac Park. Free. (877) 44BLOOM.
Metro: Waterfront-SEU, Green Line.
Circulator: 7th St. & Maine Ave., SW (Convention Center-SW Waterfront Route)
Throughout the Festival
Savor Cherry Picks and Go Out 2 Eat!DC-area Restaurants
The area’s finest chefs turn to cherries for inspiration, presenting their cherry picks in sweet, savory, and cocktail form. This year, visit www.GoOut2Eat.com to view delicious deals from each restaurant with each dish - providing a great incentive to keep tasting and dining in DC. HIGHLIGHTS: M Bar at Renaissance M Street Hotel’s Chocolate Cherries Jubilee Shortcakes, stuffed with vanilla ice cream, FREE with mention and purchase of any entree or appetizer. Don’t miss Fyve Restaurant ’ Lounge&s Foie Grass Cherry Parfait ($14) at The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City. Also visit www.washington.org/cherryblossom for dishes and recipes
Unique Cherry Blossom Souvenirs
Borders, Jefferson Memorial Welcome Centers or online at: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Souvenirs run the gamut from official t-shirts and posters to handmade jewelry and designer clothing. Visit a metro-area Borders store, the Festival Welcome Tents, or purchase online.
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