31-03-2025
When Is the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2025?
Washington DC, USA at the Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin during spring season.
For many travelers looking to see pink-and-white cherry blossoms at peak bloom, Japan in the springtime is a bucket list destination. But there's also many places in the United States where cherry blossoms usher in the start of spring, including Washington, D.C. which hosts an annual National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the bloom of its nearly 4,000 trees planted in Potomac Park that circle the Tidal Basin.
Syncing up travel with peak bloom is always a little tricky since the weather influences when these trees show off their pillowy pink-tinged petals.
Peak bloom in the nation's capital typically happens in late March to early April,, and has been trending earlier in that timeframe in recent years. Extraordinary warm or cool temps have led to peak blooms as early as March 15 (in 1990) and as late as April 18 (in 1958), according to the National Park Service.
According to Cherry Blossom Watch 2025, Washington D.C.'s trees officially reached peak bloom on March 28, 2025. (Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms open).
But if you haven't had a chance to check out the cherry blossoms in all of their spring glory just yet, don't worry, you're not too late. The blossoms typically last for four weeks and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is still underway until mid-April.
Here's what else to know about the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
Pink cherry blossoms in bloom in Washington D.C. near the Washington Monument.
The 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 20 to April 13 at various locations throughout Washington, D.C. and spills over into surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia.
The festival lineup includes everything from runs, including a 10-miler on April 6 that passes prime blossom locations on the Washington Monument Grounds to a Jazz & Blossoms event that features hip-hop group Arrested Development this year on the main stage and creative experiences like a graffiti canvas for painting to haiku writing. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is scheduled for April 12, 2025.
Check out the full calendar of National Cherry Blossom Festival events here.
The Jefferson Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is held each year to commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to Washington, D.C. and, according to festival organizers, celebrates the 'enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.'
Hanmai (flower viewing) has been a tradition in Japan for centuries. Sakuras, which cherry blossom trees are known as in Japan, are symbols for impermanence, according to Japanese scholar Małgorzata (Gosia) K. Citko-DuPlantis from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Bunches of cherry blossom flowers are in peak bloom during the annual showing in Washington DC. The Jefferson Memorial is in the background.
Cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C. typically runs from late March to mid-April. The best time to see cherry blossoms is around their peak bloom.
Flexibility is key for cherry blossom travels, though. Yoshino trees typically bloom for several days, according to the National Park Service. But this bloom period is influenced by the weather. Cool, calm days can extend the length of the bloom, but a rainy, windy day can bring cherry blossom bloom season to an abrupt end.
Nashville, Tennessee - March 25, 2019 : The Parthenon in Centennial Park, on a beautiful Spring day with cherry blossoms in the foreground. Blurred background
Looking for other spots in the United States to check out cherry blossoms? Here's a few more cherry blossom festivals to check out in 2025:
While Japan is a top international destination for observing cherry blossoms, here's some photos of beautiful cherry blossoms blooming around the world.
