Washington's cherry blossoms: how to see them without the crush

The cherry trees of Washington, D.C. trace back to 1912, when the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, sent trees to the city as a gift to strengthen friendship between Japan and the United States. The trees were planted around the Tidal Basin, and today they draw crowds each spring. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which has grown from a school re-enactment in the 1920s to a national event, runs from 20 March to 12 April in 2026.

The trees themselves are not on the festival's schedule. Peak bloom is set by the weather, and the U.S. National Park Service issues a forecast in early March and an update as the date approaches; it announces peak bloom when a large share of the main variety's blossoms are open. A cold winter can delay it, a warm spell can bring it early, and the best days can be short. Plan to stay several days and treat peak bloom as a bonus.

The Tidal Basin is crowded at peak, particularly on weekends. Go at sunrise on a weekday, when the light is soft and the paths are quiet. Use public transit; parking near the Tidal Basin is limited and roads are busy. Other places with cherry trees, such as the neighbourhoods and parks away from the Mall, are less crowded and can be as pretty.

The festival adds events: an opening ceremony, a kite festival, cultural performances, fireworks on the waterfront and a parade on the last Saturday. Check the official programme for dates and ticketing.

Be gentle with the trees. Do not climb them, shake branches or pick blossoms. Stay on paths, and do not step into planted areas. Many of the trees are old and the sea wall and paths around the Basin are under strain.