Spring has sprung and presented the Washington, D.C., area with its annual gift — picturesque pink cherry blossoms from Japan located less than 15 miles away from campus.
During the last week of March and the first week of April, the cherry blossoms that line the Tidal Basin are in their peak bloom. So put on your best walking shoes, grab a friend and a warm jacket and go explore the sights of the cherry trees. Now is the perfect time to visit.
For a simple walk around the basin, expect crowds, especially on weekends. Despite this, make sure to visit the Franklin Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. Remember to take tons of pictures with the beautiful trees for your Instagram dump.
Besides exploring the blossoms on your own, there are plenty of other ways to experience and celebrate their bloom. Here are four options to check out in Washington, D.C.
ARTECHOUSE
If you are an introvert who wishes to enjoy the tradition from afar — and away from slow-walking tourists and children — there are many alternatives to do so without the added chaos that typically comes with the lovely landscape.
For a toned-down evening with friends, visit Washington, D.C.,’s ARTECHOUSE and see the blossoms in this season’s interactive installation: “ISEKAI: Blooming Parallel Worlds,” open until June 2. Through the fusion of culture and arts, visitors can enjoy this exhilarating exhibition, created by all women artists. The exhibition works to tell stories focused on climate change and nature through Japanese-inspired art styles and technology.
[Netflix’s ‘Chicken Nugget’ is tastefully hilarious]
Jazz & Blossoms
Jazz up your weekend with Jazz & Blossoms, a free event hosted in Franklin Park on April 7 from 12 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a spring-themed day perfect for groups that enjoy music and festivities of all kinds. The event itself celebrates both music and the blossoms through activities such as Haiku writing stations, vendor markets, DJ sets and art installations scattered around the park.
Spring Sake Festival
For those 21 and older, a Spring Sake Festival will be held on April 5 at Hotel Zena from 5:30 to 9 p.m. This unique event invites attendees from far and wide to enjoy more than 80 types of the Japanese rice wine. Several craft sake makers from across the country will attend, ready to mingle and connect with the visitors. This event is perfect for sake enthusiasts or curious taste testers to celebrate the season.
[Bôa delivers nostalgia for new, old fans with ‘Walk With Me’]
Blossom Kite Festival
For a more peaceful landscape, visit the Blossom Kite Festival on March 30 at the Washington Monument Grounds to relax. Enjoy an atmosphere filled with music, performances and most importantly, kites, just a few metro stops away from campus. If you feel extra confident, join a kite making competition to potentially take home a prize.
The Blossom Kite Festival is just one event in the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration that spans Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The four-week long festival is full of art, food, culture and fun. Begin at the Tidal Basin welcome area and finish out the season on April 17 with an extravagant, departing parade.
Regardless of how many times you have been dragged along to visit the cherry blossoms as a kid, go out and catch them before they depart for the season. Or, visit a National Cherry Blossom Festival event and properly embrace the springtime festivities.
