As winter fades, the DC region slips into its most photogenic season. From the iconic pink canopy at the Tidal Basin to quieter neighborhood streets and garden paths in Maryland and Northern Virginia, cherry blossoms begin popping across the metro area each spring — and 2026 offers plenty of ways to experience them.
Whether you’re planning a festival day with the kids, scouting less-crowded viewing spots or building a weekend itinerary around peak bloom, this cherry blossom calendar breaks down the key dates, events and locations to help you make the most of blossom season.
Official National Cherry Blossom Festival events (DC)
National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20-April 12
The main festival goes from Friday, March 20, through Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Tidal Basin is the main focus of the festival, but performances, art installations, family activity days and special museum programming pop up across the city.
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Blossom Kite Festival
March 28
The Blossom Kite Festival turns the Washington Monument grounds into a kite field on Saturday, March 28. Families can fly their own kites, watch expert fliers in demonstrations and visit kids’ areas for interactive activities. The event is free and for all ages. This year’s competition programming features a “Red, White and Bloom” theme for America’s 250th birthday.
Petalpalooza
1-9 p.m. April 4
Also under the festival umbrella, Petalpalooza is the all‑day waterfront celebration at Capitol Riverfront Navy Yard Metro along the banks of the Anacostia River. Petalpalooza will feature multiple live‑music stages, interactive art, games and family activities. The Official National Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks show also takes place after dark.
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
11 a.m. April 11
The festival’s signature parade takes over Constitution Avenue NW on Saturday, April 11. Giant colorful helium balloons, floats, celebrity entertainers and marching bands will travel 10 blocks between 7th and 17th streets. The parade steps off in front of the National Archives and runs until about 1:30 p.m. Families can purchase grandstand seats with Telecast (East End) seating at 7th–9th streets priced at $45, West End Performance Zone seating at $34 and West End seating at $28.
Check out more of the official planned events on the National Cherry Blossom Festival calendar.
Families from years past described “swimming” in the beautiful blossoms, despite the heavy traffic. Standout events included the art exhibitions and parade, which was described as “visually stunning.”
Cherry blossom fun beyond the official festival
National Harbor Cherry Blossom Festival – National Harbor, MD
March-April
National Harbor’s cherry blossom season typically runs across the same window as the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Families can walk past roughly 200 cherry trees planted around the promenade and plaza, then pop into Sakura Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. March 29 for cultural events, live performances and restaurant specials throughout the harbor.
“Beyond the Basin” & Glorious Gardens – Fairfax County/Northern Virginia
Throughout spring
“Beyond the Basin” and the self‑guided Glorious Gardens experiences highlight Fairfax County spots like Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria and River Farm along the Potomac where visitors can see cherry trees, tulip‑lined meadows, ponds and walking paths without the busy downtown DC crowds.
Maryland suburbs: Neighborhood streets and garden highlights
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Pop over to the cherry‑lined streets of the Kenwood neighborhood near Bethesda/Chevy Chase and to Brookside Gardens in Wheaton for a calmer blossom experience. Kenwood’s residential streets, including Kennedy Drive and Dorset Avenue, are lined with more than 1,000 Yoshino cherry trees that typically bloom a few days to a week after the Tidal Basin. Brookside Gardens features multiple flowering cherry trees in its Gude Garden and around the pond.
