D.C.’s cherry blossoms peak in early April
People flock from all over to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., come springtime. But when will the photogenic trees hit peak bloom in 2019?
This year, peak bloom is predicted for April 3 to 6, according to Jeffrey Reinbold, acting superintendent of the National Park Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks.
The dates were revealed at a news conference hosted by the National Cherry Blossom Festival, an event that has been around for more than 90 years, and this year runs from March 20 to April 14.
This prediction, however, is only as good as the weather forecast, the park service’s Mike Litterst told USA TODAY. He explained that in some years, the forecast has been spot-on (such as in 2015), but that last year, officials had to revise the date twice (peak bloom in 2018 fell on April 5). The average dates for peak bloom are April 3 and 4.
How does the park service reach such predictions?
“Our horticulturists look at three main factors: They’re looking at the historic record; we’re looking at obviously the forecast short and long-term as we go forward; and looking at the trees themselves,” Litterst said.
It was easy to get excited for spring during the festival’s presentation: The event featured everything from a drummer on a hoverboard (Malik Stewart) to a woman in a pink wig on stilts. Gwynne Flanagan, a circus performer, sported a cherry-blossom-adorned pink umbrella, tutu and pants. People couldn’t help but take pictures and selfies with her.
National Cherry Blossom Festival events will include everything from a parade on April 13 to the Blossom Bash at The Anthem music venue on April 5 featuring pop star Meghan Trainor. Other highlights include the annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and a special “Yappy Hour” at Milk Bar. More than 1.5 million people visit the festival every year, Diana Mayhew, president of National Cherry Blossom Festival, told USA TODAY.
Mayhew also made a pitch for the cherry tree endowment campaign from the Trust for the National Mall and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, noting a $1,000 donation can fund a tree (there are 3,800 on the National Mall). Mayhew estimates hundreds of thousands of people have gotten married or engaged under the trees, and she welcomed those people to celebrate their anniversaries with an endowment.