The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cherry blossoms to peak April 2-5
Some events at national Washington, D.C., festival to be virtual this year.
Washington’s famed cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin will peak between April 2 and April 5, the National Park Service announced Monday.
The predicted dates fall squarely within the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which spans March 20 and April 11 and features numerous events to celebrate the blooms, which have become synonymous with springtime in Washington.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a number of the planned events this year are virtual. But some in-person activities are also part of the celebration.
“As the health and safety of everyone is our top priority, the festival will present innovative, entertaining and engaging hybrid programming designed to incorporate both virtual and personal experiences,” said Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, at an online news conference Monday.
Events planned include a kite fly, petal processions in city neighborhoods, a pet parade, a nationally syndicated television program hosted by Drew Barrymore, and art showcases at schools and throughout the city.
“In keeping with the festival tradition we will unite the city and the region, engaging local businesses and restaurants, and we’ll be in bloom with pink lighting and blossom decor,” Mayhew said.
Visitors will be discouraged from visiting the Tidal Basin in person this year, said Jeff Reinbold, Park Service superintendent for the National Mall.
“This year the National Park Service and our cherry blossom partners are asking everyone to experience peak bloom virtually,” he said at Monday’s news conference.
Reinbold and others at the news conference encouraged tracking the progress of the blossoms online via the BloomCam, which will offer 24/7 views of the cherry trees from different locations. Last year, the BloomCam was viewed more than 750,000 times in 160 countries, Reinbold said.
“While this year it will not be safe for thousands of people to gather as we have in years past, our residents and other Americans can still fully embrace the beauty and rich history of the cherry blossoms,” John Falcicchio, District deputy mayor for planning and economic development, said at the news conference.
Last year, when the bloom period coincided with the early stages of the pandemic, Park Service officials and police attempted to block access to the Tidal Basin to reduce and disperse crowds, but droves of visitors still packed the area.
“We want to make sure we don’t have a repeat of last year: We do not want large crowds down at the site,” Reinbold said. He added the Park Service will explore whether to offer limited in-person visits at certain times of day or whether it’s most prudent to close down the Tidal Basin entirely.
The blossoms, which historically have drawn about 1.5 million visitors to the Tidal Basin, normally peak around late March and early April.
“Peak bloom is the day when 70% of the Yoshino #cherryblossoms are open, creating gorgeous clouds of white & pink flowers floating around the Tidal Basin,” the Park Service tweeted Monday.
The entire bloom period typically begins in late February or early March and involves the blossoms’ buds advancing through five stages before the flowers peak. Peak bloom itself usually lasts about 7 to 10 days.