Only weeks after the worst snowstorm in decades, we have moved on! Forget snow, this weekend is the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. I consider this the unofficial start of tourist season, although the last three weeks I've noticed an up-tick in full double decker buses and open mapped wanderers downtown.
The NCBF begins on March 27 and ends April 11. Tomorrow the festival kicks off with the Family Day and Opening Ceremonies at the National Building Museum on Judiciary Square. The Family Day will feature kid and parent friendly activities and the day will end with the official Festival opening. Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki will speak, as will our Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Peak bloom of the actual blossoms has been recently revised to March 28-April 9.
There are actually multiple events related to the festival, which can be found here. I won't list them all (since some have already occurred), but the highlights will be the fireworks show on April 3, the festival parade on April 10, and of course DC's first major street festival of the year, Sakura Matsuri, also on Saturday April 10. Get outside and enjoy! If not the crowds.... at least the weather!
