Thanks to Leap Day, February had an extra day, but the National Park Service (NPS) assures us that spring is on its way. This will lead to the much-anticipated annual display of cherry blossoms in Washington DC. Rather like the magnificent displays in Japan, Washington’s famous display could come sooner than expected.

When can we see cherry blossoms in Washington DC?

Recently, an NPS spokesperson unveiled the peak blooming date for the cherry trees in the country’s capital. However, they did note that predicting the peak period has been uniquely challenging this year. According to the spokesperson, “This has been a particularly puzzling year to read the trees,” adding that this is because January was warmer than usual. This unexpected weather means that the cherry trees never actually reached dormancy.

Despite the problems the NPS has managed to put together the cherry blossoms forecast, noting that the peak bloom in 2024 will happen between March 23 and March 26.

Travel + Leisure quoted a statement from the NPS, where they defined the peak blooming period of the cherry trees as the windows in which 70 percent or more of the trees “surrounding the Tidal Basin have opened their buds, gracing DC with those fluffy light pink blossoms.”

The arrival of the cherry blossoms is much anticipated as it sees Washington DC blanketed in a virtual sea of delicate pink petals.

How did the event start in Washington DC?

As most people know, Japan celebrates the blossoms of its cherry trees each year all over the country, but the US started doing the same some years ago.

While these days the city’s Tidal Basin hosts more than 3,000 cherry trees, the event owes its appearance to Yukio Ozaki, the mayor of Tokyo, who gifted the US government with a few trees in 1912.

The gesture of friendship between the two cities started the now-much-loved tradition that sees the combination of Kwanzan and Yoshino cherry tree varieties in full bloom a few weeks apart. Moreover, the pairing ensures that the peak period of cherry blossoms lasts long enough for everyone to experience it.

While the weather patterns have fluctuated over the years, peak bloom time in Washington DC has been relatively consistent over the past two decades. The trees clad themselves with beautiful pink blossoms between late March and early April.

Meanwhile, in 2022 and 2023, the Yoshino and Kwanzan blossoms reached full bloom only days apart on March 21 and 23, respectively.

Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC

The predictions for this year’s peak bloom to line up perfectly with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC. Running from March 20 to April 14, the festival will start with the Pink Tie Party on March 15. This is then followed on March 30 by the Bloom Kite Festival. Moreover, this event sees attendees flying their colorful kites in the skies with a beautiful backdrop of cherry blossoms.

As Washington DC prepares to welcome spring with a breathtaking display of floral beauty, locals and visitors alike will eagerly look forward to the arrival of the cherry blossoms. Meanwhile, this timeless tradition now symbolizes the arrival of warmer days and adds vitality to the heart of the nation’s capital.