Find answers to the most common questions about our annual celebration of spring, culture, and the beautiful cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts on the first day of spring each year and continues for four weeks to coincide as nearly as possible with the blooming of the trees. “Peak Bloom Date” is defined as the day on which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. The average date of blooming is April 3, but nature is not always cooperative, and the National Park Service horticulturists cannot make an accurate prediction much more than 10 days prior. The blooming period starts several days before the Peak Bloom Date and can last as long as 14 days; however, frost, high temperatures, wind and/or rain can shorten this period.
Anytime is a good time to see the blossoms. However, visitors should be prepared for heavier crowds on weekends and when the trees reach their peak blooming period. There is no guarantee, but there are often fewer people during the week, early in the morning, and in late afternoon/early evening.
For the most part, the care of the Japanese flowering cherries has been entrusted to the members of the Tree Crew for National Capital Parks-Central. These individuals are professional arborists with technical competence through experience and related training to provide for the care of the trees.
As hard as members of the Tree Crew work year-round, there are things you can do to assist in the maintenance and longevity of the trees when you visit:
You can pick up Festival information once in Washington by visiting the Festival Information Tent at the Tidal Basin Welcome Area, located along West Basin Drive (between Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial). The Welcome Area is co-hosted with the National Park Service and its 2026 operation dates will be announced once peak bloom is predicted.
For suggestions in planning your trip, check out our “Plan Your Trip” pages or call the Festival Hotline at (877) 44BLOOM to get assistance with specific questions regarding information on area airports, recommended hotels, etc. You can also visit washington.org for more information.
The cherry blossom trees currently grow in three National Park Service locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Hains Point), and on the Washington Monument grounds. For information on varieties of cherry blossom trees and park maps, see the National Park Service cherry blossom page.
The National Park Service has a limited supply of wheelchairs available to borrow at no charge. Wheelchairs may be checked out from either the World War II Memorial or the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. Visitors can sign out an available wheelchair on a first-come, first-served basis by leaving a form of ID (i.e., driver’s license), but wheelchairs must remain at that memorial site. They are not permitted to be taken around the Mall. Upon return of the wheelchair, the ID will be returned.
Dogs are allowed on the National Mall and Memorial Parks, but the owner must keep the dog on a leash 100% of the time. An owner is NEVER allowed to let a dog run freely in any of these locations. Also, the owners are NEVER allowed to let the dog “go to the bathroom” in the Reflecting Pool or in the pool at the World War II Memorial. The National Park Service has had and continues to have problems in this regard and is making its best attempts to educate the public. Learn more about pet-friendly Festival events on our Paws & Petals page.
If you or your organization are interested in performing in the Parade or at the Tidal Basin, please check out our Talent Opportunities page for details.
Please email ncbf@ncbfdc.org to learn more about vendor opportunities for the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Please note that these fill quickly, so contacting as soon as the summer before the Festival would be helpful.
SpotHero
If you choose to drive, we recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the Preferred Parking Partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the nation’s leading parking reservation app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.
Metrorail/Metrobus
Metro is the best way to experience the Festival, with multiple ways to get to the Tidal Basin and most Festival events via train or bus. Custom cherry blossom SmarTrip cards are available for purchase at select Metro stations. Look for the cherry blossom-wrapped trains and buses. For maps, schedules, and fees, please visit wmata.com.
Big Bus Tours
See the capital’s legendary Cherry Blossom Trees on a Hop-on, Hop-off Washington DC Big Bus Tour! Hop on and discover your destination from open- top buses, with commentary guiding you along the way, then hop off to explore the blossoms. Visit bigbustours.com for more information.
Motorcoach
If you are traveling to the Festival via Motorcoach, you can find additional information about drop off and parking regulations on Washington.org.
Bikeshare
Hop on a bike at one of over 600 Capital Bikeshare stations all around the area. Single trips cost $1 to unlock and $0.05/min on a classic bike or $0.15/min on an ebike. Day passes are available for $10. Visit CapitalBikeshare.com for a map of station locations and details about rentals.
Water Taxi and Cruises
Check out the cherry blossoms from a new perspective this year — the water. Avoid the crowds and enjoy spectacular views aboard the Cherry Blossom Water Taxi or one of this year’s dining or sightseeing cruises from City Cruises along the Potomac. Visit CityExperiences.com for more information.
Bags are allowed at all outdoor Festival activations.
If you are attending the Opening Ceremony, you will be subject to walking through a magnetometer. Larger bags may be subject to further search. For details, check your Opening Ceremony ticket.
Please also note that indoor events at Participating Organization locations may be subject to their own rules. Potential attendees should visit the organization’s website for more information.
Look no further than our proud Premier Hotel Provider Hilton offering over100 properties throughout the Washington, DC area to accommodate anyone who comes out to celebrate spring. No matter where you are joining us from, there are plenty of options to fit your needs while enjoying the cherry blossoms and all the fun that goes along with the blooms. To reserve your room and view the full list of hotels by neighborhood, visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org/Hotels
Enjoy the taste of spring by dining at one of the many local restaurants across Washington, DC and surrounding communities as they showcase their best springtime menu items through Cherry Picks in collaboration with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). Cherry Picks restaurants will feature full menus, special items, and exciting cherry blossom-themed cocktails to bring the blossoms straight to your table or for takeout!
Snap. Eat. Earn. We’re delighted to introduce Flave, the app that turns your foodie passion into a rewarding experience. With Flave, every photo of food or drinks that is captured at local restaurants turns into points that can be used to redeem exclusive rewards. The app helps foodies discover new places on a feed that highlights posts within the foodie community. People can also rise on the leaderboard and earn badges while they explore, savor, and share their delightful discoveries. Join us in cultivating a community where every flavor captured is a flavor celebrated. Dive into a world where the concept of “phone eats first” is not just to highlight the moment but also incredibly rewarding.
With Cherry Picks, the Festival proudly highlights the District and surrounding region’s vibrant and diverse restaurant scene. Five spotlight restaurants are creating a customized spring-themed menu, while over 50 participating restaurants will offer a special springtime menu item throughout the Festival, between March 20 – April 12.
Many Festival events are FREE and open to the public. However, there are a few exceptions. Browse the Events page for listings and to see which events have admissions fees. You can also book group seating for the Parade.
Please email media@ncbfdc.org to schedule interviews, apply for event credentials, or obtain filming rights.
Thank you for your interest! Please contact sponsorship@ncbfdc.org with your inquiry.
You can apply as the Official Festival Artist for the year 2027, since we have already chosen a 2026 artist. Please send your CV and portfolio to ncbf@ncbfdc.org and if interested, we will contact you closer to the 2027 Festival.
To get more information on tickets for any ticketed event, please email tickets@ncbfdc.org.
If your question isn’t answered on the event page in our calendar, please use the contact information for the event coordinator listed on that page.
We recommend you contact the National Park Service directly. You can find their contact information on their website.
