31st National Japan Bowl

Japan-America Society of Washington DC

31st National Japan Bowl

The National Japan Bowl is America’s premier Japanese-language competition, now in its 31st year. Each spring, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC welcomes 200 of the country’s top high school Japanese language students to the nation’s capital for the competition.

YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Explore the Festival's Roots

Travel to Japan is open once again, and we invite you experience and explore Japan firsthand. Learn more about the Festival partners who would love to help you plan your trip!

Afternoon Tea Lecture: Wabi-Sabi – Embracing Imperfection

Green Spring Gardens

Virtual Afternoon Tea Lecture - Wabi-Sabi: Embracing Imperfection

Discover your sense of wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of finding beauty in the naturally imperfect world. Explore this philosophy of “making do” that resonates in austere times, and its origins in the world of tea.

Participants will be sent an invitation to join the lecture on Zoom.

Optional afternoon tea boxes “to go” will be available for pick up at Green Spring Gardens from 10 AM to 1 PM on the day of the lecture. Tea boxes include finger tea sandwiches, pastries, scone, and accompaniments. Japanese tea sample and traditional sweets included.

Book online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parklakes
For more information call (703) 941-7987

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Beyond the Studio Workshop: Cherry Blossoms with Artist Nicolas Shi

Smithsonian American Art Museum Presents

Beyond the Studio Workshop: Cherry Blossoms with Artist Nicolas Shi

Kick off cherry blossom season with a workshop presented with Nicolas Shi, the official artist of the National Cherry Blossom Festival! A longtime resident of Washington, DC, Shi’s work is influenced by his upbringing in El Salvador, his Chinese heritage, and his formal education in the United States. Shi will discuss his work with the Festival before leading participants through a hands-on art activity inspired by DC’s beloved cherry blossoms.

Please note space is limited, and registration is required by March 10, 7 p.m.

This program is presented with the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

PLAN YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Blossom Block Fest: Flea DC

Sycamore and Oak

Blossom Block Fest: Flea DC

Our upcoming event will feature a blend of food, music, fashion, showcasing black creatives, and engaging interactive children’s games. It’s returning to the Congress Heights community, but this time with an exciting twist – we’ll be hosting it at Sycamore and Oak.

YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Blossoming Flowers in Japanese Art and Poetry

Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Blossoming Flowers in Japanese Art and Poetry

In a celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the enduring Japan-US friendship, the Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan presents “Blossoming Flowers in Japanese Art and Poetry.” 

This exhibition showcases the artistic talents of DC-area students alongside official reproductions of art from the Embassy’s private collection and hand-selected haikus. This unique collaboration highlights the “blooming” creativity of students when drawing inspiration from the symbolism of flowers in Japanese art and poetry. This exhibit hopes to show that even through the impermanence of the season’s most famed flowers, strong community ties can flourish.

YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Explore the Festival's Roots

Travel to Japan is open once again, and we invite you experience and explore Japan firsthand. Learn more about the Festival partners who would love to help you plan your trip!

Cherry Blossom Celebration

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art

Cherry Blossom Celebration

Celebrate Cherry Blossom season with free performances, virtual tours, educational videos, programs and more!

PLAN YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Cherry Blossom Jubilee

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Cherry Blossom Jubilee

Celebrate the Cherry Blossoms during the height of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. After Saturday’s Cherry Blossom Parade in D.C., stop by the heart of Alexandria the next day to enjoy cherry blossom-themed activities and other events. Kick off the celebrations at noon with a live performance by taiko drum group Nen Daiko by the Waterfront entrance. Afterward, view cherry-blossom-inspired works of art throughout studios and galleries on all three floors. Enjoy music and live art demonstrations from participating TFAC artists.

Schedule of Activities

Live Music:

Hands-on Projects between 12 – 3 pm:  

In the Studios:

Visit various studios and galleries throughout all three floors to view The 2022 Cherry Blossom Exhibition. Resident artists showcase their floral and festive designs for visitors to enjoy all month long! On display from Saturday April 2 to Sunday May 1.

MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Cherry Blossom Princess Afternoon Tea

National Conference of State Societies

Cherry Blossom Princess Afternoon Tea

Join us for a traditional Afternoon Tea and watch as the Cherry Blossom Princesses exhibit beautiful Kimonos and fashions from Lily Pulitzer. Tickets are available below. Prices are $105/adult and $55/Child through March 27 after which tickets are $120/$70. Special meal requests are available at time of purchase.

The Afternoon Tea will be served as we present a Kimono Demonstration with various styles of Kimonos and a Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Show with the latest styles from the Spring Collection. This event is not to be missed and hats are encouraged!

MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Color Me Pink

Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Color Me Pink

This year, immerse yourself in the enchanting world of cherry blossoms at the JICC. Sponsored by Park West Gallery, this exhibition will showcase seven original artworks inspired by Japan’s gift, NCBF’s ongoing efforts to plant new trees, and fascinating trivia on cherry blossoms.

Explore the gallery’s whimsical atmosphere, featuring a Lego mural and interactive cherry blossom art, where creativity blooms alongside the natural beauty of the iconic blossoms.

PLAN YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants, vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Sponsored by

Post shares event near Washington DC, things to do during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Image of violin made of cherry blossom. Text reads Enchanted Rhapsody with the Edgewood String Quartet. Taylor Swift vs. Queen. Saturday, April 9 4:00 to 7:30 PM.

Enchanted Rhapsody

NATIONAL LANDING

Enchanted Rhapsody

Don’t miss a starlit night listening to a live set of Taylor Swift versus Queen songs performed by the Edgewood String Quartet to welcome in the bliss of springtime and the beauty of the cherry blossoms. Grab your best friend and rock the night away celebrating friendship, warmer days to come and a season of new beginnings. Specialty drinks and food will be available for purchase from RĀKO, Crystal City Wine Shop and other local eateries. Registration is required to experience this night of Enchanted Rhapsody and to break free from the winter blues, embracing an evening of being fearlessly you.

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MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Exhibition: Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan

Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

Exhibition: Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan

This exhibition showcases the breadth of the museum’s medieval Zen collections, highlighting rare and striking works from Japan and China to illustrate the visual, spiritual, and philosophical power of Zen. Rooted in the culture of medieval Japan, the lessons of Zen have become an important part of contemporary American life, as applicable today as they were in premodern times.

MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Exhibition: Underdogs and Antiheroes: Japanese Prints from the Moskowitz Collection

Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

Exhibition: Underdogs and Antiheroes: Japanese Prints from the Moskowitz Collection

Expect the unexpected. This exhibition reveals the captivating stories and urban legends of individuals living on the fringes of society in early modern Japan. Key subjects in theater, literature, and the visual arts focus on antiheroes and underdogs whose virtues are often embodied by their rejection of societal norms, making them misfits and moral exemplars at the same time.

MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Exploring Hiroshige and His Influence on Social Media

Japan Information and Culture Center

Exploring Hiroshige and His Influence on Social Media

The JICC spring exhibition looks at the life and work of the seminal ukiyo-e artist, Uta-gawa Hiroshige. Known for capturing Japan’s breathtaking landscapes as they change throughout the seasons, Hiroshige frequently incorporated popular seasonal motifs, like cherry blossoms for spring or rain for summer. In this exhibition, the JICC, in collaboration with American University, wants to showcase the works of Hiroshige and then celebrate Hiroshige’s legacy on social media by presenting recent photo-graphic interpretations of Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e, submitted to us through our call for entry! It is our hope that our audience will leave our exhibit with a new sense of appreciation for Hiroshige and the obvious influence he still has in the contemporary art world.

MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!

Fabric of Identity: Bingata in Okinawa and Beyond

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Fabric of Identity: Bingata in Okinawa and Beyond

Curator Lee Talbot will introduce bingata,a unique dyeing technique from the island of Okinawa. For hundreds of years,bold bingatafabrics indicated rank at the royal court of the Ryukyu Kingdom, but the art almost disappeared with the kingdom’s demise. After WWII, resolute craftsmen revived production, and today bingata textiles are among the most widely recognized symbols of Okinawan identity.

Drawing from primary sources including fabrics, workshop archives and interviews with makers and designers, Talbot will examine changes in the production, consumption and social function of bingata from the mid-19th century through the present day.

REGISTER at https://secure2.convio.net/gwu/site/Calendar?id=117695&view=Detail

About Lee Talbot
Lee Talbot joined The Textile Museum as a curator in 2007, specializing in East Asian textiles. He has curated numerous exhibitions and published catalogues, articles, and textbook chapters. Talbot was previously curator at the Chung Young Yang Embroidery Museum in Seoul, Korea. He has a bachelor’s from Rhodes College, MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and master’s from Bard Graduate Center.

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Fairfax Visitor Center: National Cherry Blossom Day

Fairfax County Visitor Center

National Cherry Blossom Day in the Fairfax Visitor Center

The official Fairfax County Visitor Center in Tysons Corner Center (on 2nd level outside Nordstrom) is “Festival Central” in Fairfax County. The public is invited to stop in for free gifts, Festival schedules and information on activities throughout the region. On March 27, the Center will host a special event from 1pm –3pm with craft demonstrations, free souvenirs and more! 703-752-9500)

NCBF 2019 in Visitor Center _2

Fairfax County Visitor Center

Tysons Corner Center
1961 Chain Bridge Road
Tysons Corner, Virginia 22102

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