WASHINGTON (Feb. 29, 2024) — The National Cherry Blossom Festival’s kick-off press conference unveiled exciting events and community programming for the 2024 celebrations, which will coincide with the National Park Service’s prediction of peak bloom dates of March 23- March 26, 2024.
The iconic four-week festival to welcome spring to the Nation’s Capital will be held March 20 – April 14, 2023. During the press conference held at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Festival organizers previewed what’s in store for Festival revelers during signature events such as the Pink Tie Party, Blossom Kite Festival, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.
The press conference started with performers singing the official Festival song, followed by remarks from David Martins, General Manager of Waldorf Astoria; Diana Mayhew, Festival president and CEO; Nina Albert, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; David Moran, Chairman of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Area Director of Operations of Clyde’s Restaurant Group; Fumito Miyake, Minister of Public Affairs, Embassy of Japan; and Jeff Reinbold, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, who revealed the peak bloom prediction dates.
“This year’s Festival provides so many beloved traditions and new opportunities to go all out and make those memorable moments with friends and family,” Mayhew said. “The enthusiasm around the Festival is at an all-time high – we’ve received record-breaking numbers of volunteers, and our hospitality sector is reporting higher than average numbers.”
Jeff Reinbold, Superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, who unveiled the peak bloom dates of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, spoke about the importance of caring for the cherry trees.
“The National Park Service takes great pride in the work we do to care for the stars of this festival – the 3,700 cherry trees, which are both natural and cultural treasures of our city and our nation,” Reinbold said. “We encourage all visitors to the Festival to be good stewards of the trees and join us as “cherry blossom protectors” to help us preserve them for future generations and Festivals.”
“The National Cherry Blossom Festival brings millions of people into the District every year, and we want to ensure that they also explore our Downtown, our local neighborhoods, and all DC has to offer,” said Nina Albert, DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “We are excited to be partnering with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to support another successful and joyful celebration that is a uniquely DC tradition.”
A very special thanks to Waldorf Astoria Washington, DC for hosting the event. More information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival is available at https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
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ABOUT NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the world’s great celebrations of spring. The 2024 Festival takes place March 20 – April 14, and includes four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Leadership Circle Sponsors for the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival are Events DC, Amazon, and ANA, All Nippon Airways. Mark your calendars! Save the dates for the 2024 Festival signature events. Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information. Get the latest updates via email, and follow the Festival on social media! Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest) and YouTube (@CherryBlossFest).
