COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
GET INVOLVED
The National Cherry Blossom Festival needs your help to bring the Festival to life! Check out the opportunities below and sign up for updates to stay in the loop on additional opportunities to engage with the Festival.
City In Bloom
Participating businesses and residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia decorate their storefronts and homes to show off how they bloom during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. From pink lighting to blossom images, the whole city comes to life. Registration is NOW OPEN!
Cherry Picks
Cherry Picks, in conjunction with the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, is a special initiative designed to bring the flavors of spring to the forefront, encouraging both locals and visitors to explore the diverse and delicious restaurants of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Participating restaurants will feature exclusive menu items inspired by the cherry blossom season, incorporating fresh, local ingredients and creative presentations that reflect the spirit of springtime. Returning this year is the #eatfirst partnership with Flave! Flave rewards users for sharing food photos and helps them discover new in-person dining through a feed of posts from the foodie community.
Registration is NOW OPEN!
Hotels
Make your spring sales bloom by participating in the Festival Hotel program. The top-rated partner hotels welcome guests to the Festival and Washington, DC, each year in springtime. Registration is NOW OPEN!
Volunteer
We’re now accepting volunteers for the 2024 Festival! Festival volunteers are critical to support cultural experiences that are largely free and open to the public. Please note: We have launched a new sign-up process! All returning and new volunteers must apply for 2024. After you have created and signed into your account, you will not need to re-apply the upcoming years for future volunteer opportunities. Click here to apply.
Goodwill Ambassadors
This rewarding and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young adults is part of one of the Festival’s most highly regarded signature programs. The application for the 2024 season is now closed, stay tuned for the 2024 application coming out this fall. Click here to learn more about our Goodwill Ambassadors program.
Petal Porches
The Festival invites DC, Maryland, and Virginia residents to decorate their homes for a second year and start the Spring celebration at their doorsteps. Sign up for our newsletter to the be the first to find out when registration opens up! Click here to learn more about Petal Porches.
Plant Trees
Every year the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program and Casey Trees collaborate with schools, civic groups, and the community to plant trees and teach tree care. Click here to learn more about our Planting Program.
Parade Specialty Units
Calling all international dance groups, sports teams, equestrian units and groups with unique skills or routines! The 2025 Specialty Unit application is now available for the 2025 Parade. Click here for the 2025- 2026 Parade specialty unit application!
Marching Bands
Are you interested in performing on the Tidal Basin Stage during next year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival? Please click here to fill out the 2025 interest form.
Blossom Kids
Blossom Kids is an online repository of fun-ducation videos, crafts, and activities that explore the history of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, highlight DC, celebrate springtime, and more! Click here to learn more about Blossom Kids.
Bloomin’ Junior Ranger Program
Become a Bloomin’ Junior Ranger! Take a virtual walk around the Tidal Basin with a National Park Service ranger and friends. Click here to learn all about the cherry trees, participate in at-home activities and learn how you can help protect the trees from our friends at the National Park Service.
Student Art Showcase
Visit the online gallery featuring last years winners and sign up for the this year’s Student Art Showcase produced in collaboration with DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative! This year, we invite DC students artists to portray what it means for them to be in full bloom. Click here to view 2023 Student Art Showcase!
Gift of Trees Patch Program
Developed in partnership with Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, this patch program commemorates the gift of the cherry trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. Click here to explore the patch program!
