A Pop of Spring

DOWNTOWN DC BID

A Pop of Spring

The DowntownDC Business Improvement District’s (BID) Pop of Spring will transform the 800 block of F Street NW into an area ripe with activations to celebrate Washington, D.C.’s vernal awakening. Occurring at the height of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Pop of Spring invites residents and visitors to DowntownDC for 10 days of seasonal food, fun, and performances. Guests can enjoy live entertainment inclusive of karaoke and cosplay, discovering and supporting local vendors, and relaxing in swinging table benches perfect for playing games, working outdoors, and savoring a bite to eat.

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!

Art in Bloom

PRESENTED BY AMAZON

ART IN BLOOM

Art in Bloom, presented by Amazon, celebrates the magical and whimsical mystique of the D.C. area, while honoring its vibrant arts scene.

A community-wide visual arts exhibition, Art in Bloom radiates spring with 26 oversized cherry blossom statues that have been painted by local artists and placed in  in all eight wards of the District, plus Maryland’s National Harbor and the Aurora Highlands and National Landing neighborhoods in Northern Virginia.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to go on a Blossom Hunt – finding the sculptures, posting a photo to Instagram or Twitter; tagging the Festival and using #artinbloom in the caption. Now through May 31, 2021, the Festival is randomly selecting one photo entry per week to win a $25 Amazon gift card; and selecting one photo entry at the end of May to receive a $500 Amazon gift card.

To learn more about the artists, see behind-the-scenes videos of their sculptures coming to life, and view the #ArtInBloom Photo Contest entries, go to nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/art-in-bloom.

PRESENTED BY

SUPPORTED BY

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!

Cherry Blossom Date Night

Museum of Illusions

Cherry Blossom Night at the Museum of Illusions

Come experience the ultimate cherry blossom date night at the Museum of Illusions Washington DC. Enjoy and photograph optical illusions dressed in pink cherry blossoms while sipping Pink Prosecco and enjoying a Cherry Blossom and Champagne Cotton Candy live station between the hours of 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm. One night only. Don’t miss it!

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!

Cherry Blossom Night with the Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards

Cherry Blossom Night

Celebrate spring in Washington, DC with family and friends: come to a special cherry blossom-themed game and seethe Wizards take on the Brooklyn Nets as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebration from March 20 to April 14. A portion of proceeds supporting year-round care for the iconic trees through the Trust for the National Mall. Purchase tickets today!

Each ticket purchased through this link comes with a Washington Wizards cherry blossom water bottle. *Limited quantities*

Each ticket purchased through this link comes with a Washington Wizards cherry blossom water bottle. *limited quantities*

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!

Sakura 2024: Live Projection by Robin Bell

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura 2024: Live Video Projection

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 SHOWING CANCELLED
FINAL SHOWING WILL BE SUNDAY, MARCH 24

Bell will mix the installation live every evening, and each night, the visuals will build upon the previous night’s work, showcasing custom pieces by Bell and other renowned D.C.-based artists, Jonathan Monaghan, Matthew Curry, and the Festival’s official artist, Nicholas Shi.

Robin Bell, founder of Bell Visuals, is an award-winning multimedia artist based in Washington, DC. Robin works on a range of creative, political, and public interest projects. Building upon his formal training as a classical printmaker, Robin developed a unique style of live video collage, which he has performed at well-known venues, including The Kennedy Center, 9:30 Club, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., Central Park Summer Stage in New York City, and The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

Nicolas Shi is the Official Artist of the 2024 Festival. He is a long-time D.C. resident and was born in El Salvador to Chinese parents. His work is influenced by his Latin American upbringing, his Chinese heritage, and his formal education in the United States. Shi has exhibited internationally, most notably at Museo de Arte, El Salvador; Centro Cultural Casa de la Moneda, Santiago, Chile; Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, DC; the Gasteig Cultural Center, Munich; the Ibero- Amerikanishes Institut, Berlin; and the Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, Delaware.

Jonathan Monaghan is a D.C.-based artist working across a range of media, including prints, sculpture, and computer-animated video, to produce otherworldly objects and narratives. Past exhibitions include The Sundance Film Festival, The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and The Palais de Tokyo in Paris. His work sits in numerous public and private collections, including The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Microsoft Art Collection.

With a career spanning 20 years, Matthew Curry’s award-winning graphic design and illustration has been profiled by APPLE, earning him two Grammy® nominations and an ART TALK feature on VICE®. Beyond his nominated work for Thievery Corporation, Matthew’s artwork has been commissioned by Fortune 500 Companies and hangs in galleries and private collections all over the world. In addition to his work as an artist, Matthew has also been invited to speak about his work and process for National Geographic, The Art Director’s Club, AIGA, and The Corcoran College of Art & Design.

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!

Presenting sponsor

Co-Presenter

Supporter

Chalk Walk

downtown dc business improvement district presents

ChalkWalk

Visit DowntownDC’s ChalkWalk to step into an immersive spring art experience. This unique, Instagrammable and cherry blossom-inspired 3D art installation is a backdrop you don’t want to miss to celebrate spring in the city!

Share your photos using our hashtag #ChalkWalkDC for a chance to win prizes from the DowntownDC BID.