National Cherry Blossom Festival DC 2014: Dates, Peak Bloom, Opening Ceremony, Where to Watch Parade (+Photos)

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. will be held from March 20 to April 13, while the Parade is set for Saturday, April 12.
National Cherry Blossom Festival DC 2014: Dates, Peak Bloom, Opening Ceremony, Where to Watch Parade (+Photos)
Cherry trees covered in blossoms are seen along the Tidal Basin, Monday, March 28, 2011, in Washington, during the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through April 10. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
3/17/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. will be held from March 20 to April 13, while the Parade is set for Saturday, April 12.

This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the city of Washington.

Peak bloom is forecast for April 8-12. The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open.

On March 16, the trees were in the green bud phase. There are still another five phases (Florets Visible, Extension of Florets, Peduncle Elongation, Puffy White) to go before peak bloom is reached.

The Opening Ceremony is set for Saturday, March 22. American singer/songwriter Judith Hill, noted for being a season 4 contestant on The Voice and featured artist in the Academy Award-nominated documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, will be present. Other noted performers include Anna Saeki, a world-famous tango singer from Hokkaido, Japan, and Rimi Natsukawa, an Okinawan pop singer.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, April 12 will be presented by Events DC.

Delayed telecast is available on WUSA 9. WUSA news anchors Andrea Roane and Mike Hydeck will host, along with Norah O’Donnell from CBS This Morning.

Four time Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Regina Bell and pop star Aaron Carter are set to perform.

 

Larry Ong is a New York-based journalist with Epoch Times. He writes about China and Hong Kong. He is also a graduate of the National University of Singapore, where he read history.
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