One of the hallmarks of the beginning of spring every year is the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., when the beautiful soft pink petals bloom and create a gorgeous backdrop for the Capitol. While the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival officially takes place between March 20 and April 14, there is a peak bloom date.
The peak bloom date, otherwise known as the period in which over 70 percent of the flowers on the trees have bloomed, varies from year to year, but on average is said to fall on April 4. However, every year the National Park Service predicts when the peak bloom take place, and 2019 is no exception. This year, the NPS is predicting that the cherry blossoms will peak between April 3 and April 6, with a note that the most optimal viewing of the blooms extends about four to seven days after the peak bloom begins.
If you are looking to get even more specific, the least busy time of day to see the blossoms in the capitol are either in the early morning or in the evening, but you can always expect crowds on the weekends.
Once you've got the timing of your visit down, there's always the question of where to go, too. Among the most popular locations to visit during the National Cherry Blossom Festival are the Jefferson Memorial, The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and The FDR Memorial as well as at the Tidal Basin. But of course, the latter hosts the majority of the blossoms.
Of course, there are also a number of activities that coincide with the festival, including the opening ceremony on March 23, the Blossom Kite Festival on March 30 and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 13. No matter how you choose to take in the precious pink blooms, just remember: don't pick them!
As the deputy digital lifestyle director at Town & Country, Roxanne Adamiyatt covers fashion, beauty, wellness, design and travel.
