Around the end of March each year, the cherry blossoms bloom in Washington D.C. marking the beginning of spring. Travelers flock to the Tidal Basin and the National Mall area to capture images of over 3,000 trees against iconic landmarks like the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. The 10,000 went to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms bloom after a dreary winter, and explored nearby events celebrating the start of spring throughout the city.
The cherry blossoms found in Washington D.C. are not only beautiful, but also rich in history. Back in March of 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo City, Yukio Ozaki, gifted the Japanese cherry trees to the United States as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. Since 1934, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has been held in D.C. to honor Japanese culture and support local businesses.
This year, the festival in D.C. will run from March 20th through April 17th. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to check out some of the special celebratory events happening throughout the festival including the Annual Parade on April 9th, the Japanese Street Festival from April 9th-10th and the Petalpalooza on April 16th.
While capturing shots throughout D.C., download the free app ARpoise to access “Suspended Spring”, an augmented reality photo filter created by Japanese-American artist Tamiko Thiel. Petals of cherry blossoms and blooming flowers will fill your surroundings creating an eye-catching image festive to the time of year.
Outside of the festival, there are several other cherry blossom-related activities to explore. Stop by ARTECHOUSE DC to see “PIXELBLOOM”, a 22-minute immersive audiovisual exhibit featuring digital explosions of cherry blossoms. “PIXELBLOOM” is currently on view until June 5th.
If you can’t make it to D.C. to attend the event in person, you can view a live version of the cherry blossoms via the Virtual Bloom Cam, or if you are in the New York area, NYC parks have their own burst of pink and white blossoms from 2,000 cherry trees that were sent to New York City’s parks from Japan in 1912.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom with the Washington Monument in the distance.
The Tidal Basin is one of the most popular areas to see the cherry blossoms.
Walk along the water of the Tidal Basin for beautiful views of Washington D.C.
The cherry blossoms are the first sign of spring in Washington D.C.
Download the free app ARpoise to experience an augmented reality of cherry blossoms and spring blooms.
The AR experience called "Suspended Spring" was designed by digital artist Tamiko Thiel.
Experience the audiovisual exhibit “PIXELBLOOM” at ARTECHOUSE DC.
The exhibit is on view until June 5th.
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