Cherry Blossom parade, Japanese festival bring road closures to DC this weekend - WTOP News (2024)

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Cherry Blossom parade, Japanese festival bring road closures to DC this weekend - WTOP News (1)

The beauty of D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms may be ephemeral but the celebration continues with a parade and a street festival celebrating Japanese culture.

One of the signature events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place Saturday: The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. There will be balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities and performers.

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue, in Northwest D.C. The parade is free to view from the street, but seated areas require tickets. Tickets are still available. They range from $25 to $40.

There will be many road closures and parking restrictions in effect for the parade.

The following streets will be posted asEmergency No Parking on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 3 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 12th Street from Madison Drive, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 19th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 20th Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
  • 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 21st Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 22nd Street from Constitution Avenue to C Street, NW
  • C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW
  • C Street from 19th to 17th Street, NW
  • D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW
  • E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)
  • Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW
  • Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

The following streets will beclosed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from approximately 3 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
  • 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW (southbound lanes)
  • Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 14th Street, NW

The following streets will beclosedto vehicle traffic on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m..:

  • 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 12th Street from Madison Drive, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 19th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 20th Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
  • 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • 21st Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
  • 22nd Street from Constitution Avenue to C Street, NW
  • C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW
  • C Street from 19th to 17th Street, NW
  • D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW
  • E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)
  • Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW
  • Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW
  • Virginia Avenue from 24th Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
  • SE/SW Freeway-Access to 12th Street Tunnel from I-395 ramps
  • Inbound I-395 to 14th Street Bridge & 14th Street Bridge (HOV) (All traffic will be sent eastbound on I-395 SE/SW Freeway)

Sakura Matsuri Festival

Also on Saturday, as well as Sunday, is Sakura Matsuri, presented by the Japan-America Society of D.C. It’s deemed the “largest celebration of Japanese culture in the United States.”

Admission is $15 before the festival dates, and $20 on the day of. The festival runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. It’s located on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest between 3rd and 7th streets.

D.C. police announced the following roads will be posted as emergency no parking and closed to vehicle traffic from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
  • Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
  • 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

For timely traffic information, D.C. police said to visit its traffic page on X.

More Cherry Blossom News

  • FAQ: What you need to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival 2024
  • DC’s short cherry tree Stumpy on the chopping block
  • 140 iconic DC cherry trees to be removed for 3-year repair project at Tidal Basin
  • Enjoy D.C. cherry blossoms from a private hot tub or tiki bar — on the Potomac

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Cherry Blossoms | Lifestyle News | Local News | Things to do in DC | Washington, DC News

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Cherry Blossom parade, Japanese festival bring road closures to DC this weekend - WTOP News (8)

Cherry Blossom parade, Japanese festival bring road closures to DC this weekend - WTOP News (2024)

FAQs

What is the best time to see cherry blossoms in DC in 2024? ›

I MAY get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record. On average, DC's cherry blossoms bloom around the last week of March into the first week of April.

What is the best time to see cherry blossoms in DC? ›

On average, the peak bloom occurs sometime around the last week or so of March through the first week or so of April.

How long do DC cherry blossoms last? ›

The National Park Service does not keep records of bloom lengths at the Tidal Basin, but Matthew Morrison, an arborist for the Park Service, said this year's bloom is about as long-lasting as it gets. Cherry blossoms have the potential to last two weeks but are at the mercy of the weather.

Where is the cherry blossom parade in Washington DC? ›

One of the signature events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place Saturday: The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. There will be balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities and performers. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue, in Northwest D.C.

Is the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC free? ›

The colorful celebration marches down Washington, D.C.'s iconic Constitution Avenue and is one of the signature events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Parade is free for viewing on the street, and limited individual and group Grandstand tickets are available for purchase.

How long do cherry blossoms stay in bloom? ›

There are several distinct stages to the bloom of a cherry blossom tree, but the whole process is a constant state of transition and relatively brief. Once the flowers come out they typically last a week or two. Precisely how long the flowers stay out varies depending heavily on the weather.

Is it too late to see the cherry blossoms in DC? ›

The short answer is that there's no easy answer. On average, the peak bloom occurs sometime around the last week or so of March through the first week or so of April.

Can you drive to see cherry blossoms in DC? ›

There are free parking spots at different points throughout this area that many visitors use to access the Tidal Basin during cherry blossom season, but being so close to the most popular viewing area means that there is a lot of traffic and you may encounter detours or direction changes.

Is the DC Cherry Blossom Festival worth it? ›

For any of you who enjoy the changing of seasons, and don't mind a crowd once in a while, I highly recommend for you to travel to Washington, D.C. in early April for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It is an amazing site that is definitely worth the while!

What temperature kills cherry blossoms? ›

Updated:
Stage of Development10% kill (°F)90% kill (°F)
First bloom2723
Full bloom2824
Post bloom2824
Sweet cherries
42 more rows
Oct 24, 2017

How old do cherry blossoms get? ›

Their life spans are usually 15 to 25 years long, though in optimal conditions, they have been known to reach 30 to 40 years of age. On the other hand, some (like black cherry trees) can live much longer. Black cherries have been known to reach 250 years old under the right conditions.

Can you touch cherry blossoms? ›

Don't sit on the roots or hang anything on any part of the tree. And never touch the petals nor shake the branches.

Where are the most cherry blossoms in DC? ›

Tidal Basin. An iconic location with more than 4,000 cherry trees, the area offers picturesque views of cherry blossoms framed by the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. As one of D. C's most popular destinations during cherry blossom season, expect huge crowds during peak bloom.

How many people visit DC during cherry blossom? ›

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Washington's most popular tourist attractions, drawing around 1.5 million visitors for three weeks of street parties, concerts, family activities and days to go fly a kite.

What metro stop to see cherry blossoms in DC? ›

The nearest Metro train stop to the festival is the Smithsonian/National Mall station on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines. The two entrances/exits to Smithsonian/National Mall station are located at 12th Street & Jefferson Drive SW (on the Mall) and 12th Street & Independence Avenue SW.

Does it cost money to see the cherry blossoms in DC? ›

Buying Tickets to See the Cherry Blossoms

There's no entry fee, and the area is open 24 hours to pedestrian traffic. Specific events elsewhere that are on the National Cherry Blossom Festival's program might require tickets. You can find the events schedule here.

What week is best to see cherry blossoms? ›

Peak Bloom Reached

The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).

What time of year is best for cherry blossoms? ›

Alongside centuries-old traditions that celebrate this alluring flower, the cherry blossom season typically runs from late March to the middle of April, although some seasons may continue into May.

What month is cherry blossom in Korea in 2024? ›

2024 Blooming Dates for Cherry Blossoms in Korea
Region of Korea2024 Expected Blooming Date
JeonjuMar 29
Seogwipo/JejuMar 24
PohangMar 24
SeoulApr 3
10 more rows

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