The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week event starting March 27 - April 11, that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees by Japan. Below is a schedule of events:
March 27 - Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony
April 3 - Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show
April 10 - Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
There is also paddle boating on the Tidal Basin. Renting a two-person paddle boat is $10 an hour and a four - person boat is $18.00 an hour. The ranger led latern walks around the Tidal Basin start at 8 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning March 27th. The tours begin in two spots: the Tidal Basin Welcome area (near the paddle boat dock) and the Washington Monument ticket lodge. Be sure an bring a flashlight.
If you want to take a free ranger led bike tour of the cherry blossoms, it is offered Saturdays (beginning on the 27th) and Sundays through the festival. If you don't have your own bike, Bike and Roll offers rentals, as well as two-hour, six-mile Bike the Blossoms tours that begin and end at the kiosk on Pennsylvania Avenue.
For more information, go to the National Cherry Blossom website at: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390
(taken from dcpages.com & Washington Post Going-out-Gurus)
