DC prepares for cherry blossoms and peak bloom

The National Cherry Blossom Festival unveiled the plans for the 2023 festival in Washington DC, which include a kite festival, a cherry blossom 5K and a parade. The National Parks Service also announced peak bloom for the trees, which will be March 22 through 25.

Washington DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser said “It was 111 years ago when the mayor of Tokyo first gifted Washington, D.C., with 3000 cherry blossom trees. Residents and visitors have enjoyed these trees ever since. And with the careful stewardship of the National Park Service, we expect to enjoy them for another 111 years and beyond.”

Jeff Reinbold, National Parks Service said “I will say, emerging from the third warmest winter on record, this has been a particularly challenging year to read the trees and to project peak bloom. Due to the warmer than average temperatures, the trees never reach their winter dormancy, which is the starting point for calculating when the blooms will emerge.

As a result of the earlier bloom, the Cherry Blossom Festival is moving up multiple events planned at the Tidal Basin, which is lined by the cherry trees.