Spring doesn't start in D.C. until the cherry blossoms bloom (peak bloom is projected to happen from March 28-31). First celebrated in 1935, the festival celebrates the change of seasons and the beauty of the city's iconic flowers, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is the most anticipated event in the District. The trees that ring the Tidal Basin were planted in 1912 as a gift from the people of Japan to those of the United States as a sign of goodwill and inter-country friendship.
Cherry blossom season is akin to the holiday season in D.C.; local businesses get in on the action with themed drinks, food, and activities—the city even wraps Metro cars and buses in cherry blossom banners. The festival itself includes lots of fun activities, like the beloved Blossom Kite Festival (March 29) near the Washington Monument and the parade (April 12).