Are you bummed because you aren’t going to Japan this year? WELL, if you live in the United States, don’t forget about the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.! THIS YEAR is an especially GREAT year to go because they are celebrating 100 years from the time that cherry blossoms (sakura) were donated to Washington D.C. If we had not been able to go to Japan this year, we were DEFINITELY going to attend this event!
Here’s some more info from the official website:
“In 1912, an incredible gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees was bestowed on Washington, DC by Tokyo, Japan. Rooted strongly and surviving outside elements, the trees have withstood the test of time β and nearly a century later, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is preparing for an unprecedented and once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
The epic 5-week spectacular, from March 20 β April 27, 2012, will unify and electrify the city, the nation, and the world. Washington, DC and the region will be abuzz with excitement. Creativity and innovation will permeate signature Festival events elevating them to new heights, and ground-breaking Centennial exhibitions and programming will amaze and delight. Timeless traditions. Rich culture. Renowned artists. World-class performers. The community at its best!”
A lot of my friends with children attend this event. It is a great event for the entire family. There are parades, performances, food, music, kites, fireworks, and a ton more. Are any of you going this year, or have gone in the past? I hear the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom next week!
You can also GO HERE to see how you can help with Japan Relief Efforts.
Hiragana Mama 
thanks for the heads up. my family and i were planning on going to d.c. this year for spring break. this might be the reason to go. happy spring!
This is THE year to go! Have a great spring break π
That looks a little different from the Japanese festivals! π
Great blog. I’m a Scottish single dad with half Japanese daughters and I’ve been looking for some stuff to help them start relearning their other language again. I’ll be downloading the hiragana sheets for them.
Thanks for the visit!! π