The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington is almost here − and there are plenty of ways for travelers from all over to celebrate. The festival runs from March 20 to April 14 with everything from a kite festival to a parade to fireworks and more. Beyond the festival, visitors can take in the cherry blossoms via river cruises, walking around the National Mall and otherwise exploring the city. The National Mall and Memorial Parks division of the National Park Service announced that the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom April 1. "Based on the current conditions and forecast, you can expect to see the trees in blossom for the next seven to 10 days," the group tweeted. Here's a look at seven events and experiences travelers should check out while they're in town (the festival's opening ceremony on March 23 is already sold out): Prediction:This is when cherry blossoms are expected to hit peak bloom in Washington, D.C. Friday, March 22 Time: 7 to 11 p.m. Where: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center Price: $225 Those looking for a swankier event (and for adults 21 and older) to appreciate the season can go to the Pink Tie Party, which includes an open bar, local restaurants' food and cocktails plus music and dancing. Saturday, March 23 Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum The festival is partnering with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to highlight Japanese culture. This event will feature Japanese music and dance performances, face painting and a scavenger hunt, among other activities. Saturday, March 30 Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Grounds of the Washington Monument Ever wanted to see thousands of kites soar above the Washington Monument? Now's your chance. Travelers also don't need to worry about packing a kite to take part in the fun as the festival will be selling kites there. Friday, April 5 Doors: 6 p.m., Show: 7:30 p.m. Where: The Anthem Price: $55 - $95 In its second year, the Blossom Bash concert will feature pop star Meghan Trainor. The concert will take place at The Anthem in the Southwest region of the city by The Wharf. Saturday, April 6 Time: noon to 9:30 p.m. (fireworks at 8:30 p.m., pending weather) Where: The Wharf The name speaks for itself, doesn't it? To break it down: Visitors can spend an afternoon and whole night at The Wharf by checking out live music, a beer garden and even a fireworks show. River cruises Travelers have the chance to gaze at the cherry blossoms while cruising on the Potomac River. Several companies offer tours. The landscape (and selfie) photo opportunities speak for themselves. Walking (and stopping) around the National Mall At the end of a museum-filled day in the District, nothing really beats gawking at the cherry blossoms for hours on end to recharge. Whether visitors take a break to sit down to do so or move from tree to tree, that's their prerogative. For more ways to celebrate the festival and to stay up to date on peak bloom predictions, visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival's website.<doc-sep>The blossoms are expected to reach the third stage of development — extension of florets — pretty quickly. This year's peak bloom period is predicted to be April 3–6. Florets are visible on the iconic Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin on the National Mall. That means they’ve reached the second stage of their carefully monitored blooming process The National Park Service made it official Monday. “We had a couple warm days late last week, especially Friday where we got up around 70. And that gave us the warm temperatures, the push we needed,” said the park service’s Mike Litterst. Last year, the trees reached stage two a few days earlier, on March 15, but the dates can vary quite a lot. Litterst said there are usually about 17 days between the time the blossoms reach stage two and peak bloom. This year’s peak bloom period, defined as the time when 70 percent of the Yoshino tree blossoms are open, is predicted to be April 3–6. The blossoms are expected to reach the third stage of development — extension of florets — pretty quickly. “We’re certainly looking for the next stage to happen probably by late this week — Thursday or Friday,” Litterst said. The 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 to April 14.<doc-sep>Community Corner DC Cherry Blossom Peak: Flowers Start To Appear The D.C. cherry blossoms are inching ever closer to peak bloom, and have reached Stage 2 thanks to warm temperatures. Reply The D.C. cherry blossoms are inching ever closer to peak bloom, and have reached Stage 2 thanks to warm temperatures. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC -- A super-warm Friday has helped the D.C. cherry blossoms reach Stage 2 as we get closer to peak bloom, officials say. The National Park Service tweeted this week that florets were now visible on the Yoshino cherry blossom trees thanks to the warm weather. Florets are small flowers that mark the start of blooming for the cherry blossoms. Friday's warm temperature gave the cherry blossoms the boost they needed to reach stage two of the #BloomWatch - florets visible! #CherryBlossom pic.twitter.com/nbcOuCSri6 — National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 18, 2019 The NPS is predicting that peak bloom will happen sometime in early April, but that is a moving target that depends heavily on the weather leading up to that date. If the cherry blossoms do peak in early April, that will be a little bit later than the 30-year average of March 31, but right on time for the 1921-2018 average of April 3, says the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. Last year, peak bloom happened April 5 after a cold and snowy March. "The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April," reads the NPS website. "Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958)."<doc-sep>
People flock from all over to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., come springtime. But when will the photogenic trees hit peak bloom in 2019? This year, peak bloom is predicted for April 3 to 6, according to Jeffrey Reinbold, acting superintendent of the National Park Service - National Mall and Memorial Parks. The dates were revealed at a news conference hosted by the National Cherry Blossom Festival, an event that's been around for more than 90 years, and will run from March 20 to April 14 this year. This prediction, however, is only as good as the weather forecast, Mike Litterst of the NPS told USA TODAY. He explained that in some years, the forecast has been spot-on (such as in 2015), but that last year, for example, officials had to revise the date twice (peak bloom in 2018 fell on April 5). The average dates for peak bloom are April 3 and 4. How does NPS reach such predictions? Litterst explains: "Our horticulturists look at three main factors: They're looking at the historic record (what's happened in years past as far as temperature trends and bloom dates); we're looking at obviously the forecast short and long-term as we go forward; and looking at the trees themselves." It was easy to get excited for spring during the festival's presentation: The event featured everything from a drummer on a hoverboard (Malik Stewart) to a woman in a pink wig on stilts. Gwynne Flanagan, a circus performer, sported a cherry-blossom-adorned pink umbrella, tutu and pants. People couldn't help but take pictures and selfies with her. National Cherry Blossom Festival events will include everything from a parade on April 13 to the Blossom Bash at The Anthem music venue on April 5 featuring pop star Meghan Trainor. Other highlights include the annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and a special "Yappy Hour" at Milk Bar. More than 1.5 million people visit the festival every year, Diana Mayhew, president of National Cherry Blossom Festival told USA TODAY. Mayhew also made a pitch for the cherry tree endowment campaign from the Trust for the National Mall and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, noting a $1,000 donation can fund a tree (there are 3,800 on the National Mall). Mayhew estimates hundreds of thousands of people have gotten married or engaged under the trees, and she welcomed those people to celebrate their anniversaries with an endowment.