The Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms.

The city of Washington will celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival in its usual fashion, with lots of trees and tourists. The festival is Washington’s signature springtime event and is considered the beginning of tourist season. City officials hope the weather will cooperate. Good weather always brings a sigh of relief to officials, who cross their fingers and hope for pleasant weather and a good turnout each year. With the recession, it’s especially important that tourists spend substantial money, which they’re more likely to do if they’re out and about exploring the city and not inside taking shelter from rain.

The first festival was held in 1935 to commemorate the gift of cherry trees to the United States from Japan. Initially, Tokyo gave Washington 3,000 trees in 1912, according to the festival’s official web site. Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson accepted 3,800 more trees in 1965.

The Festival begins on Saturday, March 27 with Family Day at the National Building Museum at 401 F Street, NW. The free public event runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with numerous activities to partake in, including the construction of koi (goldfish) from paper and fabric that children can take home and suspend from their ceilings. The opening ceremony, which will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., will showcase Japanese and Western entertainment.

“The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day and opening ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for us to welcome visitors from D.C., and around the country,” said president and executive director of the National Building Museum, Chase Rynd, in 2009.

“Family Day captures the spirit of the Festival with free entertainment for kids of all ages and their families,” said Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Among the most notable activities to be held during the two-week event is the annual parade Saturday, April 10 along Constitution Avenue. Parade performers will include American Idol finalist Justin Guarini and Miss America 2010, Virginia’s own Carissa Cameron. Tickets cost $17 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Following the parade, the Japan-America Society will host the 50th annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, featuring a Japanese beer garden, Japanese pop culture, traditional crafts, cuisine, martial arts and more.

A festival favorite, the annual fireworks display, will illuminate the waterfront Saturday, April 3 starting at 8:30 p.m. The ship, Spirit of Washington, will hold a buffet dinner cruise with a unique vantage point of the fireworks for those willing to pay the $90.90 fee, up from last year’s $75 price tag.

The fireworks may be best viewed from the Southwest Waterfront Promenade or East Potomac Park, which are accessible via the Waterfront-SEU metro stop on the Green Line.

Between paddle boats, photo safaris, bicycle tours, cruises and walks, the 1 million visitors expected at the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival will have many ways to see the District’s famed flowers.

For more information, visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org.

By: KJ Mushung

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