Cherry blossoms peak now
Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms are at peak bloom at the Tidal Basin this week — now is the optimal window for viewing before weekend crowds swell ( ). The Blossom Kite Festival is scheduled this Saturday at the Washington Monument Grounds and the official parade is set for April 11 — note parts of the Tidal Basin remain closed for seawall work but plenty of prime spots are open (nbcwashington.com).
The National Park Service declared the Tidal Basin cherry trees to be in peak bloom on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (dcnewsnow.com) NPS had earlier forecast peak bloom to occur March 29–April 1, and the agency says once peak bloom begins the blossoms typically remain on the trees for seven to 10 days. (nps.gov) Peak bloom is defined as roughly 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms open, a stage NPS monitors by trained staff; a naturalist now walks a roughly 45‑minute loop around the Tidal Basin to hand‑count blooming trees when making the determination. (gulfcoastnewsnow.com) The Tidal Basin seawall and West Potomac Park rehabilitation is a roughly $113 million project that NPS says finished the first phase months ahead of schedule, with officials reporting the work came in about $30 million under budget. (nps.gov) There are about 3,800 cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and National Mall; NPS and project updates say roughly 150 trees were removed for construction and about 250–300 new trees are being planted as replacements. (gulfcoastnewsnow.com) Park officials and festival organizers project roughly 1.5 million visitors to Washington for cherry blossom season this year, a figure cited in recent NPS and local reporting. (gulfcoastnewsnow.com) NPS notes that walkways through the Tidal Basin restoration zone—specifically the segment between the Jefferson Memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial—remain closed during the bloom, while clearly marked alternate routes and the full Tidal Basin loop are open. (nps.gov)
