For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2009

DC is Pretty in Pink during the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Now in its 97th year, the National Cherry Blossom festival will once again bring its beautiful blooms to the nation's capital. The festival runs March 28-April 12, commemorating the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the people of Tokyo to the people of DC in 1912.

More than one million residents and visitors will be dazzled by more than 200 cultural performances, nearly 100 special events, and of course, the breathtaking Yoshino cherry blossoms. Festival traditions, including the 43nd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on March 28, as well as the Sakura Matsuri Street Festival and the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival on April 4, will also take place.

DC's hotels join in the excitement, offering fantastic packages with a cherry flair available exclusively at Washington.org. Book a Weekend Celebration Package at the St. Gregory Hotel and Suites' during the National Cherry Blossom Festival and receive breakfast for two, a Sunday champagne jazz brunch for two, complimentary parking, plus a special "Cherry Blossom Cocktail." Packages start at just $195 a night (taxes not included). Or book a room at the luxurious Fairmont Washington, DC. Their Cherry Blossom package includes overnight accommodations for two, complimentary valet parking and a box of beautiful cherry blossom note cards. Offered March 29-April 20, the package starts at just $189 a night (excluding tax and gratuities).

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Saturday, March 28 with the Family Day and Opening Ceremony at the National Building Museum. Kids can watch classic Japanese children's dances, listen to folk music performed on the koto, dress up in traditional Japanese clothing and make souvenirs to take home. The activities run from 10 am to 3:30 pm, before the Festival's official Opening Ceremony begins at 4 pm.

Bike and Roll offers a great way to get an up-close view of the beautiful blooms while learning about the nation's capital. The "Blossoms by Bike" tour takes peddlers of all levels around the scenic Tidal Basin as guides share the history of monuments, memorials and the cherry trees. The two-hour tours are offered weekdays at 3 pm and weekends at 9:30 am, noon and 3 pm, and reservations are recommended. The cost for adults is $32; for children 12 and under, it's $22, including bike rental, helmet, bottled water and a snack.

Visitors can explore the gorgeous blooms on foot with Washington Walks' ever-popular Cherry Blossoms Secret Stroll. Morning tours will take place March 30, and April 3, 6 and 10 at 10am. Afternoon tours are held March 28 and 29 and April 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 2pm. Reservations are not required and tours are held rain or shine.

For the seventh year, DC restaurants will be participating in Cherry Picks, two weeks in which dining hotspots throughout the city showcase their culinary creativity by highlighting cherry-flavored and blossom-inspired entrees, cocktails, or multi-course menus during the festival. This year, restaurant savings program GoOut2Eat.com is sponsoring Cherry Picks by offering additional values, specials and promotions to DC restaurant lovers, making the cherry-inspired event even sweeter. At Ps7’s try the Cherry-Chocolate Linzer Tart, made of tangerine granite, orange blossom liquid and chocolate crumbles. Or stop by the Roof Terrace Restaurant at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for their savory Duck Breast Montmorency, with muscovy duck breast, swiss chard, herb-roasted red finglering potatoes and a black cherry reduction.

For more cherry blossom information, visit Washington.org/cherryblossom.

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About Destination DC:  Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.