2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Thursday: Here's what's ahead

WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — The 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off Thursday morning.

Last year, the festival attracted over 1.5 million visitors to the nation's capital. The influx of tourists resulted in an estimated $202 million in visitor spending within the District.

Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, discussed the festival's plans for this year.

"We're very excited it's here. The show's about to just begin," said Mayhew.

Mayhew said the organization will be offering over 100 free performances over the next 16 days.

LIST | Events and activities in DC to check out during Cherry Blossom season

"There's just so many things happening for the next four weeks," Mayhew added.

7News asked Mayhew if the Tidal Basin's seawall project would impact any of the plans that year and she said it would only close down a very small part of the basin.

"We definitely recommend people taking Metro that there is very limited parking and the parking that is here will be affected by that construction, but other than that there is still ways to walk around the Tidal Basin to view the trees that won't impede that really at all," Mayhew added.

The festival coincides with the cherry trees reaching the halfway point to peak bloom. The National Park Service announced that the trees are currently at stage three of six, known as the extension of florets. The next stage is peduncle elongation!

The cherry trees' blossom development is dependent on weather conditions. On average, cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin reach peak bloom between late March and early April, though the exact timing depends on weather conditions. Last year, the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17.

Be sure to join 7News at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 12. 7News' Adam Longo, Megan Clarke and Michelle Marsh will be hosting the parade which runs along Constitution Avenue starting 10 a.m.

7News is a proud partner of the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival, from March 20 to April 13. The event is full of weeks of cultural events, parades, and blooming celebrations in the city.