Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Dates Announced

Mark your calendars (in cherry blossom pink, of course) for March 26 through 30, which, the National Park Service predicts, will be when the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin will be in peak bloom.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival organization announced the news via Twitter (@CherryBlossFest) at 10:48 a.m. on Monday, March 4:

ANNOUNCING: The @NatlParkService blossom prediction is.... March 26-30! #cherryblossom

The peak bloom will coincide nicely with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which starts on March 20 and concludes with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 13.

Many events—from photography workshops to a Pink Tie Party to a Cherry Blossom Food Tour, in addition to the parade—are scheduled to take place as part of the festival. Visit the festival's website for a full list of events by date.

Of course, with pale pink blossoms come many feet: "More than a million people are expected to visit Washington over the four weeks of the National Cherry Blossom Festival," The Huffington Post reported. 

Those wanting to avoid the crowds might opt to stay a little closer to home by visiting the Kenwood neighborhood of Chevy Chase, which is well-known for its approximately 1,200 Yoshino trees (the same type of cherry trees that circle DC’s Tidal Basin), Chevy Chase Patch reported.

Where is your favorite place to see and photograph cherry blossoms in the DC area? Tell us in the comments.