The 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC Begins March 29th and Continues for 2 Weeks

The 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC is set to begin Saturday, March 29th. If you have never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival, you have missed an opportunity to catch a very rare and beautiful occurrence that is unique to the Washington DC area. While visiting the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC you can occupy yourself by taking leisurely walks around the Tidal Basin and Washington Monument and you can also take part in many of the activities and festivals that take place during the 2 week long party.

The peak dates for the blooming of the cherry blossoms were Thursday March 27th and Friday March 28th. What this means is that at least 70% of the cherry blossoms are in bloom on those days. The blossoms began blooming several days before the peak days and will continue for two weeks afterwards. While the cherry blossoms are blooming you can expect to see a variety of bright, breathtaking colors. These will include various shades of white, pink, red and purple. The different colors represent the different types of cherry trees that line the area. But do not worry if you cannot be there during the "peak days"; there is plenty to see in the following weeks.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is accompanied by two weeks of festivities. Opening day for the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival is Saturday, March 29th and will include many exhibitions and activities. Origami demonstrations, Japanese food and drink, street festivals, fireworks and a kite festival all accompany the blooming of the cherry blossoms in Washington DC. Additionally, many restaurants will run specials and have themed food to go along with the beautiful sights and massive buzz about the city. For a full listing of events please visit the official website for the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival, www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

However, if you plan on attending the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival this year there are a few things you should be aware to deal with. The first is the sheer amount of people that visit the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC every year. With over one million people set to visit upon the Washington DC area this year to see the Cherry Blossom Festival over a two-week long period; well, you can do the math there. Additionally, this year the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival runs concurrently with several other big events in Washington DC. Chiefly the first game for the Washington Nationals in their new stadium and the National Marathon takes place.

This adds even more people into the mix and makes for an extremely crowded Washington DC metro area. As a result, you should absolutely avoid driving into and around the Washington DC area during the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival. Take advantage of the comprehensive DC Metro system and ride the rails to and from your destinations.

One positive to missing the peak days during the Cherry Blossom Festival is that the crowds will begin to level off. If there is any way you can avoid visiting the cherry blossoms during the weekends you should absolutely take advantage of that, as it is also highly recommended. With the limited crowds you will be able to drive and find a parking spot and walk around much more comfortably.