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If you missed the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s 2012 Centennial Celebration luncheon at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place) recently, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do! The occasion allowed for a festive peak at the events and activities slated for the upcoming, unprecedented five-week celebration of the 100th anniversary of Tokyo’s gift of trees to Washington, DC. Among the highlights unveiled: the free Opening Ceremony, taking place on Sunday, March 25, will be held for the first time at the Convention Center, with tickets distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis; National Geographic will publish Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival; and First Lady Michelle Obama will serve as the honorary chair.
That’s only the beginning. The Festival, which generates more than $150 million in direct spending for DC and partners with more than 40 organizations—including many of the world’s greatest cultural organizations—will engulf the city in pink. Imagine pink lighting and blossom images on iconic buildings; decals on cars, storefronts, and public transit; and even on your briefcase and water bottle! Learn more and get your City in Bloom toolkit.
The 2012 extravaganza will occur from Tuesday, March 20, the first day of spring, through Friday, April 27, Arbor Day. DowntownDC BID Executive Director Richard H. Bradley noted that the nation’s greatest springtime fete has indisputably become associated with Washington, DC, and is a signature event attracting hundreds of thousands of international, national, and regional visitors every spring with its artistic and cultural offerings.
Official artwork—a centennial poster by world renowned artist Peter Max—was unveiled at the luncheon and is available for sale online. In March, the US Postal Service (USPS) will roll out a beautiful, new Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever stamp, which includes two postage stamps that form a single, panoramic view of cherry blossom trees in full bloom around the Tidal Basin.
For complete information about Family Days, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and the Blossom Kite Festival and more, visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
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