The 2021 Cherry Blossom Festival will be a mix of virtual and in-person events this year from March 20 – April 11, 2021. While some of the Festival’s major events have been reimagined, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate Japan’s gift of these blossoming cherry trees to Washington, DC. Here are ten of our favorite ways to celebrate the cherry blossom festival for 2021.

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2021

Go on a Blossom Hunt. Head out on a search for the 25 giant Art in Bloom sculptures, painted by 25 talented local artists and installed in various locations across Washington, D.C., and in Maryland’s National Harbor and Virginia’s Aurora Hill and National Landing neighborhoods. Strike a pose, take a photo, and post it to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #ArtInBloom – anytime starting March 20. This is a great way to celebrate the cherry blossom festival in 2021.

Prettify your porch! Get into the spirit of spring by decorating your porch, yard, window, or balcony with all things spring for the Petal Porch Parade. Register on the Petal Porch Parade web page and then challenge your friends and neighbors to a friendly DIY design challenge. Install your creative design by March 20 and then plan a walk or drive around your community to see how others have brought the celebration of spring to their homes through Petal Porch Parade.

Don’t miss the Opening Ceremony, an artistic celebration of the 1912 gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., and an annual tribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the U.S. The one-of-a-kind production during the cherry blossom festival will be live-streamed on March 20 at 6:00 p.m. ET. It will be co-hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist, and Michelle Marsh, journalist with ABC 7 (WJLA), and feature special performances from acclaimed artists with ties to both countries, plus narration from Festival dignitaries.

Pink Tie Party with your pod! Gather your inner circle of friends and family for a fun evening of food, drink, fashion, entertainment, and more at the 2021 Pink Tie Party on March 26 – supporting D.C. area restaurants. This much-loved annual social event has been reimagined for a virtual platform.

You might be sitting in your living room, but you’ll be dressed to the nines, interacting with other partygoers, dining on a festive three-course dinner from a top local restaurant, entertained by top-notch local musicians, participating in a lively silent auction, and enjoying a sake tasting presented by sake samurai.

Find a new favorite restaurant. Choose from more than 170 restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia participating in Cherry Picks, starting March 20. With loads of dynamic food and drink choices, plus takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining options, there’s something for everyone. Try some new restaurants or support a couple of old favorites.

Go fly a kite! Make or buy a kite and join in the longstanding spring tradition of kite flying in your backyard or neighborhood park through Blossom Kite Fly anytime on March 27 or March 28. Get prepared with virtual kite-making workshops and videos of world-class kite flying demonstrations from Wings Over Washington Kite Club. Then, show everyone how you soared by sharing photos and videos on social media using the #BlossomKiteFly and #StepIntoSpring hashtags.

Flaunt your furry best friend. The first annual Paws & Petals Parade will give dog owners the opportunity to have Fido included as part of an entertaining virtual parade that will be posted to the Festival’s Instagram Story on April 3. People in the Washington, D.C., area and beyond can submit short videos of their dogs walking, prancing, doing tricks, and donning costumes for the chance to be featured in the Paws & Petals Parade video. The full gallery of submissions will be available for viewing on the website for the cherry blossom festival after the Instagram debut.

Tune in to the Celebration Show. This nationally syndicated variety entertainment show will bring the spirit of spring and the 2021 Festival into your living room. Co-hosted by Drew Barrymore and ABC 7’s Alison Starling, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration Show will feature an all-star lineup of performances and special appearances, including Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Norm Lewis, Samantha Diaz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Rachael Ray.

It will air locally on WJLA-TV (ABC 7) on April 10 and WJLA 24/7 News on April 11; and syndicate nationally throughout April, May, and June.

Get the kids involved. There are plenty of ways for young people to step into spring and celebrate the cherry blossom festival, including the Blossom Kids interactive website and the Girl Scouts’ Gift of Trees Patch Program. And, with most 2021 Festival activities, programs, and virtual events being family-friendly – from Art in Bloom and Blossom Kite Fly, to Petal Porch Parade and Petal Procession – kids will have lots of opportunities to celebrate spring.

Also, don’t miss the Student Art Showcase, featuring creative masterpieces from D.C. public and charter school students. After the Virtual Gallery Opening on March 30, all submissions plus commentary from D.C. arts leaders and Patrick Guyton, the 2021 official artist, will be viewable on the Student Art Showcase website.

Bookmark the Bloom Watch page. The leading destination for virtual “bloom watchers,” Bloom Watch is the go-to source for official updates about peak bloom during the cherry blossom festival, with details about the bloom stages and a link to #BloomCam, which is brought to you by the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Park Service and EarthCam.

Now, the Bloom Watch page will include new virtual ways for you to see the beloved cherry trees along the Tidal Basin and experience their peak bloom from anywhere – an on-demand virtual tour by National Park Service rangers and a 360-degree “bike ride” experience around East Potomac Park.

All 10 of these options allow you to celebrate the cherry blossom festival in 2021 safely.