(Image credit National Cherry Blossom Festival)

One hundred and ten years since DC received the gift of its cherry trees from Tokyo, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, an iconic springtime celebration is returning to in-person festivities with the Kite Festival, too.

While 2020 and 2021’s springtime events were celebrated virtually at home, Cherry Blossom Festival President Diana Mayhew announced back in November 2021 that signature events will be back in person and citywide from March 20 – April 17, 2022.

While the majority of the events center around the Tidal Basin with the beautiful trees, Cherry Blossoms actually bloom in every neighborhood across Washington, and a variety of events take place during the festival.

For 2022, the Festival’s Opening Ceremony, held March 20th at the Warner Theatre, will feature Japanese music and samurai sword dancers. The Sakura Matsuri — the U.S.’s largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the U.S. — will be even bigger as it will be held on two days. And the popular parade will again return to its route on April 9th featuring a performance by American pop icon Taylor Dane.

But one of the most popular events that Cherry Blossom Festival participants look forward to each year is the Annual Blossom Kite Festival.

For the first time in two years, the Blossom Kite Festival is returning to the National Mall on Saturday, March 26, 2022, from 10 am – 4:30 pm. This year marks the 55^th anniversary of the beloved springtime kite-flying tradition and will feature kite performances and competitions, kite-making activities, a Family Field with children’s activities, and other features suitable for all ages. The iconic outdoor event is fun, free, and open to the public.

The Festival invites people in the greater Washington, D.C., area and beyond to rediscover spring during the larger celebration on the National Mall or in their own neighborhood parks in D.C. and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia — and kite-flying is definitely one of the easiest ways to participate in the fun wherever you are! 

For participants to join the celebration from their homes, favorite neighborhood park, or anywhere across the globe, they should visit https://bit.ly/2022BlossomKiteFestival to find a Featured Park to show off their skills, virtually learn how to make and fly kites, and take to the skies on March 26^th and 27^th. 

Kite flyers can even purchase commemorative kites from previous years while supplies last, and the 2022 commemorative kite featuring the work of 2022 Official Artist Lea Craigie-Marshall, which will be available for purchase at a later date.

“The Blossom Kite Festival will once again welcome our neighbors from our community and across the world to join the colorful spectacle against the backdrop of the Washington Monument and the iconic cherry trees,” said Diana Mayhew, President and CEO of National Cherry Blossom Festival. “We are excited to see the kites soaring high on the National Mall and in neighborhood parks throughout the region during this beautiful outdoor springtime celebration. We encourage all participants to tag their experiences on social media using the hashtag #BlossomKiteFestival.” 

The Blossom Kite Festival is supported by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI), Chase, Mars Petcare, and LaCroix Sparkling Water. Media partners include Washington Parent and iHeart Radio.

For more information on the Blossom Kite Festival, visit https://bit.ly/2022BlossomKiteFestival and sign up for the Festival newsletter to be the first to know the latest information about the Blossom Kite Festival, including when the 2022 commemorative kite will be available.