Every year, as the trees turn pink, WCHS students head to Washington, DC, for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year will be no different when the cherry blossoms finally reach their peak, meaning that 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees have bloomed, from the last week of March and the first week of April.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual spring event in DC that celebrates the gifting of 3,000 cherry trees by the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, in 1912. The trees were gifted as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. What began as an event to welcome spring grew to be a major cultural event that includes a parade, fireworks, performances and Japanese-inspired events. Although there have been challenges to the cherry blossoms, for example in World War II, when U.S. relations with Japan were strained, the cherry blossoms have survived and remained a symbol of peace and renewal.
WCHS senior Isabella Harrison has been attending the Cherry Blossom Festival for years and can’t wait to continue this tradition with her friends and family.
“I attended the Cherry Blossom Festival last year with my friends,” Harrison said. “Growing up in Maryland, I have actually been going for years now and it never gets old. The blossoms are just so gorgeous and everything is pink.”
Harrison recalls celebrating the blooms at the Tidal Basin and viewing the numerous performances and works of art shown at the festival.
“My friends and I spent the day walking around the Tidal Basin looking at the Blossoms, taking pictures and watching the different performances featured at the festival.” Harrison said. “It was so much fun, I want to return this year.”
While Harrison has been taking part in this celebration for years, WCHS senior Jordyn Hoffman is excited to go to DC this year for her first Cherry Blossom Festival. She looks forward to seeing the pretty trees and cultural events.
“I have never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival before but I’m going with my family this year,” Hoffman said. “I’m very excited, I think it will be a cool experience to see all the trees and watch the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.”
Hoffman feels that those in the WCHS community are lucky to live with the nation’s capital being only a short car ride away, especially since DC is a destination that many from all over the country\ visit.
“I can’t believe I’ve never been because it’s an event that people travel to attend but, for us it’s so local,” Hoffman said. “I feel like we should take advantage of our proximity to DC because there are so many cool events there.”
