Schedule of Events:

Blossom Kite Festival

Join us at the Washington Monument Grounds with soaring activities, music, competitions, and performances. Kite enthusiasts, beginners, families, and friends are all welcome.

Get ready to enjoy kite demonstrations and competitions, arts & crafts, and so much more. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for 2025!

Register Here

9:00 am - 1:00 pm: 27th Annual National Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk

27th Annual Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk, a non-competitive walk and program to raise awareness of the incarceration experience by those of Japanese American ancestry during World War II.

The National Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk is a historical and cultural event to raise awareness about the Japanese American experience during World War II and to highlight the vigilant role that American citizens must continue to play in preserving the Constitutional rights of all Americans. Built as a lasting tribute to the more than 33,000 Japanese American soldiers who served with great distinction in the U.S. Military, the Memorial also pays homage to the more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry unjustly relocated during World War II. It is also a testament to our nation's greatness that it does not fear acknowledging its mistakes.

Our program is free to all. Please visit the website at www.njamemorial.org/events. We will continue to update our website with registration and other information.

This year's theme is "Resilience: We Continue to Thrive," featuring a panel discussing resilience of those in camp and the military shape our thinking today.

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11:00 am - 3:00 pm: Family Day: Japanese Fashion

Celebrate culture and craft with a special family day dedicated to art you can wear!

People across time and cultures have expressed themselves through clothing and other adornments. This day of family-friendly art activities is inspired by beautiful kimonos, capes, robes and tunics on view in the museum’s centennial exhibition Intrinsic Beauty: Celebrating the Art of Textiles. To celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival, we will have a special focus on Japan with demonstrations of traditional dance and music, as well as “kirigami” crafts.

This event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Washington Wizards Cherry Blossom Game

Celebrate spring in Washington, DC with family and friends: come to a special cherry blossom-themed game and see the Wizards take on the Brooklyn Nets as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebration from March 20 to April 14.

A portion of proceeds supporting year-round care for the iconic trees through the Trust for the National Mall.

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12:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Sakura Taiko Fest at sylvan theater

The Sakura Taiko Fest has grown from a small concert first held in a dance studio to a full day of free, family-friendly taiko performances in downtown DC. Each year, we welcome a number of North American taiko groups and feature a variety of different taiko styles as a celebration of Japanese-American cultural and artistic traditions.

Miyako Taiko was founded in 2014 as a community group affiliated with the Mark H Rooney Taiko School. The group works together to strengthen its members’ practice of taiko, develop relationships within the taiko community, and broaden public knowledge of the art and traditions of taiko. They love to share their taiko and their energy at events in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Tidal Basin Welcome Area and ANA Stage

Witness peak bloom at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, while also experiencing entertainment representing Japanese, American, and other cultures!

Live performances among the blossoms at the Tidal Basin celebrate the longstanding friendship between the U.S. and Japan with a dynamic, cross-cultural mix of American, Japanese, and other performing arts. This year, we are expecting over 100 performances on the ANA Stage. Get ready to experience a variety of genres: Americana,  Bluegrass, Country, Jazz, Pop, RandB, and Rock. Expect a diverse array of dance styles and performances, including Japanese, Eastern European, Colombian, Indian, Flamenco, Tap and Clogging, Zumba, and double dutch!

Performance Schedule:

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: Joy of Motion Dance Center
12:45 pm - 01:15 pm: Sakura Horaku
01:30 pm - 02:15 pm: Flo Anito
02:30 pm - 03:15 pm: Tammy 'Got Abs' Wright
03:25 pm - 03:55 pm: Sachiyo Ito and Company
04:15 pm - 05:15 pm: Max Rosado and 7th St. Band
05:30 pm - 06:00 pm: Afta Shock DC