Cherries in Bloom

More reliable than the first robin, Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival is a sure sign that spring has arrived.

The event, held annually since 1935, draws almost three-quarters of a million visitors to the nation's capital to witness the stunning vision of thousands of cherry blossoms in bloom and celebrate the cultural ties between the U.S. and Japan.

Enjoying the pink and white blossoms is only part of the fun, though. River cruises, exhibits, music and dance performances, sporting events, a gala parade and an all-day street fair are among the activities scheduled for the festival's two-week run, from March 31 to April 15.

The roots of the festival were planted in 1912, when the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry blossom trees to our capital as a gesture of friendship. In 1965, 3,800 more of the trees were presented to Lady Bird Johnson, who in her role as first lady was active in conservation and beautification initiatives.

In 1999, the number of trees was boosted again with planted cuttings from a Japanese cherry blossom tree believed to be more than 1,500 years old. There are now 12 varieties of these trees spread throughout the Tidal Basin area, East Potomac Park and the grounds of the Washington Monument.

When To Go

The National Park Service predicts that this year's blooms will be at their peak April 3 through April 5, so plan accordingly if the flowers are your priority.

Otherwise, scan the festival's schedule of events: Some events, such as the Spirit of Japanese Gardens photo exhibit, the Japanese Contemporary Prints exhibit, bike tours and photo safaris, run for the length of the festival, or even longer.

But you just have one shot at other activities, like the kite festival, fireworks, regatta and dinner cruise. Not surprisingly, many of the events are scheduled for the weekends, but you'll miss the crowds if you go during the week.

The biggest crowds turn out for the parade, which starts at 10 a.m. on April 14.

East meets West when grand marshals Mickey and Minnie Mouse, wearing traditional Japanese clothing, lead the parade down Constitution Avenue, followed by floats, huge inflatable balloons, marching bands and Pan-Asian drummers and dancers. There will be musical performances by Bianca Ryan, Ace Young and Grammy-winning vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

After the parade, the throngs head for the 46th annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, the largest one-day exhibition of Japanese culture in the U.S.

Traditional Japanese performances, karaoke and pop music are showcased on three stages; martial arts will rule on another stage. There are also cultural exhibits, the Ginza Marketplace for shopping, food vendors and a Japanese beer garden in which to relax and rest your feet.

Town for All Seasons

When you've had your fill of celebrating the glorious flowering trees, there's plenty more to see and do in Washington.