Your D.C. Weekend: Cherry Blossom Festival finale
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The Cherry Blossom Festival parade takes over downtown D.C. on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of National Cherry Blossom Festival
It's the National Cherry Blossom Festival's final weekend — and they've saved some of the best for last.
Why it matters: Peak bloom may have come and gone, but this weekend is still packed with spring energy.
Festivals! Parades!
🥁 Dance and Taiko Groupe (Friday): Thunderous drums plus high-energy dance at the Kennedy Center from one of Japan's top groups from Tamagawa University. Free.
🎊 Festival Parade (Saturday): Even if you're not a "parade person" (we get it), the 10-block procession of dancers, musicians and springtime floats is almost guaranteed to melt your winterized heart — plus performances from chart-topper David Archuleta and Grammy winner Raheem DeVaughn.
- It's free, but you can book tickets for seating along the route and performance zone ($28-$45).
🍻 Blossom Bazaar (Saturday): Head to the Bridge District's new Atlas Brew Works for a makers market and live music experience. Events are happening in the nabe all weekend. Free registration.
🍢 Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival (Saturday-Sunday): The annual Japanese festival, now in its 64th year, is one of the best blossom events of the festival — 24+ hours of entertainment with Sumo wrestling, J-pop music, ticketed sake tastings, street food and more along Pennsylvania Avenue. Tickets start at $20.
🍵 Japanese pop-up market and tea (Saturday-Sunday): Cherry blossom events take over Dupont Circle with a vendor market, tea in the park, and "The Art of the Kimono" presentation at Dupont Underground. Free.
🍶 Mark your calendar: The 4th annual Spring Sake Festival is next Thursday at the Marriott Capitol Hill with over 100 tastes of sake — including rare and limited varieties — led by top sake pros. Tickets $100.
More weekend fun!
🌸 Blossom Soiree (Friday): The U.S. Botanic Garden kicks off its "America's State Flowers" exhibition, celebrating the 250th with a spring soiree featuring live jazz, pretty sips and more. Tickets $35.
- See our full America 250 guide for locals.
🏒 The Caps take on the Penguins Sunday at 3pm — and tickets are trending towards the most expensive in home history, thanks to a chance it could be Ovi's last game.
🍺 DC Beer Fest (Saturday): Over 80 breweries take over Nationals Park, plus a dueling piano bar, live tunes and food truck fare. Tickets $66.
🌹 Georgetown Flower Tour (Saturday): Collect stems at a dozen small businesses. Tickets $44 ($85 with flower workshop).
🐶 Paws & Petals Yappy Hour (Sunday): Head to Metro Bar for a pup-friendly happy hour with cherry treats and adoptable pets.