Blossoms Galore

This weekend, April 12 and 13, is the last weekend of DC’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. A parade featuring high school marching bands from around the country, cherry blossom queens, and giant balloons and floats will march down Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW, beginning at 10 am. For those interested in learning more about Japanese culture, the Sakura Matsuri, a Japanese Street Festival, will be held from 11 am to 6 pm after the parade. There will be Japanese food, art, music, and live stage performances. It is always a pleasure to see DC at its best when beautiful cherry blossoms line the streets. Don’t miss this opportunity, and while you’re there, visit to see one of DC’s museums. The Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture exhibition is open at the National Portrait Gallery and El Anatsui’s Gawu exhibit is showing at the National Museum of African Art. Both are free, so stop in for an hour or just a few minutes. So, if you are near DC this weekend, enjoy yourself and be sure to take advantage of these events.