The Tidal Basin's cherry blossoms provide an iconic image of springtime DC, but April and May are filled with a wide variety of annual events celebrating the season. (Photo courtesy of National Cherry Blossom Festival)

The DC Lineup for the spring: Learn about world cultures, chocolate, the environment and more

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Apr 4, 2019 Last updated Apr 15, 2019

Spring 2019 has finally arrived in the District after a long, stormy winter. For some local residents, it’s the return of baseball to Nationals Park that marked the change in seasons. Others see the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin — and the citywide festival the accompanies their annual bloom — as signaling the start of spring.

Beyond baseball and cherry blossoms, however, a varied slate of annual festivals over the next two months will showcase what DC is all about. And whether it’s diplomacy, culture, nature, food, research or signature city traditions, there’s reason for everyone to get out and enjoy the season.

We’ve expanded our usual weekend lineup to create a special seasonal listing — and spoke with some of the folks who organize these events year after year to get a behind-the-scenes look at what makes spring in the District unique. A detailed listing follows a few highlights.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

First things first: The peak bloom of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin each year yields the most identifiable images of springtime in DC, and an array of complementary activities are taking place through Sunday, April 14, as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The first celebration was held in 1927 with kids re-enacting the original planting and festivities. In 1935, civic groups further developed the event to celebrate the now iconic floral display, according to the festival’s website. Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual four-week program that honors the 3,000 cherry trees that Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gifted to the city in 1912 and the long-standing friendship between Japan and the United States.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the 3,000 cherry trees given to the District by Tokyo’s mayor in 1912. (Photo courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival)

Nora Strumpf, the festival’s communications coordinator, told The DC Line that she sees the historic event as “something people can keep coming back to year [after] year to make new memories — and it really has that nostalgic component to it that I think makes it so special for a lot of people.”

The festival also stays current with new attractions. This year, the sold-out opening ceremony on March 23 at Warner Theatre showcased the North American debut of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, a musical take on a popular comic. Singer Meghan Trainor will headline the Blossom Bash at The Anthem on Friday, April 5.

Though the main draw for many is the vast sea of cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, the festival hosts events in all eight wards of the District, making the festivities accessible to the entire city for over four weeks of programming. Featured events include Petalpalooza at The Wharf on Saturday, April 6; the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade along Constitution Avenue NW on Saturday, April 13; the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW on Saturday, April 13; and the Anacostia River Festival at Anacostia Park on Saturday, April 20 (the date was changed due to a forecast of inclement weather).

“This is a national event and we have visitors come from all over the world to experience this, but at its core we are a community event,” Strumpf said.

Of all of the activities, Strumpf’s favorite is the Blossom Kite Festival, which took place on March 30 on the grounds of the Washington Monument. “You have to see it to really get the full scope of how incredible and magnificent it is,” she explained. “Photos really don’t do it justice.”

Around the World Embassy Tour

Another event quintessential to the city’s cosmopolitan nature is Cultural Tourism DC’s Around the World Embassy Tour on Saturday, May 4. Last year, the embassies of 53 countries opened their doors to the public to share their culture and history, according to Cheryl L. Crowell, Cultural Tourism DC’s director of business development. Organizers are hoping to have at least that many embassies participate this year.

“It’s uniquely DC. There are very few other cities in the world where you can have that kind of experience,” Crowell noted.

Crowell also highlighted the event’s value to the embassies, whose diplomatic mission includes building community through programming that features music, fashion, food and more. “Quite frankly, in this political climate, it’s their opportunity to speak face to face and have people get to know their country through an experience as opposed to a headline or something else,” she pointed out.

Cultural Tourism DC executive director Steve Shulman explained that part of why he enjoys organizing this annual event is because the District is full of “thousands and thousands of people who are just darn curious and want to know.”

DC Chocolate Festival

Another event that attracts the city’s inquisitive population through educational opportunities is the DC Chocolate Festival, run by Marisol Slater, owner of The Chocolate House in Dupont Circle. Now in its fourth year, the festival will take place on Saturday, May 4.

In an interview, Slater said she gained her interest in the cacao chain from farm to consumer while studying for her master’s degree in development studies. She uses the festival as an opportunity to teach visitors about artisans “who are making chocolate bean to bar, start to finish,” Slater explained.

She said that the classes at the festival have been standing-room only, so people are excited to learn about topics such as sourcing, sustainability, farming, labor and pricing taught by makers, farmers, nonprofits, authors, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and other chocolate experts.

“People get soundbites in an article in The Economist or an article in The Washington Post about chocolate going extinct or something like that,” Slater went on to say. The festival classes, she said, allow them to delve further into the topic to get a better understanding. “This year we’ll have someone from USDA and also someone from … a university who will be talking about the different work that they’re doing both in the sourcing side and also in the actual farming side for different ways to grow cacao and things like that.”

In years past, the Chocolate Festival has been held at large hotel venues. It will be at the Embassy of France this year, which Slater is excited about since it has a “really different vibe” with high ceilings and “beautiful, light-filled windows.”

Flower Mart at the National Cathedral

For 102 years, All Hallows Guild has supported the landscape around the Washington National Cathedral. Its annual Flower Mart — taking place this year on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4 — raises funds to maintain the grounds with more than 70 booths full of spring garden plants and global floral displays from area embassies, plus family-friendly attractions such as dance and musical performances, food, games, carnival rides and a puppet show. The event also offers visitors the rare chance to ride on an antique carousel dating from around 1890 — one of just two remaining carousels manufactured by the U.S. Merry-Go-Round Corp.

Carrie Tydings, the group’s spokesperson, noted that hundreds of volunteers work for nine months and put in thousands of hours to produce the Flower Mart. The National Cathedral is located on Mount Saint Alban, which — as one of the highest points in DC at 377 feet above sea level — has “without a doubt, some of the most incredible views of Washington,” Tydings said. The cathedral itself stands 676 feet above sea level. “You can imagine on a clear day how far you can see into Virginia, down into DC and north into Maryland,” she said.

For the market’s 80th anniversary, organizers have selected the theme “Pollinator Power” to highlight the importance of bees, butterflies and other pollinators to our ecosystem. Tydings pointed out that this suits the natural, open-air setting. “How often can you [attend an event] in the beauty of the outdoors but also in the shadow of the National Cathedral?” she said.

Easter Monday and Earth Optimism Celebration

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s annual Easter Monday event coincidentally falls on Earth Day this year, providing another chance to engage with the environment this spring. The zoo is throwing an Earth Optimism Celebration to “celebrate the Earth and what’s going right in earth conservation,” the zoo’s deputy director of communications Annalisa Meyer told The DC Line.

With Earth Day coinciding this year with Easter Monday, the National Zoo will add an Earth Optimism Celebration to its annual Easter Monday celebrations this year. (Photo by Chris Kain)

The event — which has roots in a tradition that dates back to 1891, when African-American families in segregated Washington made the zoo a cornerstone of their Easter celebrations — will include egg hunts, live music, food trucks and games. There will also be opportunities for visitors to learn from staff members about animals and how they can help save species. Visitors can also hear from scientists about their work on wildlife research.

“We have scientists in over 30 countries that are directly helping the animals that you might come here and see in the wild,” Meyer explained in a statement. “The zoo was founded on the premise of conservation to begin with.”

Their researchers, veterinarians and curators work on multiple levels, from single animals to entire ecosystems, according to Meyer. For example, their work with Chinese counterparts since 1972 helped get giant pandas off the endangered species list; the bears’ status was upgraded to vulnerable in 2016.

Notwithstanding its name, the National Zoo also collaborates locally. For instance, it recently hosted free film screenings as part of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. “We are a tourist destination for sure, but we are in Washington, DC and the Smithsonian as well as the zoo wants to engage and serve the residents that surround us as much as the tourist that’s coming in from California or overseas,” Meyer said.

Meyer takes community engagement to heart since she has seen the impact the zoo has had on her own family. “My best memories are when I’ve dropped my daughter here and she’s had one of the moments that we hope to inspire in other children.” Meyer said. “[Whenever] she meets a keeper and they have an animal out, … her eyes are wide and she just looks amazed.”

For more awe-inspiring moments, check out these 20 annual events on The DC Lineup for spring 2019:

April

WHAT: National Cherry Blossom Festival
WHY: Commemorate the United States’ friendship with Japan with a variety of activities — from music and fireworks to a parade and Japanese street festival
WHEN: Through Sunday, April 14
WHERE: All eight wards of the District
HOW MUCH: Mostly free

WHAT: DC Comedy Festival
WHY: Watch local comedic talent
WHEN: Tuesday, April 9, through Saturday, April 13
WHERE: Various venues
HOW MUCH: Free and ticketed shows

WHAT: DC Emancipation Day Parade, Concert and Fireworks
WHY: Honor the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act to end slavery in the District
WHEN: Saturday, April 13
WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 14th Street NW
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Spring Azalea Tour
WHY: Learn about azaleas in the famed Arboretum Azalea Collections during this annual spring tradition
WHEN: Friday, April 19; Wednesday, April 24; Friday, April 26; Monday, April 29; and Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day)
WHERE: U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
HOW MUCH: $15

WHAT: Anacostia River Festival
WHY: Celebrate the Anacostia River at a festival presented by the 11th Street Bridge Park and National Park Service
WHEN: Saturday, April 20 (the date was rescheduled from April 13 due to a forecast of inclement weather)
WHERE: Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Drive SE
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Easter Monday and Earth Optimism Celebration
WHY: Observe Easter and Earth Day
WHEN: Monday, April 22
WHERE: Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: White House Easter Egg Roll
WHY: Take part in a tradition started by daring kids in 1878 to play egg-rolling games on the grounds of the White House
WHEN: Monday, April 22
WHERE: South Lawn of the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
HOW MUCH: Free entry for lottery winners only (now closed)

WHAT: Georgetown French Market
WHY: Support over 35 local businesses in a European-style outdoor market in Georgetown’s Book Hill neighborhood
WHEN: Friday, April 26; Saturday, April 27; and Sunday, April 28
WHERE: Wisconsin Avenue from O Street to Reservoir Road NW
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Arbor Day at Oxon Run Park
WHY: Celebrate the existing trees and plant new trees in DC’s largest city-maintained park
WHEN: Saturday, April 27
WHERE: Oxon Run Park, 13th Street and Valley Avenue SE
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Georgetown House Tour and Parish Tea
WHY: Visit historic 18th- and 19th-century homes to raise money for St. John’s Episcopal Church’s ministry and outreach programs
WHEN: Saturday, April 27
WHERE: Starting at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3240 O St. NW
HOW MUCH: $40 to $50

WHAT: Friends of the National Arboretum Garden Fair and Plant Sale
WHY: Buy rare and hard-to-find plants along with classics
WHEN: Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28
WHERE: U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
HOW MUCH: Free admission (Saturday morning is members-only)

May

WHAT: Flower Mart 2019: Pollinator Power
WHY: Support All Hallows Guild, a group that maintains the gardens of the Washington National Cathedral, and learn about the importance of bees, butterflies and other pollinators
WHEN: Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW
HOW MUCH: Ticketed and free activities

WHAT: DC Chocolate Festival
WHY: Learn about artisan chocolate and cacao
WHEN: Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road NW
HOW MUCH: $20

WHAT: Around the World Embassy Tour
WHY: Learn about different cultures from all over the world at one of Cultural Tourism DC’s signature events
WHEN: Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Primarily along Embassy Row and International Drive NW
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival
WHY: Raise awareness of Kingman and Heritage islands as a public park and help support educational programming provided by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region
WHEN: Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Kingman Island on the Anacostia River
HOW MUCH: $35

WHAT: European Union Embassies Open House
WHY: Learn about European countries and their national traditions at an annual event sponsored by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States and the embassies of 28 member states
WHEN: Saturday, May 11
WHERE: Primarily along Embassy Row and International Drive NW
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Georgetown Garden Tour
WHY: Explore seven hidden gardens in Georgetown and raise funds for the Georgetown Garden Club on a self-guided walking tour now in its 91st year
WHEN: Saturday, May 11
WHERE: Starting at Christ Episcopal Church, 31st and O streets NW
HOW MUCH: $40 before May 1; $45 on May 1 and afterward

WHAT: Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour
WHY: Visit 16 houses and gardens on the 62nd annual self-guided tour to support the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s programs such as tips for homeowners, walking tours and community forums
WHEN: Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12
WHERE: Between 10th and 13th streets from Constitution Avenue NE to E Street SE
HOW MUCH: $35 to $40

WHAT: Bike to Work Day
WHY: Enjoy bicycling as a environmentally friendly, fun, healthy commuting option at an event organized by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections
WHEN: Friday, May 17
WHERE: Throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia
HOW MUCH: Free

WHAT: Tour de DCPL
WHY: Participate in a community bike ride to explore how DC libraries connect with their communities
WHEN: Sunday, May 19
WHERE: Starting at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW; proceeding to Cleveland Park, Mount Pleasant, Petworth and Shaw, among other library facilities
HOW MUCH: Free

This post has been updated to reflect the rescheduled date for the Anacostia River Festival.