Welcome to the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Your journey as a volunteer starts here! We are so happy to have you join us!
We will need volunteers for the 2026 Signature Events listed below along with several community events! If you are a first time volunteer, click the "Fill in an Application" button on the right side of your screen to join our volunteer corps. By applying, you will be able to sign yourself up for any available roles at our signature and community events!
If you are a returning volunteer with an existing account, you can log in and update your information any time!
Do you have questions about volunteering or need help getting into your account? Email us at volunteer@ncbfdc.org.
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2026 Signature Events
BloomFest at the Tidal Basin
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.
Performances will be featured on the ANA stage from 12 PM – 6 PM during Peak Bloom, rain or shine. The Performance schedule is listed below.
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.
The Blossom Kite Festival is one of the most vibrant and unique celebrations on the Mall, with family-friendly kitemaking activities, musical performances, and more. Pack a picnic, and launch your kite among thousands of other participants.
The event also features Sakura Taiko Fest, produced by Washington, DC-based Japanese drumming group, Miyako Taiko. An incredible lineup of Taiko drummers from across the country will take the stage at the Sylvan Theatre from Noon–5 PM for a high-energy, rousing celebration of sound.
Petalpalooza
Celebrate spring at Petalpalooza®, for a full day of live music and engaging activities!
This day-long all-ages spring streety party brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River. The evening is capped by the dazzling choreographed Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show set to music starting at 8:30 PM.
This event is FREE and fun for all ages.
Parade
The Nation’s Springtime Parade was an amazing sight on Constitution Avenue this year! Grand colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a spectacle of music and showmanship celebrating spring in Washington, DC.
Mission Statement
The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Today’s Festival now spans four weeks and welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Events are primarily free and open to the public.
