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Cherry Blossom Season
A 31-day journey filled with exciting programming, festivals, and events from 70 embassies, passport DC is the perfect time to experience a special cultural infusion in the DC area. As the month of May celebrates International Cultural Awareness Month, those in the area can also enjoy open houses, special performances, and workshops celebrating cultures from all over the world. Events will begin May 6-7, and will last until the end of May! For a full list of this year ’ s activities, visit PASSPORT DC - www.culturaltourism.org (culturaltourismdc.org), !
Visit the Art Museum
The National Gallery of Art is a great place to visit this Spring. The neoclassical West Building of the National Gallery of Art houses one of the best collections of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art from the 13th to the 20th centuries. The East Building is a fourstory structure that houses predominantly modern and contemporary art. The East Building is currently closed due to renovations but is set to reopen this upcoming June. The National Gallery of Art is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is always free. For more information visit https://www.nga.gov/index.html.
White House Easter Egg Roll
This activity is perfect to get out with the kids and the rest of the family! The Easter Egg Roll is a time when children and families from across the country assemble on the White House's South Lawn for egg rolling, storytelling, photo opportunities, entertainment, and other fun activities. The Biden Administration will hold its first Easter Egg Roll on April 18th. Children who attend are also given a special souvenir wooden egg as a keepsake. Tickets for the Easter Egg Roll are free and made available via an online lottery. There is also an online lottery available for adults who want to volunteer. To enter the lottery for tickets visit https://whitehouse.gov1.info/easter-egg-roll/.
National Botanic Garden
The National Botanic Garden is a live plant museum that educates over one million people each year about the importance of plants to not only humans but all of the earth's ecosystems. The museum offers many different exhibits such as the famous Conservatory, a greenhouse with two courtyard gardens, and ten glass-enclosed garden rooms. The Botanic Garden offers an experience to explore a diverse range of plants and settings, providing a full sensory experience that includes sight, smell, and sound. The Botanic Garden is always free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you want to fully immerse yourself in nature this Spring, this museum is the place to be! For more information visit https://www.usbg.gov.
Cherry Blossom Season The History and Importance
ByMonetHeath As the spring season approaches, the excitement of cherry blossoms beginning to regrow is happening in the DC community. The history of cherry blossoms in the DC community dates back to the early 1910s. The cherry blossom plant originated in China. However, the country of Japan has celebrated the cherry blossom season as early as the 1800s. The celebration of the cherry blossom symbolized blooming in spring. Former First Lady Helen Taft visited Japan and grew a liking towards the cherry blossom tree. She was offered to receive a donation of 2,000 trees by Tokyo mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1909. Unfortunately, there was an issue with the trees because they were infected with insects and diseases. This forced former President William Taft to burn all of the trees. After learning about the incident, mayor Ozaki and others involved in the original donation were upset to hear about the outcome. Ozaki decided to make another donation to ensure that they received proper trees and everything was ok. In March of 1912, cherry blossom trees arrived in Washington DC and were planted. A small ceremony was held following the arrival of the trees. Since the cherry blossom tree has arrived in Washington DC, the celebration has grown. People from all over the world travel to experience the beauty of the cherry blossom tree.
There are many opportunities for visitors to be able to experience the cherry blossoms.
