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News Archive for National Cherry Blossom Festival

TOP 100 EVENTS 06.22.09 11:30 AM

Washington's Top Parades, Walks & Festivals 2009

National Cherry Blossom Festival
Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

1. National Cherry Blossom Festival
More than one million visitors were expected for this two-week celebration in March and April, which included an opening ceremony at the National Building Museum, musical performances at the Tidal Basin, and a parade led by grand marshal Alex Trebek.

2. Smithsonian Folklife Festival
More than 23,000 musicians, artists, craftspeople, and cooks (along with one million spectators) will descend on the National Mall for this cultural celebration. Slated for June 24 to 28 and July 1 to 5, the festival will focus on Latin American music and Welsh traditions, among other themes.

3. National Black Family Reunion
The National Council of Negro Women organizes this 24-year-old event, expected to bring more than 500,000 participants to the National Mall on September 12 and 13 for a weekend of music, sports, networking, and educational events. MORE >>

Washington's Top 100 Events, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Smithsonian, National Council of Negro Women, Capital Pride, Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, Rolling Thunder

EVENT REPORT 03.27.09 8:30 AM

Cherry Blossom Media Launch Promotes Restaurants With Blossom-Inspired Cuisine

The Cherry Picks media launch event at Asia Nine
Photo: BizBash

Cherries may not be in season until June, but the red fruit still got all the glory at the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Cherry Picks media launch party yesterday afternoon at Asia Nine. From cherry-glazed foie gras to cherry-infused sake, the event offered up cherry-flavored bites from seven local restaurants—just a sampling of what some 40 eateries around Washington are putting forth for the festival, which runs from March 28 to April 12.

“This is the seventh year that we’ve coordinated this Cherry Picks promotion to really engage restaurants in the festival,” said Destination D.C. director of communications Rebecca Pawlowski. “In the years past the festival has brought 1 million visitors to the city, so it’s a great time for the restaurants to get exposure.”

MORE >>

National Cherry Blossom Festival, Destination D.C., Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington

EVENT REPORT 09.26.08 1:46 PM

Washington's Top Parades, Walks & Festivals 2008

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Photo: Courtesy of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

1. National Cherry Blossom Festival
More than 1 million visitors turned out to see the city’s signature pink flowers during this two-week event, which includes nearly 200 performances and a parade. Festival president Diana Mayhew and program manager Lillian Iverson are organizing the 97th celebration, slated to run March 28 to April 12.

2. Smithsonian Folklife Festival
More than 1 million people turn out for this 10-day festival on the National Mall. Held around July 4, the festival featured exhibits on Bhutan and NASA. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the National Park Service, the event is led by festival director Diane Parker. MORE >>

Washington's Top 100 Events, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure, Susan G. Komen Foundation, National Coucil of Negro Women, Smithsonian Associates, Capital Pride, N.A.S.A.

Q & A 03.28.08 3:57 PM

Cherry Blossom Festival Planner Prepares for Quick Changes and New Traffic Solutions

Lillian Iverson
Photo: Courtesy of Lillian Iverson

Washington’s springtime pride and joy, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, kicks off its two-week run tomorrow. The Washington, D.C., Convention & Tourism Corporation (newly named Destination D.C.) estimates that one million people will visit the famed trees and participate in adjacent events this year, with about 45 percent hailing from outside of the city. That could mean $184 million for local businesses and hotels. Festival program manager Lillian Iversen talked to us this week about the ins and outs of planning the festival, coordinating opening day with some 150 volunteers, and how she feels like Clark Kent.

The festival kicks off tomorrow. What are you working on now?
In the next few days, I'll be busy doing last-minute preparation for the family day and opening ceremony—a two-in-one event that takes place at the National Building Museum on Saturday. [Today] we load in a performance stage and more than 800 seats, inflate three giant helium balloons that float up in the great open space of the museum's four-story ceilings, create numerous stations for hands-on activities, and turn the place into a festival. But we do this knowing that [we only have] a 30-minute period on Saturday afternoon [to] shut down the family day and—like Clark Kent in the phone booth—quickly reset for the opening ceremony, with its international performances and remarks by Washington dignitaries. MORE >>

National Cherry Blossom Festival, Lillian Iversen

EVENT REPORT 02.29.08 10:33 AM

Food Network Brings Reality TV to Cherry Blossom Kickoff

The National Cherry Blossom Festival launch party
Photo: Ron Engle/Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated its second Pink Tie Party on Wednesday night at the Madison Hotel, kicking off the tourist-frenzied festival with a pink-hued dinner.

Festival president Diana Mayhew and program manager Lillian Iverson switched things up this year, letting the Food Network provide the evening's cuisine as part of the Dinner: Impossible show, which throws chef Robert Irvine and his crew into supposedly impossible situations. (Notices posted around the event stated, “This sign acknowledges your consent to appear on our televised documentary program.”) MORE >>

National Cherry Blossom Festival, Food Network

EVENT REPORT 05.17.07 3:40 PM

Cherry Blossom Fete Gets Pink

Photo: BizBash

Despite chilly temperatures, thoughts of spring were in the air at the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s 95th anniversary gala, which kicked off fund-raising efforts for the five-year run-up to the festival’s 100th anniversary. Held at the Renaissance M Street Hotel (it was the venue’s first event since its ongoing $26 million renovation began), the February 28 gala instituted a pink-tie dress code, to which most of the 160 guests adhered.

The decor followed suit, with Cherry Blossom Festival program manager Lillian Iverson taking her inspiration from—what else?—the blossoms themselves. “We wanted to turn it up a notch and really make it eye-catching,” Iverson said. MORE >>

National Cherry Blossom Festival

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