The Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Spring 2024
You don’t have to fly all the way to Japan to see splendid cherry blossoms. With the emergence of their fluffy, delicate flowers, blossoming cherry trees are a sign that spring is well and truly here. All over the USA, individuals celebrate their bloom with annual festivals and simply enjoy the natural beauty of the cherry blossoms. As the blooming season approaches, discover the ten best places to see cherry blossoms and when to see them in 2024.
1. The National Mall, Washington, DC
When to experience it in 2024: Follow the National Park Service’s Bloom Watch for their peak bloom announcement on February 29. It is estimated that over 1.5 million visitors descend upon the US capital to gaze at the 3,000-plus trees during the three-week-long National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 20 to April 14.
The festival started with the planting of two trees gifted by Tokyo in March 1912. More than 100 years later, the cherry trees cluster around the picturesque Tidal Basin reservoir, and the festival has grown to include events throughout the city. Look for local restaurants and neighborhoods celebrating with special offerings.
2. Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis
When to experience it in 2024: Enjoy the blossom displays from the last two weeks of March through the first week of April. The Missouri Botanical Garden contains over 100 varieties of blossoming cherry trees, including specimens propagated from the original trees gifted to Washington, DC.
Many varieties can be found in the Japanese Garden, known as Seiwa-en. The garden’s “Sake and Sakura” event on April 5 celebrates the beauty of cherry blossoms through Japanese food and drink.
3. Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego, California
When to experience it in 2024: The Cherry Blossom Festival takes place from March 7 to 10. San Diego boasts not only beaches but also beautiful cherry blossoms, especially in Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden.
In mid-March, the garden’s annual Cherry Blossom Week features local merchants, performances, and children’s activities within the peaceful garden atmosphere.
4. The Cumberland River Greenway, Nashville, Tennessee
When to experience it in 2024: The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival occurs on April 13. Music City has created its own strings of cherry blossoms thanks to tree-planting projects led by government officials and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee.
The festival encompasses a Cherry Blossom Walk along the Cumberland River Greenway, celebrating both spring and Japanese culture through various performances and delicious cuisine.
5. Central City Park, Macon, Georgia
When to experience it in 2024: The Macon Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival takes place from March 15 to 24. This festival recognizes over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees that bloom each spring, creating a stunning pinkish hue throughout the community.
Highlights include the “Little Mr. and Miss Cherry Blossom” pageant, hot-air balloon rides, and a cherry blossom ball. Experience the beauty through events and a Cherry Blossom Trail starting from the downtown Visitor Center.
6. Wooster Square, New Haven, Connecticut
When to experience it in 2024: The Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled for April 14. New Haven hosts a vibrant Cherry Blossom Festival every April, celebrating the beautiful Yoshino Japanese cherry blossoms planted in 1973.
The festival features music, children’s activities, and food trucks, providing a lively atmosphere to appreciate the blossoms.
7. Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When to experience it in 2024: The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is on April 13 and 14. A wonderful series of sakura flowering cherry trees planted as a gift from Japan transform Fairmount Park each year.
This mid-April festival has previously included origami sessions, sushi-making classes, and drumming performances, along with Cherry Blossom 5K and 10K races.
8. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas, Texas
When to experience it in 2024: Dallas Blooms runs from February 24 to April 8. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden showcases its 150 cherry-blossom trees during this six-week celebration filled with enchanting floral displays.
This year’s theme, “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words,” features exciting photo opportunities, enhancing the overall experience of Dallas Blooms.
9. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York
When to experience it in 2024: Follow the Cherrywatch map for updates on blooms from mid-March. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) offers an extensive Flowering Cherry Collection featuring 26 species and cultivars across its 52 acres.
To celebrate the season, BBG hosts the beloved Sakura Matsuri, a weekend festival that honors Japanese culture through music, dance, food, and art.
10. Japanese Garden at Delaware Park, Buffalo, New York
When to experience it in 2024: The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival occurs on April 27 and 28. This beautiful Japanese Garden, a gift from its sister city Kanazawa, showcases cherry blossoms that bloom a little later but dazzle just as brightly.
This festival includes self-guided walks and various demonstrations highlighting Japanese culture. Keep an eye on the festival website for this year’s exciting lineup as the dates approach.
