Washington, D.C
See pictures of cherry blossom trees near peak bloom in Washington, D.C.
Cherry blossom season has arrived in Washington, D.C., where pink and white flowers dot thousands of trees around the city as this year’s peak bloom approaches. To celebrate the iconic springtime sight, locals and tourists alike can participate in the National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual event series that runs for four weeks and features a mix of art, music, food and more.
Originally a gift from Japan to the United States, the capital’s cherry blossoms appear along the Tidal Basin and in parks near several of the capital’s monuments and memorials.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Images show buds unfurling on cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, where flowering branches create some dazzling views in the foreground of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. This picture was taken Friday, March 21, when peak bloom had not even arrived yet:
Jose Luis Magana/AP
The National Park Service determines the cherry blossoms’ “peak bloom” date by predicting when 70% of the blossoms on the Yoshino cherry trees, which are the most common type of cherry tree planted along the Tidal Basin, will be open.
Typically, peak bloom occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April, according to the park service, which notes that forecasting the peak is impossible to do more than 10 days ahead of time. The average peak bloom date falls on April 3, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which similarly advises that the exact timing varies from year to year because warmer temperatures can encourage an earlier bloom.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Peak bloom is expected to happen sooner than the average date in 2025, with the park service estimating it will occur at some point between this Friday, March 28, and next Monday, March 31. The Yoshino trees usually bloom over the course of multiple days.
The park service’s National Mall branch announced Sunday that D.C.’s cherry trees had reached “stage 5 – Puffy white,” which is the final stage before peak bloom.
DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images
“The blossoms are starting to show, now we’re just waiting on them to open,” the agency wrote in a social media post. “Peak Bloom is next!”
There are a multitude of opportunities for people to enjoy the cherry blossoms in D.C. before they disappear for the year. The city’s Cherry Blossom Festival offers an extensive lineup of events, which are mostly free and pay homage to the city’s culture and history.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Held to commemorate the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo’s then-mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, D.C., the festival draws more than 1.5 million to a range of programs, according to its website. The events include a kite festival and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.
Jeff Reinbold, the superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said in a statement that instilling community-wide appreciation for the cherry trees is a big part of the festival’s mission.
“The National Park Service takes great pride in the work we do to care for the stars of this festival – the 3,700 cherry trees, which are both natural and cultural treasures of our city and our nation,” Reinbold said. “We encourage all visitors to the Festival to be good stewards of the trees and join us as “cherry blossom protectors” to help us preserve them for future generations and Festivals.”
Jose Luis Magana/AP
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Members of Tucson’s Jewish Community and their supporters gathered at Reid Park Wednesday afternoon, honoring the lives of a young couple shot and killed in Washington D.C. a week before.
Organizer Tony Zinman says this wasn’t just a vigil but an act of defiance.
“We’re not going to hide,” he said. “We’re not going to cower. We’re going to be out and proud and loud. We’re going to show you that we’re here.”
The group of about 20 circled up, singing and praying while holding battery-powered candles around a picture of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky.
The two were staffers at the Israeli Embassy. They were fatally shot May 21 leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter says the two were soon-to-be engaged.
“Yaron worked for one of our senior diplomats,” he said. “He did most of the research. He was just a prince of a human being. Sarah worked in our public diplomacy wing, and they were just a beautiful couple together.”
The couple’s memory is inspiring vigils across the country, including the one here in Tucson which brought out Arizona Representative Consuelo Hernandez who says this act shows how dangerous rising antisemitism in the United States can be.
“I’ve witnessed mobs of people show up and yell the same chants as the person who murdered Yaron and Sarah,” she said. “When we continue to live our lives like antisemitism doesn’t exist, it continues to snowball.”
Zinman says it’s everyone’s responsibility to help curb antisemitism.
“If you have Jewish friends, call them, tell you’re there for them and you’re always going to be there for them,” Zinman said.
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Alex Dowd is a multimedia journalist at KGUN 9, where her work combines her two favorite hobbies: talking to new people and learning about the community around her. Her goal is to eventually meet every single person in Tucson. Share your story ideas with Alex via email, alex.dowd@kgun9.com, or connecting on Instagram or X.
2 men shot, killed in Temple Hills
Authorities in Prince George’s County are investigating a deadly double shooting that left two men dead in Temple Hills late Tuesday night.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. – A man has been charged with shooting and killing two teenagers in Temple Hills late Tuesday night.
What we know:
The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Duan Goddard of Fort Washington. Goddard is currently in custody in Washington, DC, pending extradition to Prince George’s County.
The victims have been identified as 16-year-old Thomas Smith, Jr. of Washington, D.C., and 16-year-old Michael Bassett of Temple Hills.
Deadly shooting in Temple Hills
Prince George’s County Police were in the area of the 5500 block of Haras Place when they heard the sound of gunshots at 9:35 p.m. The officers canvassed the area and located the two teen victims outside an apartment building in the 5200 block of Haras Place.
Police say Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Bassett died a short time later at a hospital. A third teenager who was with the victims was also shot at but was not struck, according to police.
Goddard is charged with first and second-degree murder and related charges.
We share the best things to do every weekend in The Weekend Scene newsletter – it’s free to subscribe!
AAPI Heritage Month is coming to a close. Watch our special here, then consider stopping by one of the restaurants or cultural centers we highlighted before the month is out.
But as one month-long cultural celebration ends, another — Pride Month — begins. We’ve got our big guide to WorldPride here.
Jazz in the Garden is here! The lottery for this weekend’s concert on May 30 is already closed, but it’s not too late to register for first one in June.
Pools are open, if you’re willing to brave the cold and rain to jump on in. Our own Juliana Valencia tried it, and you can too after picking a spot from our handy dandy pool guide.
If you’re craving ocean air, maybe a semi-spontaneous beach trip is in the cards? There are plenty of sandy spots in driving range from the District. We’ve got a list.
Here’s what to do this weekend in the Washington, D.C. area.
What to do in Washington, D.C.
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Frankenstein”: Opens Tues., Klein Theatre in Northwest D.C., $39+
WorldPride Film Festival: Tue.-Thurs., Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – D.C. Bryant Street & Crystal City and Atlas Performing Arts Center
World Pride Black Queer Film Festival: Tue.-Thurs., 6-9 p.m., Blackburn Digital Auditorium at Howard University, free
CiNeMatic – “Coco”: Weds., Alethia Tanner Park, free
District of Pride Showcase: Wed., 7 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, free
Wet and Julie Byrne: Wed., 8 p.m., Union Stage, $33+
Street Fest Art Gallery Openings: Thurs., 5:30-8:30 p.m., Union Market District
Sunset Cinema: Thurs., 7 p.m., Transit Pier at The Wharf, free
First Sips of Summer: Fri., 5-10 p.m., Smoke & Mirrors, $70+
DC Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks: Fri., 8 p.m., Audi Field
National Arboretum extended hours: Fri., Open until 8 p.m., Northeast D.C., free
Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty (Pride Night): Fri., 7:30 p.m., CareFirst Arena in Southeast D.C., $62+
Jazz In the Garden: Fri., 6-8:30 p.m., National Gallery of Art, free (registration required)
Extraordinary Cinema: The Bourne Identity: Fri., 8:30 p.m., The Reach Lawn at the Kennedy Center, free
Ctrl+Alt+Connect: Spritz Sol Flow: Sat., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Eckington Hall, $58.30
Scavenger Hunt of the Smithsonians: Sat., 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., $20
(D)rafts and (C)rafts: Sat., 1-6 p.m., DC Brau, $10-55
34th Annual Glover Park Day: Sat., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Guy Mason Recreation Center
Newark Street Community Garden 50th Anniversary Celebration: Sat., 1-3 p.m., Newark Street Community Garden, free
Color Me Calm: An Adult Coloring Experience: Sat., 2-5 p.m., Anacostia Arts Center, $30
An Evening In Paris at the Embassy of France: Sat., 7-11 p.m., Embassy of France, $99+
Jazz In the Heights Festival: Sat.-Sun., Sycamore & Oak, free (reserved tickets)
Project Glow ‘25: Sat.-Sun., RFK Festival Grounds, $105+Crochet Classes with Fairy Ring Fibers: Sun., 11 a.m., Rhizome DC, pay what you wish ($35 recommended)
What to do in Maryland
Metallica M72 World Tour: Weds., 6 p.m., Northwest Stadium Landover, $63-$150
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Weds., 7:30 p.m., CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, $101+
Pride Night @ Chesapeake Baysox: Thurs., 5 p.m., Prince Georges Stadium, free
A Taste of Riverworks: Sat., 11 a.m., Poolesville, free
Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Calvert & Bladen Sts. Annapolis, free
EFFERVESCENT: A Pride Social: Sat., 7-11 p.m., Creative Suitland Arts Center, $17.85
In the Life: A LGBTQIA + Pride Celebration: Sat., noon to 5 p.m., Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, free
Salute the Sunset: United States Air Force Concert Band: Sat., 7-8 p.m., National Harbor, free
Pride Family Day: Sun., 11 a.m., Glen Echo Park, free
DMG plays Bowies Summer Sunset: Sun., 6 p.m., Allen Pond Park, free
What to do in Virginia
Thursday Night Trivia: Thurs., 6 p.m., The Spot at Belmont Bay, $25 per team
Lake Anne Sunset Paddle: Thurs., 7-8:30 p.m., Lake Anne Boat Dock, $20
Sunset Concert at River Farm Featuring Soulfire: Thurs., 6-8 p.m., American Horticultural Society’s River Farm, $20 parking (free admission)
Chicago the Musical: Fri.-Sun., Capital One Hall, $80+
Fab Fridays Live Music: All Fired Up: Fri., 7 p.m.., Reston Metro Plaza, free
Arlington Pride Vendor Festival: Sat., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hyatt Regency DCA, free
Nature Journaling Club: Sat., 10 a.m., Del Ray Artisans Gallery, free (bring your own supplies)
Loudon Pride Festival: Sat., 12-6 p.m., Ida Lee Park, $5
Virginia Wine Festival: Sat.-Sun., Tyson’s Corner, $55+
Big Lick Comic Con NOVA: Sat.-Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $25+
Movie at the Mill – ‘Pride & Prejudice’: Sat., 8:30 p.m., Colvin Run Mill, $1016th Annual Taste of Del Ray: Sun., 1-3 p.m., Mount Vernon Recreation Center Fields, $10-$75
Ironically, There Are 'Blue Holes' in the Green River But What Are They?
City to close problem hotel along Louisiana Friday
Maine’s first official comfort dog, Baxter, found dead in state vehicle – The Boston Globe
Alert Day for Friday; stormy end of the week for Maryland
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