Washington, March 23 (BUS): Thousands of people gather along Washington’s tidal basin to watch the city’s famous cherry trees in bloom.
Reuters reports that the peak of cherry blossoms is defined as the point at which 70 percent of the flowers around the tidal basin are open.
Japan gave the beloved flower trees in 1912 to the United States as a gift of friendship.
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which began this weekend and runs through April 17, commemorates the gift of nearly 3,000 trees and celebrates the relationship between the two countries.
The festival includes a parade, fireworks, live music, Washington Wizards basketball, art installations, pet and family friendly activities, kite flying, food and beverage sampling, cultural events, and river cruises.
MI