National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season with More Special Activities and Entertainment from March 21 to April 12

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Vicki Bendure
Bendure Communications, Inc. 202-374-9259 cell/text
Vicki@Bendurepr.com

National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season with More Special Activities and Entertainment from March 21 - April 12
Early Blooming Cherry Trees Provide a Beautiful Backdrop

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., March 11, 2026—
National Harbor, a 350-acre waterfront destination, is a prime location in the Washington, D.C. region to see spectacular (early) blooming cherry trees along the Potomac River. Visitors can enjoy more than 200 Okame trees along the 1.2 mile waterfront trail. (The trees are just starting to bloom!)

Cherry Blossom celebrations will take place March 21 to April 12 with National Harbor also serving as an official participant of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Seasonal celebrations will be filled with entertainment, food and drink specials, classes and more. Some of the classes and offerings include a bonsai class for beginners, origami classes, kite making classes, Muse Paintbar classes, Wigenton Candle Co. classes, cherry blossom buttercream cake decorating and Japanese whiskey tasting (at Gaylord National). These classes require additional costs and advance registration so please be sure to visit the National Harbor website for exact dates, times, cost, locations and to register.

The annual Sakura Sunday festival, an official participating event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on Sunday, March 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The free, family-friendly celebration will feature cultural performances, culinary delights, a Sakura Spirits Garden, a Water Lantern Festival, a Japanese artisanal market and more. A curated market includes a wide array of Asian foods as well as anime art, Japanese kimonos, Japanese skin care, home décor, Japanese inspired wood art, and more.

Due to its popularity, the Water Lantern Festival
has expanded to three nights from March 27-29. The ticketed event brings families, friends, couples and individuals together for a meaningful evening experience that illuminates the waterfront with messages of hope, unity, and remembrance. Participants decorate lighted lanterns, which are released into an enclosed area, creating a peaceful and visually striking nighttime display.

Throughout the month, National Harbor restaurants
will also join in the celebration with a wide array of food and drink specials from a seasonal cherry blossom milkshake to Sakura cheesecake and matcha mousse to a cherry blossom princess cake and cherry pie a la mode, and more! Drink specials include a cherry blossom margarita, a blooming margarita and a hibiscus margarita; cherry vanilla ale, cherry blossom punch, cherry blossom spritz, Sakura Ume, and strawberry lemonade. A full listing is on the National Harbor website.

“We’re excited to expand the cherry blossom celebration at National Harbor this year. After such a harsh winter, our bright pink cherry trees are a welcome and cheerful sign that spring has finally arrived! It’s a special time across the region, and we celebrate by turning the Harbor pink – from The Capital Wheel and waterfront trail to our beautifully illuminated buildings.” said Deborah Topcik, senior director of marketing at National Harbor. “We’re also delighted to once again be part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with our annual Sakura Sunday event on March 29.”

Both MGM National Harbor and Gaylord National will have special spa offerings. The Westin Washington National Harbor and Gaylord National have a special Cherry Blossom Package. MGM will change out its famous conservatory at the end of the month/beginning of April to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. The exciting new display will also have some cherry blossoms.

For more information on National Harbor and cherry blossom activities and offerings, go to www.nationalharbor.com/cherryblossom/. Events and activities will be added to the schedule as confirmed.

# # #

About National Harbor
Situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River and just minutes from the nation’s capital, National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination unlike any other. National Harbor is home to two of Maryland’s Four Diamond rated hotels—Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the East Coast’s largest non-gaming hotel and convention center and has almost 2,000 hotel rooms and 660,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and MGM National Harbor, an integrated luxury casino resort with renowned chef-driven restaurants, a 3,000-seat state-of-the art theater and one of the largest gaming floors outside of Las Vegas. The vibrant Waterfront District features boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment options along picturesque promenades. The iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-ft observation wheel, Tanger Outlets’ 85 designer brands, and a robust calendar of events round out this destination that welcomes more than 15.2 million visitors a year. For more information, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.