There are pink and white petals in the air in Washington.
If you want to see them attached to trees in their full splendor, it’s time to head to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which kicked off Sunday and runs through April 17.
This weekend, the blossoming trees should be close to “peak bloom,” which was expected to start Wednesday and Thursday, according to the festival website.
Peak bloom is reached when 70% of the blossoms are open on the Yoshino cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin.
The festival commemorates the 1912 gift from Tokyo of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington.
Saturday’s opening ceremony at the historic Warner Theater is sold out, but some walk-ins will be admitted at 4:45 p.m.
More than three week’s worth of activities culminate with an April 16 parade that runs 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue. Grandstand seating starts at $20, but it’s free to stand along the route.