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The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through April 17 in Washington. The trees reached peak bloom this week.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Peak bloom is reached when 70% of the blossoms are open on the Yoshino cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
The festival marks the 1912 gift from Tokyo of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
The Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms is one of the classic photographs captured by visitors.
J. David Ake/AP
On Tuesday evening, a rising full moon added a bit of drama to the budding trees along Washington's Tidal Basin.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
There are usually fewer blossom-peepers during the week.

Story highlights

The National Cherry Blossom Festivals runs through April 17 in Washington

The blossoming trees are at their peak this weekend

CNN  — 

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.

The Yoshino cherry trees are officially at their peak.

“The National Park Service confirmed this afternoon that both the natural indicators (in the form of a physical inventory of the trees) and the weather data (showing that the 220 “heating degrees” required for bloom had been reached), indicate the beginning of the peak bloom period,” the Park Service announced Friday.

Peak bloom is reached when 70% of the blossoms are open on the cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin.

The peak period can last from four to 10 days. Slightly cooler temperatures in Washington through the middle of next week should help keep blossoms on the trees, the Park Service said.

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.