National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season With Special Celebration Activities From March 22 To April 12

National Harbor, a 350-acre resort property is a prime location in the 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. This year’s seasonal activities take place from March 22 to April 12 with National Harbor also serving as an official participant of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. In addition to National Harbor’s breathtaking waterfront views, this year’s celebration will be filled with entertainment, food and drink specials, classes and more.

The annual Sakura Sunday festival, an official participating event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on Sunday, March 30 from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature free cultural activities including Japanese performances, culinary delights, a Sakura Spirits Garden, a Water Lantern Festival, a Japanese artisanal market and more.

Throughout the month, National Harbor will host classes and events including origami from 2-3 p.m. on April 5 (120 Waterfront St., Suite 425), bonsai from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 22 (120 Waterfront St., Suite 425) and a cherry blossom themed mixology class at the Westin National Harbor (171 Waterfront St.) from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 12. Classes require advance online registration and costs vary. There is also a free Japanese Game Day presented by Katsucon on April 12 from noon to 4 p.m. on the Waterfront Plaza.

The Spring Water Lantern Festival takes place on March 29 and 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and there is a fee that includes a lantern kit. Families, friends, couples and individuals can share in an unforgettable experience that lights the night with warmth, friendship and love. Each person decorates a lighted lantern on behalf of a loved one, a memory or a hope or dream. The lanterns are then floated in an enclosed area of the water in a spectacular display of unity and peace.

“Every year, we’re excited to welcome spring in and celebrate cherry blossom season. This year we’ve expanded our offerings to include the popular Water Lantern Festival. We think it will be a great addition to our annual National Cherry Blossom sanctioned event, Sakura Sunday.” said Deborah Topcik, senior director of marketing at National Harbor. “We will also turn National Harbor pink on certain dates. This includes lights around the waterfront and The Capital Wheel.”

Restaurants throughout National Harbor will celebrate with food specials and will join National Harbor hotels and retailers in having a variety of special offers and displays. 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.

National Harbor Lights Up the Holidays With Two Million Lights, And More

National Harbor has quickly become one of the nation’s top holiday waterfront destinations. The 350-acre property turns magical during the holidays and is all dressed up with more than two million holiday lights and decorations throughout. With its eight hotels, more than 40 restaurants and The Capital Wheel, it’s the perfect location to make holiday memories. From family activities to a romantic getaway for couples—National Harbor has it all.

Each year, National Harbor welcomes Gaylord National Resort’s amazing annual holiday celebration including its world-famous ICE! attraction. This year, the fun begins on November 19 and runs through December 31, 2023. The interactive ICE! will include 13 scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ with classic characters including Clarice, Bumble, Sam the Snowman, Hermy the Elf and the star of the show, Rudolph. The carvers, from Harbin, China, work with more than two million pounds of colorful ice, taking more than 12,000 man hours to create the nearly 20,000 square foot, frozen attraction. This year, a Carver’s Showcase will feature a live demonstration where guests can see how the talented artisans carve the larger-than-life sculptures. ICE! is part of Christmas at Gaylord National, which includes a variety of family-friendly holiday events such as photos with Santa, ice skating and more. For additional information, visit ChristmasAtGaylordNational.com.

MGM National Harbor celebrates the holiday season at National Harbor with spectacular decorations throughout, including the property’s popular Conservatory where the holidays come alive with a breathtaking display. Cirque Dreams Holidaze will be at the Theater at MGM National Harbor from Dec. 15-17.

The holiday celebration continues throughout the destination with the lighting of the Waterfront District’s extraordinary 60-foot RGB tree, guarded by two new 12-foot nutcrackers. The nightly light show starts at sunset and continues every half an hour until 9 p.m. Guests will enjoy thousands of lights dancing alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band, the season kicks off November 11. Saturday night fireworks run November 11 through December 30 at 5:30pm. Activities continue throughout the holidays with the opportunity to meet Santa at The Capital Wheel on Saturdays and Sundays from December 2 until December 17 from 2-4 p.m. Participating stores will have free hot cocoa on weekends from Nov. 11 through Dec. 31.

National Harbor is the perfect location to enjoy a wide array of holiday activities and events in close proximity to the Capital Region including Christmas at Mount Vernon (George Washington’s Alexandria home.) Holiday activities at Mount Vernon include holiday lights, fireworks and candlelight tours. Also nearby, the Accokeek Foundation has an annual Winter’s Eve Festival. Visitors may explore Piscataway Park and the National Colonial Farm by candlelight.

National Harbor is also the perfect location for holiday shopping with more than 140 shops including Tanger Outlets’ 85 designer brands such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Movado, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Coach and H&M.

There’s additional shopping in the Waterfront District where there are walkable streets with unique shops and boutiques such as MahoganyBooks, ZAAF, BrookieGirl, Miguel Wilson, It’Sugar, Corinto Gallery and more. These join nationally recognized brands including Carhartt and others. MGM National provides additional boutique shopping opportunities.

Also at National Harbor, over the holidays, there’s Titanic. The Exhibition. Visitors will travel back to 1912 through a collection of over 200 artifacts and personal belongings from passengers and crew members of the world's most famous ship including photographs, handwritten letters, keepsakes and more, telling countless stories about the fates and heroic deeds of those on board. Far more than a display of historic items, the exhibit immerses participants in a captivating narrated journey through the life and legacy of the Titanic on its maiden and final voyage. For tickets, visit www.titanicexhibition.com/dc/.

For more information about all of National Harbor’s holiday fun and hotel packages, visit www.NationalHarbor.com/hohoho. For more information on National Harbor, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.