Blooming great fun in Washington

Fancy taking a trip to the US capital this spring? It might be an idea to make sure your flight to Washington coincides with the perennially popular National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Taking place between March 29th and April 13th, the event will this year mark the 96th anniversary of the day that 3,000 cherry trees were sent to the city by the people of Tokyo as a gift.

A host of mini-festivals, parades and contests will take place around Washington for the duration of the celebration, attracting crowds of spectators to the city.

Some of this year's highlights include an all-day family extravaganza at the National Building Museum to mark the first day of the festival, along with the Smithsonian Kite Festival.

During April, visitors to Washington can also expect to experience a spectacular fireworks display on the Southwest Waterfront, the Festival Parade and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival.

Meanwhile, daily cultural performances will take place at the Jefferson Memorial Target Stage as the city's cherry trees simultaneously spring into glorious bloom.

Other attractions to take in while in Washington include the National Air and Space Museum, Meridian Hill Park and, of course, the White House.

For more information, take a look at the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.

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