By Lani Gering

Springtime in the Harbor is fast approaching. What better way to celebrate the season than taking a stroll around the waterfront and revel in the beauty of the very first cherry blossoms in the DMV as well as participating in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The celebrations and events at the Harbor are on a much smaller scale than those in D.C. but they are equally as impressive without the huge crowds.

Springtime also means that there is “love in the air”. The 2024 Wedding Walk Showcase is a fabulous place for those of you who are thinking about tying the knot to get some inspiration for the big day and all that is entailed leading up to it.

I relied on my PR pals for the Harbor to provide all of the details for these events below:

National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossoms

March 20th to April 14th

National Harbor has become a prime location in the D.C. region to celebrate its spectacular (early) cherry tree display. The 350-acre resort property has more than 200 cherry blossoms. Visitors can enjoy the trees along the 1.2 mile waterfront trail that bloom earlier than those on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. This year’s festivities take place from March 20th to April 14th 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, hotel room packages, 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 24th from noon to 6 p.m. and will feature free cultural activities including Japanese inspired art, music, dance, culinary delights, and a Japanese market.

Throughout the month, National Harbor will host classes and events including origami, sushi making, Japanese games provided by Katsucon Entertainment, Inc., bonsai, sake, and candle making.

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. MGM National Harbor has its beautiful spring conservatory installation. Some of National Harbor’s eight hotels will offer specials and packages. Select hotels will provide special National Harbor welcome swag bags with Cherry Blossom package deals.  

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 they are confirmed.

Wedding Walk Showcase 2024

March 9th

Join us for the National Harbor Wedding Walk & Showcase where you can visit wedding-centric shops, retailers, and venue spaces on Saturday, March 9^th from 11am-4pm on a self-guided tour. Plan everything for your big day as you take a walk through this waterfront destination on this self-guided tour, enjoy the views and have fun planning your upcoming nuptials.

National Harbor offers a stunning waterfront for the wedding of your dreams. The unbeatable views of the water and the breathtaking sunsets are unique to National Harbor. From intimate ceremony space to vast outdoor lots for incredible receptions, their premier event space offers a gorgeous backdrop for the big day. The destination has it all, whether you’re planning the ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, bachelor/bachelorette party, shower, or all of the above, National Harbor has the spot to create an extra special experience. Your guests will be in awe of our beautiful hotels, award winning restaurants, luxurious spas, a thriving night life scene, and the best sunsets in the DC metro area.

Tickets are required and check in takes place in the Sunset Room located on the second floor of 137 National Plaza Suite 200. Check out the Wedding Walk & Showcase participating locations and purchase tickets on our website at nationalharbor.com.