Smithsonian American Art Museum Presents In-Person and Virtual Programs as Part of the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is collaborating for the 10th year in a row with the National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20–April 16) for a series of in-person and virtual cherry blossom-themed public programs. The museum’s cherry blossom family activities and celebrations are part of its popular online Family Zone series, designed to spark learning, creativity and appreciation for the arts.  

The museum’s popular Cherry Blossom Celebration for children and families will be presented in person Saturday, March 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weather permitting, the event will begin on the museum’s F Street plaza with a Japanese taiko performance by the drumming group Nen Daiko. Other performances in the museum’s courtyard include traditional Japanese dance with Onoe Dance and an all-vinyl music set of Japanese soul, funk, boogie, pop and disco by Les the DJ. More information is available on the museum’s website at AmericanArt.si.edu/family. Attendees can craft their own sakura (cherry blossom) tree to take home, create an origami sakura and make a koinobori (carp streamer) kite to fly at the Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall also taking place March 25 (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). A themed scavenger hunt will be available so visitors can explore the American Art Museum’s galleries. Seasonal treats will be available for purchase at the Courtyard Café. This program is free, but registration is encouraged. 

A cherry blossom-themed in-person workshop, part of the museum’s popular series “Beyond the Studio,” is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, at 1 p.m. Local D.C. botanical artist Emily Paluska of Revery Paper Flora will teach the fundamentals of creating one-of-a-kind paper flowers. 

The Art & Me Preservation Family Workshop, a virtual hands-on, artmaking workshop designed for children ages 3 to 8 and their caretakers, will take place Saturday, March 18, at 10 a.m. ET. Families will discover how delicate sakura have been depicted in landscapes, figure paintings and prints for centuries, and how Smithsonian conservators preserve these beautiful yet fragile artworks. Then participants will create their own cherry blossom-inspired creations. This program is cohosted by the museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. This program is free, but registration is required. 

These programs are presented as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Additional family activities are available on the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Family Zone webpage, including seasonal crafts, coloring pages inspired by artworks from the museum’s permanent collection, videos and more.

COVID-19 Guidelines for In-Person Cherry Blossom Family Celebration

The Smithsonian no longer requires visitors to wear a mask to visit its museums and the National Zoo. Visitors may choose to wear a mask during their visit or while participating in a program or event. Social distancing continues to be encouraged, and the museum asks people who do not feel well to stay home. Updated information about COVID-19 guidelines and safety measures is online at si.edu/visit.

The Smithsonian reserves the right to modify its hours of operation, capacity and visitor guidelines as circumstances require. 

About the Smithsonian American Art Museum 

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to one of the most significant and inclusive collections of American art in the world. Its artworks reveal America’s rich artistic and cultural history from the colonial period to today. The museum’s main building is located at Eighth and G streets N.W.; check americanart.si.edu/visit for the current hours and admission information. Admission is free. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Smithsonian information: (202) 633-1000. Museum information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Website: americanart.si.edu. 

About the National Cherry Blossom Festival 

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the world’s great celebrations of spring. The 2023 festival runs from March 20 to April 16 and includes four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty and community spirit. Leadership Circle Sponsors for the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival are Events DC and Amazon. The public can add the 2023 festival dates and signature event dates to their calendar and visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information. To get the latest updates via email, and the public can follow the Festival on Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest) and YouTube (@CherryBlossFest).

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SI-65-2023