U District springs into action with 3rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival

SEATTLE — As the cherry blossoms start to bloom, the University District kicks off its third annual U District Cherry Blossom Festival.

In honor of the historic cherry blossom viewing on the University of Washington Quad, over 80 U District businesses have come together to present a special menu featuring a variety of cherry blossom-themed food, drink, and retail specials.

The festival starts this weekend and runs until April 1.

Explore the U District with cherry blossom specials with the below event map. For a full list of offerings from all participating businesses, click here.

While exploring the promotions from local businesses in every corner of the neighborhood, visit the cherry blossoms.

The historic cherry blossoms on the University of Washington campus help mark the start of spring each year and attract thousands of visitors.

The Yoshino cherry trees were a gift from Japan and are nearly 90 years old. Originally planted in a grove at the Washington Park Arboretum, they were moved to the UW campus in 1964 where they continue to bloom today.

Peak bloom will likely begin after March 20, according to UW arborist Sara Shores.

“Historically, peak bloom in the Quad typically begins during the third full week of March and goes into the fourth week of March. That seems to be what this year is going to look like,” said Shores. “Right now, I would guess that the last two weekends of March are ideal viewing conditions.”

Cherry tree fans don’t have to wait for peak bloom to visit campus. The entire cherry blossom season is a great time to visit and see the trees in bloom.

The Quad Cherry Blossoms also have their own social media accounts on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter. For cherry tree enthusiasts who can’t make the trip, campus webcams are a good option for virtual viewing.

The timing for peak bloom — meaning 70% of buds have emerged — varies each year based on weather conditions that the developing buds are exposed to in January, February, and March.

As of March 8, just over half of the cherry trees in the quad were at the “peduncle elongation” stage of bud development, during which the stalks supporting the florets grow longer.

It is one of the last stages before the florets open and the bloom season begins.