National Cherry Blossom Festival 2011

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington. Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an effort to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and also celebrate the continued close relationship between the two nations.

1. The Jefferson Memorial is seen in the distance behind the branches of cherry blossoms at this photo taken on March 28, when the U.S. capital was cool weather. (Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images)

2. Cherry blossom festival in Washington - it is also a celebration of Japanese culture: Washington's museums hold exhibitions on Japan, and some restaurants arrange festive tasting sushi and sashimi. A man paints a branch cherry blossoms on March 25. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

3. This year the festival will play an additional role - the incomes of many celebratory events will go to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan . In the photo: Sakura in full bloom at the intersection of Scott Circle in Washington. (Hyungwon Kang / Reuters)

4. This year marks 99 years since then, as in 1912, Japan gave the U.S. three thousand cherry trees. Holiday devoted friendship of the peoples of Japan and the U.S.. During the festival, held over 90 events and nearly two hundred different processions. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA)

5. People are passing on a bicycle-tandem by cherry blossoms in Washington on March 25. The festival program includes hiking and biking tours, and cruises on the Potomac, during which the tourists will see the most beautiful cherry trees of the city and get acquainted with their history. (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images)

6. In this photograph dated March 25, is seen as Washington's cherry blossom begins. Because of the unusually cold weather for this time of expected peak blooming will end the festival. This year's festival will run until April 10. (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images)

7. Cherry blossoms near the memorial to George Washington in the U.S. capital. Thousands of residents and guests of the American capital came to a bay near the monuments to President Jefferson and Washington to enjoy the beauty of blooming white and pink cherry blossoms. (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images)

8. Within two weeks of the holiday will be held kite festival, fireworks, musical parade, museum exhibition of Japanese culture, art demonstrations of ikebana, and many other activities. (SHAWN THEW / EPA)

9. March 25 - a group of tourists who came to Washington, DC, specifically to see the cherry blossoms. Flowering cherry trees are attracted to the capital of the United States about a million tourists each year. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

10. This year during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington is experiencing an unusually cold weather. In the evening the temperature drops below zero. (Michael Reynolds / EPA)

11. Photographers photographic set on tripods to record the flowering cherry trees in Washington. (JIM LO SCALZO / EPA)

12. Traditional Festival Parade will be held April 9 and will gather, is expected to more than one million viewers. In the photo: Children chase the ducks under the branches of cherry blossoms in Washington on March 28. (Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images)

13. Girl using BB cream photographing cherry blossoms during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington. According to forecasts of the National Park Service, this year's peak flowering cherry will fall on the period from March 29 to April 1. (Jose Luis Magana / AP)

14. Artist Justin Pyles writes pictures cherry blossoms near a pond in Washington. (Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images)