The Smithsonian American Art Museum is collaborating for the 13th consecutive year with the National Cherry Blossom Festival for a series of cherry blossom-themed public programs. The museum’s offerings are part of its hands-on program series, designed to spark learning, creativity and appreciation for the arts.
The museum’s popular Cherry Blossom Celebration for children and families is Saturday, March 28, 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 and activities in the museum’s courtyard include an all-vinyl music set of Japanese soul, funk, boogie, pop and disco by Les The DJ, a ballet showcase by Misako Ballet Company and a Japanese model train display from Japan Rail Modelers of Washington, D.C. Children ages 12 and younger can create their own cherry blossom-themed crafts. Visitors can participate in a spring-themed scavenger hunt to explore the museum’s galleries. The museum’s Courtyard Café will offer seasonal treats for purchase. The Cherry Blossom Celebration is free, but registration is encouraged. More information and links to register are available on the museum’s website.
A cherry blossom-themed workshop, presented as part of the museum’s series “Beyond the Studio,” is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, at 1 p.m. Multidiscipline artist and arts educator Lea Craigie will discuss the art of linocut printmaking and lead participants as they prepare, carve and print a cherry blossoms-inspired design of their own creation (cost $20); space is limited, and registration—open March 5 through April 5—is required.
These programs are presented as part of the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Ongoing at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, visitors to the museum can enjoy the special exhibition “Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work” that sheds new light on the beloved paintings by Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma Moses” (1860–1961), and “Nick Cave: Mammoth,” an immersive project commissioned by the museum where the artist focuses on the fundamental connections between people and their environment. The museum’s galleries display many remarkable artworks that reflect the profound and long-standing contributions of Asian American and Asian diasporic artists in the United States, including Glenn Kaino’s “Bridge” and Shahzia Sikander’s “The Last Post.” A schedule of daily walk-in, docent-led tours is available on the museum’s website.
About the Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the flagship museum in the United States for American art and craft. It is home to one of the most significant collections of American art in the world. The museum’s main building, located at Eighth and G streets N.W., is open daily (closed Dec. 25) from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum’s Renwick Gallery, a branch museum dedicated to contemporary craft, is located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street N.W. and is open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Check online for current hours and visitor information. Admission is free. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn 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
2026 festival takes place March 20–April 12, and includes four weekends of events featuring
diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture,
natural beauty and community spirit. The Leadership Circle Sponsors for the 2026 National
Cherry Blossom Festival are Events DC and ANA, All Nippon Airways. Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information. Get the latest updates via email and follow the festival on social media: Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), X (@CherryBlossFest) and YouTube (@CherryBlossFest). View all events on the festival’s website.