Cherry Blossom Parade, Then Blessing of the Fleets (photos)

The cherry blossoms have come and gone, but the festival lives on, celebrating Japan’s gift of cherry trees to the United States 105 years ago. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, featuring helium balloons, military units, marching bands and elaborate floats, wound its way up Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., under sunny skies Saturday, April 8.

Following the parade, a few blocks away, the United States Navy Memorial commenced the 23rd annual Blessing of the Fleets ceremony, adding water from the seven seas and the Great Lakes to the Navy Memorial fountains, bringing them to life for the season.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade was presented by Events DC, with additional support from ANA (All Nippon Airways), the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, Reagan National and Dulles International Airports and media sponsors ABC7/WJLA, News Channel 8 and 97.1 WASH-FM.

*View Jeff Malet’s photos of the Cherry Blossom Parade and the Blessing of the Fleets by clicking on the photo icons below.*