On March 29 at the Washington Monument, hundreds of kites soared high in the air, and so did people’s spirits.
Since 1967, the Blossom Kite Festival has brought massive crowds to the national mall, where people of all ages gather to ride the winds and enjoy the warm weather. This event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration of the trademark trees and the arrival of spring.
For some, the festival is a much-needed break from the current chaos in government.
“It’s a dark time,” said Marie Peppler. “I’m a federal employee. It’s not great. But you can fly a kite and have a good time.”
Mikio Toki, a renowned kite maker from Japan, hopes events like the festival will keep relations strong between his home country and the United States.
“Washington, D.C., has cherry blossoms from Japan, and I came from Japan,” said Toki. “So everybody understands the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, I hope.”
The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through April 13, offering a variety of events and activities for visitors to enjoy.
