As the weather warms and the vibrant hues of spring appear, a plethora of events in the Ashburn and greater DC area are set to celebrate the season.
DC has long been an icon of spring due to its world-famous cherry blossom trees and diverse events. As usual, The National Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted annually from March 20 to April 13. The festival also features the colorful Blossom Kite festival on March 29, located near the Washington monument, and the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 12, which bring elaborate floats and music to Constitution avenue.
For a more unique experience, the DC Water-Lantern festival is set to return on March 29, where attendees can decorate their lanterns and release them into the water at sunset, reminiscent of the floating lanterns in Disney’s Tangled. Another underrated springtime activity is going to botanical gardens such as the United States Botanical Garden, or the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna. Both are gorgeous this time of year and often host special spring events.
Ava Moore, freshman, enjoys going to the botanical gardens annually saying, “The Meadowlark Botanical Gardens are only a 20 minute drive away from my house and it’s one of my favorite places to visit when the weather gets warm. It’s pretty big and has great walking paths. It looks pretty every season but my favorite is spring because all the flowers are blooming”
Beyond the capital, there are plenty more local spring events closer to Loudoun County. The Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival celebrates outdoor beauty in downtown Leesburg on April 26-27. There are also a variety of events that don’t focus on spring scenery, such as the Lucketts Spring Market, which runs from May 16-18. The market is a vintage and antique shopping extravaganza that features everything from home decor to artisan goods.
Lauren Garcia, a small business owner in Ashburn, has previously run a booth at the Lucketts market and speaks of her experience, “I sold handmade jewelry. But [overall] there are some amazing, high-quality pieces there. The experience is super enjoyable too, great people and set-up. I highly recommend it, though I’m a bit biased.”
A day-by-day breakdown of events can be found at the Loudoun County Department of Parks and Recreations website, where they feature an online booklet listing every Loudoun event up until May. Overall, whether its festivals, markets, or simply some beautiful scenery, the Loudoun County and DC area have a little something for everyone.
