Rain or shine, thousands flock to DC for first weekend of Cherry Blossom Festival

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The iconic cherry blossoms in DC are finally in peak bloom.

Despite Saturday's rainy, windy and chilly weather, thousands of tourists flocked to the nation's capital to get their eyes on all the beauty the blossoms have to offer.

WJLA caught up with people who came near and far for their glimpse of the trees. The hardy visitors said Saturday's weather wasn't necessarily ideal to experience peak bloom, but it was still worth every step around the Tidal Basin.

WJLA's Victoria Sanchez was the master of ceremonies at Saturday night's opening ceremonies for the festival.

There’s just something about cherry blossoms, right?" she said during her speech. "They have the power to bring people together in a way unlike any other."

That sentiment certainly applied to one pair at the Tidal Basin: local artist Justin Pyles, who was painting the petals as they fell onto his canvas, and a little girl was picking up some of those petals, gathering them into a bucket.

"It’s just a natural part of the cherry blossom cycle," said Pyles, who paints each phase of the trees every year out at the Tidal Basin.

"Who knows if they’ll be here next weekend?" said Santi and Melissa, who have the following advice for those looking to see the trees, even on a cold, cloudy day: it's okay to come if the weather is overcast. Come at sunrise or sunset – it’s worth it.