To help the area look its best for the festival, the waterfront business community is sponsoring a cleanup of the area on March 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., beginning at the Gangplank Marina on Water Street, SW. Volunteers participating in the cleanup will be provided with gloves, trash bags and a ticket entitling them to food and a drink.

The National Park Service will conduct cherry tree walks and bike tours around the Tidal Basin. Amateur photographers can participate in a photo safari. Tour boats will offer magical views of the blossoms and monuments from the water, while sipping English tea and eating a variety of treats. Paddle boats can be rented to enjoy the views from the Tidal Basin. A community art competition for school aged children is being held at Union Station. And, performances featuring music, dance and song add another cultural dimension.

The opening day of the festival has been designated as Family Day, which features a host of fun and hands-on experiences, exploring the Japanese arts and design, as well as performances by D.C. area youth and organizations. The Smithsonian will host a kite festival at the Washington Monument from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with this year’s theme emphasizing going green, during a ‘‘Free as the Wind” kite building competition.

Also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., city and federal elected officials will be among the many people expected to attend the launching of 11 new boats and an open house, complete with a barbecue, at the Capital Yacht Club on Water Street.

On April 1, the Japanese Embassy will host ‘‘The Sounds of Spring by Japanese Composers,” featuring a harp, cello and soprano trio. The 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. event is free, but reservations are required, by calling (202) 238-6949. At 7 p.m., a seated tasting of Japanese sake and sushi will occur at the National Geographic Museum on 17th Street, NW.

A black-tie sushi reception and dinner at the Grand Hyatt on H Street, NW, will occur on April 3, featuring the presentation of the Cherry Blossom Princess. The selection of the Queen will be followed by entertainment and dancing, according to Emily Todd, program coordinator for the festival.

‘‘Jeopardy!” host, Alex Trebek will appear at the festival’s parade on April 4, which runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets. The parade begins at 10 a.m.

A sailboat regatta will add color to the water’s horizon, beginning at 11 a.m. Origami, calligraphy demonstrations round out a Japanese tea ceremony at the D.C. Visitor Information Center on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue plays host to the Navy’s Ceremonial Guard and Navy dignitaries during the annual ‘‘Blessing of the Fleets,” as the Ceremonial Guard Sailors pour water from the Seven Seas and the Great Lakes into foundations, ‘‘charging” them and welcoming the new spring season. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.

A Cherry Blossom Gala, including a four-course dinner enjoyed during a cruise on the Potomac River, complete with live entertainment and dance, with monumental views of the Capital at night, begins at 6 p.m. on April 9. Tickets are required.

The top men’s and women’s rowing teams from around the country will take to the water on April 11 and 12, on the Potomac River near Washington Harbor from noon to 5 p.m.

The Newseum celebrates its one-year anniversary on April 11, with fun activities, events, interactive programs and a special News Hound Scavenger Hunt. Visitors to the Pennsylvania Avenue attraction can become virtual reporters, broadcasting from the Tidal Basin with the cherry trees in bloom. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

Fourteen decommissioned police and fire emergency call boxes in the southwestern part of the city will be unveiled as poster art displays, featuring posters from past festivals and freshly painted in blue and pink to celebrate the water, sky and the festival colors.

In Anacostia at Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, a tree planting, rooftop brunch, art walk and celebration will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with local artists and performances.

Jam-packed with activity, the day also includes a Prelude to the Fireworks event along Waterfront Park (600 Water Street, SW) from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., which features the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, face painting and other events for children, D.C. Police and Fire⁄EMS displays and more.

Fireworks will light up the sky and can be viewed from land along the southwest waterfront, or from the Potomac River or Washington Channel, as cruise vessels join recreational boaters on the waterways. The fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. and end 30 minutes later.

More information may be obtained at www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org or by calling 877-44BLOOM.