The National Cherry Blossom Festival transformed parts of D.C.’s Union Station into a floral, fashion-filled and blush-colored wonderland that highlighted the power of District culture, local businesses and cross-cultural connections at the third-annual Pink Tie Party on March 15.
“We are here tonight to kick off spring in Washington, D.C. with style,” Diana Mayhew, National Cherry Blossom Festival president and CEO, told The Washington Informer during the event, hosted exactly one week ahead of the spring equinox. “[National Cherry Blossom Festival], with our partners Design Cuisine and 22 other restaurants and sponsors, bring this night — actually this a fundraiser — to help keep festival programming free and accessible.”
Hope Cousin, who has been volunteering with the festival since March 2017, looks forward to the annual party with a purpose, because it allows Washingtonians a creative way to not only give back to the community, but also express themselves.
“Seeing people dressed to the nines, seeing people dressed in the craziest outfits and giving pink a whole name, it’s just fun,” she said. “I love working the silent auction… and it’s so much fun to see the cool things.”
For Cousin, the festival, which she calls a “happy place,” not only brings joy, but also highlights the beauty and breadth of District culture and beyond.
“It’s nice to see more diversification coming, because it wasn’t always like this,” Cousin continued, “and it’s refreshing to see that it’s trying to be a reflection of what America is becoming.”
Black Businesses, Talent Shine Bright During Pink Tie Party
From the fabulous models, talented artists, and guests wearing head-turning fashions to the food flowing and drinks pouring, the beauty and power of Black culture and businesses beamed brightly throughout the fun-filled, pink-themed event.
Throughout the night, people stopped to take pictures with designer Aquila Benjamin and her model, who were donning large crown-like hats, inspired by African culture, with matching blush gowns that stunningly sparkled even in the dark party room.
A native Washingtonian, Benjamin’s designs for the Pink Tie Party furthered her mission to celebrate her grandmother, who used to take her to the National Cherry Blossom Festival when she was young.
“The Cherry Blossom Festival is near and dear to my heart. My whole line, my dress, is dedicated to my Umi, which means ‘grandmother in Swahili,” she told The Informer. “I am a literal princess and that’s how I felt when I used to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival. I said, ‘I got to make sure that I represent. I’ve got to make sure my grandmother is happy and sees that I’m still honoring that softness, that beauty of the beautiful Cherry Blossom Festival,’ and that’s what I did. I made a literal real-life princess.”
For Lesley Riley, founder of Mama’s Biscuits, based in Germantown, Maryland, attending the Pink Tie Party realized a longtime goal.
“I’m here because we are all things cherry blossoms. We love [the National Cherry Blossom Festival] and it has been a desire [to participate] since I started my business,” she said. “I did a cherry blossom biscuit back in 2016 and I always wanted to attend or be a vendor at one of these events so I am so excited and honored to be here tonight.”
Mama’s Biscuits was among more than 20 local establishments, including Sequoia, Fish Shop, Dos Toros, Estuary, and Dirty Habit, highlighted during the evening. Plus budding businesses, like beverage company Imperial 202– which is celebrating two years– helped keep spirits high throughout the night.
“All the amazing restaurants and spirits are here. Imperial 202 is here as a sponsor for the second year, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Jamie Tyler of “Love Marriage & DC,” who serves as a brand partner for the company along with his wife, Erana Tyler. “Imperial 202 is an amazing brand that celebrates D.C. culture.”
This is the Tylers’ second year representing Imperial 202, at the Pink Tie Party, which featured the company’s rosé, demi-sec and brut.
“I love coming out, seeing everyone in their pink,” said Erana Tyler. “I love all the networking, meeting people and enjoying all the wonderful, amazing food, and, of course, the drinks.”
With Imperial 202 made in Argentina and found in local stores such as Costco and Total Wine, company founder Pierre Lako hopes to share the beauty of D.C. across the nation and world.
“I love D.C.,” Lako told The Informer, “ and I cannot put something better than D.C. on this product.”
Like Lako, the National Cherry Blossom Festival works to highlight the District, while celebrating District culture as the cherry blossoms were gifted from Japan in March 1912. This year will continue the legacy of celebrating the cherry blossoms since the festival started in 1935, while bringing fresh additions to the 2026 lineup.
“We always have our wonderful, traditional events, with a lot of innovation woven in between,” Mayhew said, teasing more programming as part of this year’s festival. “New performances, new artists, new experiences, fireworks, the parade, anything that you would want to just celebrate spring.”
For more information, go to nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.