Pink Tie Host Committee Party at US Botanic Gardens

By Punch Premiere Correspondent Lindsey Clark

This year’s Pink Tie Party – a sold out celebration held at the Mayflower hotel – honored the 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of 3,020 cherry trees to the United States as a symbol of friendship. Although the first official Cherry Blossom Festival wasn’t organized until 1935, the first trees were planted in 1912, at a small ceremony attended by First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Chinese Ambassador. A full century later, the blossoms continue to be celebrated and cherished as close to a million visitors come to admire them each year.

To thank the members of the Pink Tie Committee for all the work they do to make the Festival such a success, the Festival threw a party at the US Botanic Gardens – a perfect setting for such a lovely event. I got a chance to talk to some people on staff at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and despite the fact that the trees won’t be in bloom again until next Spring, they are already gearing up for 2013 (in fact, the dates for next year’s Festival have just been announced, so mark your calendars for March 20-April 14!).

The Pink Tie Committee works year round to raise money to put on the Festival and its numerous events – and with this year’s Centiennal Celebration lasting several weeks longer than usual Festivals, they had their work cut out for them. Judging by how busy Committee member Pamela Sorensen is, it’s no wonder the Festival is always such a success!