Photo courtesy of National Harbor
National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season With More Special Activities and Entertainment From March 21 to April 12
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Early Blooming Cherry Trees Provide a Beautiful Backdrop
By PRESS OFFICER
National Harbor
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (March 11, 2026)—National Harbor, a 350-acre waterfront destination, is a prime location in the Washington, D.C. region to see spectacular (early) blooming cherry trees along the Potomac River. Visitors can enjoy more than 200 Okame trees along the 1.2 mile waterfront trail. (The trees are just starting to bloom!)
Cherry Blossom celebrations will take place March 21 to April 12 with National Harbor also serving as an official participant of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Seasonal celebrations will be filled with entertainment, food and drink specials, classes and more. Some of the classes and offerings include a bonsai class for beginners, origami classes, kite making classes, Muse Paintbar classes, Wigenton Candle Co. classes, cherry blossom buttercream cake decorating and Japanese whiskey tasting (at Gaylord National). These classes require additional costs and advance registration so please be sure to visit the National Harbor website for exact dates, times, cost, locations and to register.
The annual Sakura Sunday festival, an official participating event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on Sunday, March 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The free, family-friendly celebration will feature cultural performances, culinary delights, a Sakura Spirits Garden, a Water Lantern Festival, a Japanese artisanal market and more. A curated market includes a wide array of Asian foods as well as anime art, Japanese kimonos, Japanese skin care, home decor, Japanese inspired wood art, and more.
Due to its popularity, the Water Lantern Festival has expanded to three nights from March 27–29. The ticketed event brings families, friends, couples and individuals together for a meaningful evening experience that illuminates the waterfront with messages of hope, unity, and remembrance. Participants decorate lighted lanterns, which are released into an enclosed area, creating a peaceful and visually striking nighttime display.
Throughout the month, National Harbor restaurants will also join in the celebration with a wide array of food and drink specials from a seasonal cherry blossom milkshake to Sakura cheesecake and matcha mousse to a cherry blossom princess cake and cherry pie a la mode, and more! Drink specials include a cherry blossom margarita, a blooming margarita and a hibiscus margarita; cherry vanilla ale, cherry blossom punch, cherry blossom spritz, Sakura Ume, and strawberry lemonade. A full listing is on the National Harbor website.
“We’re excited to expand the cherry blossom celebration at National Harbor this year. After such a harsh winter, our bright pink cherry trees are a welcome and cheerful sign that spring has finally arrived! It’s a special time across the region, and we celebrate by turning the Harbor pink – from The Capital Wheel and waterfront trail to our beautifully illuminated buildings.” said Deborah Topcik, senior director of marketing at National Harbor. “We’re also delighted to once again be part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with our annual Sakura Sunday event on March 29.”
Both MGM National Harbor and Gaylord National will have special spa offerings. The Westin Washington National Harbor and Gaylord National have a special Cherry Blossom Package. MGM will change out its famous conservatory at the end of the month/beginning of April to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. The exciting new display will also have some cherry blossoms.
For more information on National Harbor and cherry blossom activities and offerings, go to www.nationalharbor.com/cherryblossom/. Events and activities will be added to the schedule as confirmed.
Situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River and just minutes from the nation’s capital, National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination unlike any other. National Harbor is home to two of Maryland’s Four Diamond rated hotels—Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the East Coast’s largest non-gaming hotel and convention center and has almost 2,000 hotel rooms and 660,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and MGM National Harbor, an integrated luxury casino resort with renowned chef-driven restaurants, a 3,000-seat state-of-the art theater and one of the largest gaming floors outside of Las Vegas. The vibrant Waterfront District features boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment options along picturesque promenades. The iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-ft observation wheel, Tanger Outlets’ 85 designer brands, and a robust calendar of events round out this destination that welcomes more than 15.2 million visitors a year. For more information, visit www.NationalHarbor.com
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Proposed FY 2027 Budget Presented to Prince George’s County Council
By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s County Council Media
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy presented her proposed $5.9 billion fiscal year 2027 budget to the County Council, representing a $114 million, or 2%, increase over the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget. The FY 2027 budget closes the county’s structural deficit through a $154.3 million increase in General Fund revenue, strategic debt prepayments, and the streamlining of county agencies.
The County Executive’s budget proposal places an increased emphasis on education with an allocation of $2.97 billion to the Board of Education, a $20.8 million increase from FY 2026. It also provides an increased investment of $75.1 million in public safety, totaling $1.1 billion dollars across all agencies. That includes $453.5 million for the Prince George’s County Police Department, up $32.1 million over last fiscal year, and $325.9 million for Prince George’s County Fire and EMS, up $11 million. Those proposed FY 2027 allocations include funding for 150 new police recruits and 100 new fire and EMS recruits.
Other budgetary highlights include $55.5 million for Health and Human Services programs, $27.6 million for economic growth and development, $25.5 million for transportation and infrastructure, $204.5 million for the county’s Stormwater Management Fund, and $144.1 million for Prince George’s Community College.
Additionally, the County Executive’s budget proposal provides funding for several Council priorities, including $250,000 for a new early autism detection campaign and $1 million for senior electricity assistance.
“I want to congratulate County Executive Aisha Braveboy on closing a $155 million structural deficit, while increasing spending in key areas and initiatives across the county,” said Council Chair Krystal Oriadha. “That is a huge accomplishment, and I am grateful for the hard work and smart decisions made by the County Executive and her talented staff. This budget proposal, and some of the priorities already funded, represents the unity we as a Council have with the County Executive. As my Council colleagues and I dive into this budget proposal and begin refining it prior to final approval, I feel confident that we will have an amazing, balanced budget that benefits all Prince Georgians.”
The Council will now thoroughly analyze the budget, solicit input from the community, and approve a final budget by June 1, 2026. The FY 2027 budget takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Explore the Patuxent Watershed: 2026 Recreation Season Opened Sunday, March 15
Watershed Recreation Areas Open from Sunrise to Sundown March 15–November 30
By PRESS OFFICER
WSSC Water
LAUREL, Md. (March 13, 2026)—Outdoor recreation returns to WSSC Water’s Patuxent Watershed as the 2026 season opened Sunday, March 15. Visitors can once again explore more than 6,000 acres of protected land and reservoirs, with permitted activities including boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking from sunrise to sundown.
The watershed spans across Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties and includes the Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett reservoirs, which serve as drinking water sources for WSSC Water.
Due to low water levels, some boat ramps will be closed until levels rise. Visitors are encouraged to call 301-206-4FUN or the Brighton Dam Visitor Center at 301-206-7485 for the latest information.
All watershed visitors who are 16 years or older must have a valid permit, which can be purchased online at wsscwater.com/watershed or in person at the Brighton Dam Visitor Center, 2 Brighton Dam Road, Brookville, Maryland 20833. The Visitor Center is open daily from 7 a.m. to sundown, including weekends. To reach staff at the center, please call 301-206-7485. Complimentary permits are available for visitors 65 or older, active military and disabled veterans.
WSSC Water is the proud provider of safe, seamless and satisfying water services, making the essential possible every day for our neighbors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
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Governor Moore Highlights $3 Million in Proposed FY 2027 Budget for Business Revitalization Projects Along Purple Line Corridor
By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the Governor
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 9, 2026)—Governor Wes Moore today joined elected leaders at the Flower Theatre in Silver Spring to highlight a $3 million investment through his Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal to drive economic development along the Purple Line corridor. The proposed funding supports renovation projects to upgrade storefronts and restore historic buildings—revitalizing local business districts as the Purple Line nears completion.
“We are investing in the Purple Line corridor because you cannot have a competitive state without thriving communities,” said Gov. Moore. “When it opens, the Purple Line will not just move our people from point A to point B, it will move entire communities forward. By expanding Montgomery County’s Facade Improvement Program, we are strengthening communities, supporting small businesses, and making Maryland more competitive.”
The governor’s proposed investment supports exterior upgrades for businesses within a half-mile of Montgomery County Purple Line stations—significantly improving the aesthetic appeal of older properties. Facade renovations will foster a more inviting and safe commercial environment, attracting additional private investment and ensuring that local businesses are fully prepared to leverage the economic connectivity provided by the Purple Line.
The funding would be administered by the Montgomery Countywide Facade
Improvement Program to support projects in communities such as Long Branch—Maryland’s most recently designated Main Street. Past projects supported by the program include Montgomery Housing Partnership’s restoration of the historic Flower Theatre, which is part of the organization’s revitalization strategy that includes phased facade improvements for surrounding Long Branch businesses near the future Purple Line station.
“As the Purple Line creates new connections and brings more people into Long Branch—and communities along the corridor—these investments help ensure small, local businesses are not displaced,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “Facade improvements strengthen commercial districts, attract investment, and help small businesses thrive because a strong downtown tells the story of a strong community.”
In addition to physical improvements, the State is continuing to provide direct financial assistance to entrepreneurs most directly impacted by Purple Line construction through the Purple Line Small Business Grant Program. In 2025, the Maryland Department of Transportation awarded $2 million in grants to nearly 200 small businesses. The program provides direct grants of up to $50,000 to eligible small businesses for critical expenses such as payroll, rent, utility payments, and marketing.
The Maryland Department of Transportation secured the funding for the Purple Line Small Business Grant Program—launched in February 2025—through a contract re-negotiation with the project’s concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners. The contract was approved by Maryland’s Board of Public Works in March 2024.
The application period for the first round of 2026 grants opened last week. The application can be found on the Maryland OneStop Portal.
“The future Purple Line will serve to connect Marylanders with local businesses, spurring economic development all along the route from New Carrollton to Bethesda,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “Governor Moore’s support for small businesses along the Purple Line, and his commitment to Maryland's transit investments, will help further uplift communities where people want to live, work and shop.”
Construction for the Purple Line—a 16-mile light rail line that will connect communities from College Park and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda and Silver Spring in Montgomery County—is nearly complete. 88 percent of the track is laid, including all of the track in Prince George’s County. All 21 stations are under construction, and all 28 light rail vehicles are now onsite.
The construction project has been an economic driver for the region with more than 2,000 skilled workers employed throughout its construction phase. The Purple Line project has also paid out more than $500 million to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses for the design and construction.
“In District 22, we view the Purple Line as more than just transit—it is a launchpad for local economic opportunity for our people and small businesses,” said Delegate Ashanti Martinez. “I look forward to working closely with the Moore-Miller Administration to secure the resources our people need to flourish as construction concludes and as the Purple Line begins to run.”
“In partnership with Governor Moore’s administration, we are turning a new transit opportunity into a bridge for shared prosperity,” said Delegate Nicole Williams. “Our focus remains on ensuring that as this critical project nears completion, we aren’t just moving people, but lifting up every community along the route. By partnering with the Moore-Miller Administration, we will continue to make sure that our region’s local business hubs experience economic development that our people can feel.”
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