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Cherry blossoms drawing throngs

From Times Wire Reports

The 16-day National Cherry Blossom Festival began with events designed to allow visitors the opportunity to view the trees without the daunting crowds: lantern-lit tours at night, boat rides on the Potomac River and, for the first time, early morning jogs -- called “cherry chit-chat” runs.

More than 1 million people are expected for the festival, which has become Washington’s signature tourist event since it began in 1935.

This year’s festival includes dozens of events celebrating the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the United States from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo.

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