WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- Massive crowds packed the Tidal Basin for the first weekend of peak bloom. The festivities are all part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. "It feels like I'm being watched over with the goodness of nature," said Shareeke Nesi of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It's her first time at the festival. "I love not just seeing the trees, but seeing everyone coming, taking pictures, young and old," Nesi said. She's not the only one who made the trip to the District to see the cherry blossoms, which hit peak bloom on Friday, for the first time. "Spring Break family trip and, just to see the beautiful cherry blossoms my wife wanted to see," said Taylor Ulrich of La Verne, Ca., outside Los Angeles. Pups are invited to these Cherry Blossom Festival events in DC! "I love all the colors, and it's a fun city," said Audrey Grimmer. There was only one complaint from most people who turned out for the first weekend of peak bloom--the traffic--both on the road and the sidewalks. "It's really busy, but it's not too unexpected," said Samantha Grimmer. The crowd did not scare off this bunch of college students from Baltimore from attending their first festival. "We are freshmen in college," said Amy Chang. "So we never have been to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms. So we thought it would be a good break for us from school." The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place every day through April 13. All of the events are free. ...read more read less