National Cherry
Blossom Festival Parade® FAQs
- What is the National Cherry Blossom
Festival Parade®?
- When is the Parade?
- Where is the Parade?
- Why should I attend the Parade?
- How can I get involved?
- How can I get to the Parade?
- Is there parking available?
- Where do group buses drop
off attendees and park?
- What streets
are affected / closed by the parade route?
- What time should we arrive?
- Where are the restroom facilities?
- Where is the first-aid station?
- Can we purchase food at the Parade or
should we bring our own?
- What kind of seating is available?
- If I purchase reserved seating, how
can I get my tickets?
- If we don't get reserved seating, can
we bring our own chairs?
- Can we purchase official National
Cherry Blossom Festival® merchandise at the Parade?
- Where can we watch the Parade on TV?
- What happens if it rains?
What is the National Cherry Blossom
Festival Parade®?
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® is a favorite
springtime event and is one of the largest activities in the
National Cherry Blossom Festival, the annual two-week celebration
of Japan's gift of trees to the United States in 1912. It draws
nearly 100,000 spectators to Downtown D.C. each year.
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When is the Parade?
This year's Parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday,
April 10, 2010 in downtown Washington, D.C. and is expected
to be a two-hour celebration.
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Where is the Parade?
The Parade route travels along the historic part of
Constitution Avenue, NW beginning at 7th Street and
ending at 17th Street. Along the way it passes the
National Archives, the Department of Justice, Smithsonian
Museums, the Washington Monument and the White House. The length
of this distance is approximately one mile.
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Why should I attend the Parade?
People from around the country (and a few other countries too)
come to see the Parade - the largest public event of the Festival
- because it combines some of the Festival's best entertainment
into one spectacular show. The procession consists of elements
that the whole family can enjoy, including: decorated floats,
gigantic colorful helium balloons, exciting marching bands,
precise military and specialty units, celebrity performances, the
energetic National Cherry Blossom Festival® All-Star Youth Tap
Dance Team and Choir, fun mascots, and various cultural
performing groups and other special entries.
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How can I get involved?
Volunteers are vital to the success of the Parade. Over 500
friendly and energetic people serve as bleacher ushers, staff for
assembly and dispersal areas, information guides and other jobs
that help the Parade run smoothly.
For information on how to volunteer, please click here.
To apply to be in the Parade, click here for an application.
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How can I get to the Parade?
Because of limited parking and various street closings, we
recommend Metro as the best
way to travel to the Parade. The closest stops are Smithsonian
(orange/blue), Federal Triangle (orange/blue), and Archives/Navy
Memorial (yellow/green). However, because of high ridership on
Parade day, we also suggest nearby alternate stations such as
Metro Center (red/blue/orange) and Gallery Place/Chinatown
(green/yellow/red), which are within walking distance of the
Parade route and just a few blocks further.
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Is there parking available?
Parking is extremely limited on Parade day; use of public
transportation is encouraged. Visit www.wmata.com and
select Trip Planner to find the best Metro route. A pay garage is
located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade
Center located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.
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Where do group buses drop off
attendees and park?
Click here to download the Group Bus Information Sheet (PDF) for more
information.
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What streets are
affected / closed by the parade route?
The primary streets affected by the parade route
are Constitution Ave NW between 7th & 17th streets as well as
some additional cross streets closed for assemble and
distribution of the parade units. These areas are closed off on a
rolling basis beginning as early at 6:00 am on Saturday, April
10, 2010.
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What time should we arrive?
The suggested time of arrival is between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.,
earlier if you are not in Grandstand Seating and want to secure a
prime curbside spot.
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Where are the restroom facilities?
Portable restrooms are available near the Parade route at the
following locations:
- Assembly area- National Mall at 7th St
- Constitution Ave. at 7th & 9th,
north side (by the National Archives)
- Constitution Ave. at 14th & 15th,
south side (Washington Monument side)
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Where is the first-aid station?
There will be two locations:
- 7th & Constitution Ave, NW
- 14th & Constitution Ave, NW
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Can we purchase food at the Parade or
should we bring our own?
There will be no official food vendors along the Parade route
but food will be available at the Smithsonian Museum food court
and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
food court. Spectators can get a taste of Japan at the Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival
immediately following the Parade. For a list of outstanding
downtown dining options, visit www.downtowndc.org
and click on "Dining."
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What kind of seating is available?
Spectators are welcome to find their own place to watch the
celebration along the parade route on Constitution Avenue, NW
between 7th and 17th Streets. Arrive early
since those spaces are first come first served. Crowds begin to
gather about 9:00 a.m.
Reserved bleacher seating is available. Tickets must be
purchased in advance. All those that will have their own seat
will need a ticket. Arrangements for lower seating can be made
for those that cannot sit in the higher sections. For more
information please click here.
*No tickets will be sold the day of the Parade.
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If I purchase reserved seating, how
can I get my tickets?
You have the option of having your tickets mailed directly to
you or picking them up at one of the will call booths along
Constitution Ave. If you will be travelling to Washington within
a week prior to the Parade, we suggest that you pick up your
tickets from will call the day of the Parade. Tickets will be
mailed on or around March 19, 2010.
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If we don't get reserved seating, can
we bring our own chairs?
Yes.
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Can we purchase official National
Cherry Blossom Festival® merchandise at the Parade?
Official National Cherry Blossom Festival® merchandise can be
purchased at tents located on Constitution Ave., NW at 9th,
12th, and 14th Sts. To view merchandise
online, please visit the NCBF Gift Shop.
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Where can we watch the Parade on TV?
For those that can't make it to see the Parade live, the 2010
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® will be featured in a
live telecast on WJLA/ABC 7 and NewsChannel 8 and will be
re-broadcast the next day (time TBA) on NewsChannel 8.
Additionally, for viewers outside the WJLA/ABC 7 &
NewsChannel 8 region, the Parade will be available for streaming
on the NewsChannel
8 website.
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What happens if it rains?
The Parade will happen rain or shine and will only be
cancelled in the event of lightning or other extreme weather
conditions. In the event of inclement weather, please call the
Festival hotline at (877) 44BLOOM for updates.
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