FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Krysten Copeland
National Cherry Blossom Festival
202-630-3215
krysten@merakicommsgroup.com
Actor Laz Alonso Will Grand Marshal the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®
Washington, D.C. [April 4, 2022] – The National Cherry Blossom Festival today announced that actor, and Washington, D.C. native, Laz Alonso will serve as grand marshal for the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Chosen as one of Variety’s “Top Ten Actors to Watch” and part of the new breed of leading men in Hollywood, Alonso is currently starring in Amazon Prime’s series “The Boys.” He can also be seen playing opposite Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba in their new series “L.A.’s Finest.” Alonso grew up in the D.C area and is a Howard University alumnus. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is presented by Events DC.
One of the Festival’s largest celebrations of springtime, the annual Parade will take place on April 9 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.in D.C. on Constitution Avenue NW (between 7th and 17th Streets). It will feature celebrity entertainment; thematic floats; helium balloons such as Peppa Pig, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bubbles the Fish, Strawberry Shortcake, and Smurfette; marching bands from across the country; and other performances.
“We’re excited to welcome D.C. native Laz back home to serve as this year’s Parade grand marshal,” said Diana Mayhew, president and CEO Since its inception, the Parade has been one of the most anticipated elements of the National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Festival President Diana Mayhew. “We invite you to rediscover the spectacle and communal celebration of the Parade with us on Constitution Avenue for an unforgettable experience with family and friends.”
Celebrities and other exciting Parade elements include:
- Taylor Dayne, award-winning and Grammy-nominated vocalist of the 1980’s hit “Tell It to My Heart”
- Rare Essence, Washington’s premier Go-Go band for over four decades
- Grammy-nominated R&B crooner Freddie Jackson, known for his hit song “You Are My Lady”
- 90’s rap duo Tag Team, best known for their 1993 single “Whoomp! (There It Is)
- Ten marching bands from across the nation, including Washington, D.C.’s Ballou High School Majestic Knights Marching Band, Washington, D.C.’s Different Drummers, and the Parade’s inaugural appearance from the United States Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.
Beginning on April 17, local ABC affiliate 7News On Your Side will air the Parade in a delayed telecast at 1 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. on cable channel WJLA 24/7 News. It will be hosted by Good Morning America’s Rob Marciano and Carson Kressley, plus 7News On Your Side (WJLA-TV) anchors Alison Starling, Robert Burton, and Eileen Whelan.
The Parade will also be available for streaming on ABC through May 17 and nationally syndicated to audiences across the country through the support of Events DC beginning on April 17.
Grandstand tickets are limited. Standing along the Parade route between 9th and 15th Streets, NW is free and open to the public.
TICKETS & TRANSPORTATION: Grandstand seats are limited and can be purchased here. The grandstand section offers reserved seating along Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets, NW. Group tickets for 10 or more are also available. The event is Metro-accessible via the Archives-Navy Memorial stop on the Yellow/Green lines or Federal Triangle on the Blue/Orange lines.
The Parade is supported by Amazon, ANA, Hilton, Mars Petcare, La Croix Sparkling Water, DC Metro, Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, CSI Printing & Graphics, The Washington Wizards, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC, and Linder Global Events. Media partners include 7News On Your Side (WJLA-TV), The Washington Informer, and The Washington Post. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2022Parade.
For more details about Alonso, visit www.lazofficial.com/#laz or his Instagram @lazofficial or Twitter (@lazofficial) pages.
For more information about the 2022 Festival, visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org/RediscoverSpring and follow the Festival’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
For the health and safety of all participants, the Festival encourages attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in alignment with CDC recommendations.
Please review event details on the Festival website to determine whether masking or proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to attend. Please note that safety requirements may change, so attendees are encouraged to sign up for Festival emails to receive the latest updates.
ABOUT NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the world’s great celebrations of spring. Hosted from March 20 – April 17, the 2022 Festival will include four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming that promotes traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.
Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information, and check out Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest), and YouTube (@NationalCherryBlossomFestivalDC). The Festival is supported by Leadership Circle Sponsors Events DC and Amazon.
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