AWARDS
The Festival is proud to present award-winning programming, and is regularly recognized as an industry leader in the Festivals and Events space. Read on for a few of the most recent accolades.
2023
Bestowed by USA Today 10Best
In 2023, the National Cherry Blossom Festival was voted Best Cultural Festival by USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice.
2022
Emmy Award: Bestowed by National academy of television arts & sciences
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® Director John Best of JM Best Entertainment received an Emmy from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter in the category of Director – Live or Recorded Live for the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® Presented by Events DC. Congratulations to John on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you to the JM Best Team for your longtime partnership and ongoing excellence in directing the Nation’s Springtime Parade!
PINNACle Awards: Bestowed by the International Festival and Events Association
Gold
Best Event (Within an Existing Festival), for Petalpalooza
Gold
Best Media Relations Campaign
Gold
Best Volunteer Program
Gold
Best Pin or Button
Gold
Best Twitter Site
Silver
Best Full-Length TV Program for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration Show (2021)
Silver
Best Sponsorship program for Individual Sponsor, for Art in Bloom Sculpture Program presented by Amazon (2021)
Silver
Best Commemorative Poster
Silver
Best Facebook Site
Silver
Best Event/ Organization E-Newsletter
Silver
Best Overall Merchandising Program
Bronze
Best T-Shirt Design
2019
pinnacle awards: Bestowed by the International Festival and Events Association
Bronze
Grand Pinnacle
Gold
Best Full Length TV Program for the local broadcast of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC
Gold
Best Media Relations Campaign
Gold
Best Commemorative Poster, created by Simon Bull
Gold
Best Pin, for the 2019 Commemorative Lapel Pin
Gold
Best Overall Merchandising Program, including custom pieces inspired by the Official Artwork
Silver
Best Single New Sponsorship Opportunity, for Cherry Blast presented by MGM National Harbor
Silver
Best Event Within an Existing Festival, for Petalpalooza® presented by Chase
Bronze
Best Organizational Website
Bronze
Best Sponsorship Program for an Individual Sponsor, for the Paws & Petals Program with Mars Petcare
Bronze
Best Volunteer Program
2018
pinnacle awards: Bestowed by the International Festival and Events Association Pinnacle Awards
Silver
Grand Pinnacle
Gold
Best Event Within an Existing Festival – Blossom Kite Festival
Gold
Best Media Relations Campaign
Gold
Best Sponsor Partner – All Nippon Airways
Gold
Best Sponsorship Program for an Individual Sponsor – Paws & Petals, Mars Petcare
Gold
Best New Promotion Activity – FestivALE
Silver
Best Full Length Local TV Program – National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC
Silver
Best Single New Sponsorship Opportunity – Opening Ceremony Audience Engagement, Japan National Tourism Organization
Silver
Best Volunteer Program
Silver
Best Overall Merchandising Program
Silver
Best Pin Best Commemorative Poster
Bronze
Best Parade
Bronze
Best On-Site Décor – Pink Tie Party