an iconic springtime celebration
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®
PRESENTED BY EVENTS DC
The Nation’s Springtime Parade is an amazing sight on Constitution Avenue! Grand colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a spectacle of music and showmanship celebrating spring in DC.
Telecast (East End) Seating – $40 (+$5.00 per ticket fee)
Located between 7th and 9th Streets NW along Constitution Ave, NW by the National Archives
Finale (West End) – Performance Zone Seating – $30 (+$4.00 per ticket fee)
Located between 16th and 17th Streets NW along Constitution Ave, NW by the Washington Monument
Finale (West End) – Seating – $25 (+$3.00 per ticket fee)
Located between 16th and 17th Streets NW along Constitution Ave, NW by the Washington Monument
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 PARADE PERFORMERS
Colin Stough, American Idol Finalist
Miss District of Columbia
Treena Ferebee
The Funky Bunch
Mambo Sauce
Jacquie Roar
Martha Wash
National Children’s Chorus
Carson Kressley
Robert Burton and Eileen Whelan of 7 News
Charity Lawson, Honorary Marshal
It's on TV too! Catch the One-Hour Broadcast in your city!
Experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade with guests from The Most Magical Place On Earth—Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Grand Marshal, Princess Tiana!
Disney Properties © Disney
More surprises to come! Stay tuned for performer updates...
Thelma Houston, Grammy Winner and Motown legend
Michael James Scott, the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway
Leah Marlene, American Idol season 20 second runner up
2024 PARADE PERFORMERS
Omar Jose Cardona, The Voice Season 22 Finalist
Parajita Bastola, DC Area Native and The Voice Semifinalist
12 Marching Bands from across the country
2023 FEATURED PARADE BALLOONS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
Peppa Pig
Alma from Alma’s way
WEST END
At the end of the Parade route, it was non-stop fun in the grandstands! Toby & Chilli from WASH FM and local performers kept the energy blossoming all morning.
2023 BROADCAST HOSTS
Co-hosts Alison Starling and Robert Burton of 7News
TV Personality Carson Kressley
Eileen Whelan of 7News
Street Reporter and co-host Gio Benitez of Good Morning America
MAP* YOUR PARADE DAY EXPERIENCE
*Map is subject to change in 2024.
The 2022 Parade included:
- Grand Marshal Laz Alonso, star of Amazon Prime series The Boys and one of Variety’s “Top Ten Actors to Watch”
- 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)”
- Wendy Moten, NBC’s The Voice runner-up in 2021 and Grammy-winning Nashville western swing band The Time Jumpers’s member.
- American Idol’s 3rd place winner and award winning singer/songwriter, Grace Kinstler
- Online Viral Sensation, Sharpe Family Singers
- 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.
- Giant colorful balloons including Peppa Pig, Blossom Trio, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bubbles the Fish and more!
- A nationally syndicated broadcast anchored by Azubuike “Ike” Ejiochi of Good Morning America as well as Alison Starling and Robert Burton from local 7News. 7News reporter Eileen Whelan and TV personality Carson Kressley provided commentary from the street.
Wondering who else performed at the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival? Check out the full Line of March below!
MAP YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
What began with a gift in 1912 at the Tidal Basin is now a four-week extravaganza spanning Washington, DC, and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia. Click the filters on our interactive map to see all that the Festival has to offer and craft a tailored experience as you Rediscover Spring. From exciting events to convenient hotels, delectable Cherry Picks restaurants to vibrant Art in Bloom installations, and a jaw-dropping City in Bloom to joyful Petal Porches, see the Washington, DC area as you can only see it once a year!
GETTING TO THE PARADE
Parking is limited in the District, especially during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s highly recommended that visitors use DC’s alternative transportation modes like Capital Bikeshare, DC Streetcar, Scooters, DC Circulator, Metrobus, and Metrorail to make the most of their experience.
The one-mile length of the Parade route is accessible from multiple Metro stations. Ticketholders should confer their ticket purchase confirmation email with explicit instructions on walking from Metro to their seats. Spectators who are standing along the free & accessible portions of the route from 9th to 15th Streets should utilize the following Metro stops:
- To stand on the north side of Constitution Avenue – Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green/Yellow lines), Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver lines), or Metro Center (Blue/Orange/Red/Silver lines)
- To stand on the south side of Constitution Avenue – L’Enfant Plaza (Blue/Green/Orange/Silver/Yellow lines) or Smithsonian (Blue/Orange lines)
Spectators should utilize the DC Circulator’s National Mall route for access to all portions of the Parade. The closest stops are located along Madison Drive NW. Rides cost just $1, and buses arrive every 10 minutes. Riders are encouraged to check DCCirculator.com for real-time service updates, as the traditional route may experience some detours due to road closures.
Multiple Capital Bikeshare stations are conveniently located near the Parade route and along the National Mall.
Spectators on the north side of Constitution Avenue can use the station at 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW or 14th Street & D Street NW/Reagan Building.
Spectators on the south side of Constitution Avenue can use the station at 14th Street & Jefferson Street SW / Washington Monument or 12th Street & Jefferson Street SW / Smithsonian Metro.
For a complete list of stations, visit CapitalBikeshare.com.
The one-mile length of the Parade route is accessible from multiple Metro stations. Ticketholders should confer their ticket purchase confirmation email with explicit instructions on walking from Metro to their seats. Spectators who are standing along the free & accessible portions of the route from 9th to 15th Streets should utilize the following Metro stops:
- To stand on the north side of Constitution Avenue – Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green/Yellow lines), Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver lines), or Metro Center (Blue/Orange/Red/Silver lines)
- To stand on the south side of Constitution Avenue – L’Enfant Plaza (Blue/Green/Orange/Silver/Yellow lines) or Smithsonian (Blue/Orange lines)
Multiple Capital Bikeshare stations are conveniently located near the Parade route and along the National Mall.
Spectators on the north side of Constitution Avenue can use the station at 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW or 14th Street & D Street NW/Reagan Building.
Spectators on the south side of Constitution Avenue can use the station at 14th Street & Jefferson Street SW / Washington Monument or 12th Street & Jefferson Street SW / Smithsonian Metro.
For a complete list of stations, visit CapitalBikeshare.com.
Street Closure Notice
4/15 – 4/16/23: Streets surrounding the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade route (7th – 17th Streets Northwest off Constitution Avenue) will be closed the morning of Saturday, April 15. Please note that the Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival will be taking place nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th streets NW and roads will be closed both Saturday and Sunday, 4/15 – 16.
Emancipation Day
Mayor Muriel Bowser will be leading the DC Emancipation Day parade and celebration from 2 – 9 PM on Saturday, April 15. The celebration will take place at Freedom Plaza (10th St. NW to 14th St NW on Pennsylvania Ave NW).
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app.
To reserve your parking spot, visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PARADE SPONSORS
