WASHINGTON — The National Cherry Blossom Festival parade will roar through the streets of Northwest D.C. on Saturday and it’s picked up a few new characters for this year’s festivities.
The cast of large helium balloon characters featured in this year’s parade includes first-time visitors to the District Peppa Pig, the Magic School Bus, Smurfette and Sam I Am. Celebrity appearances include Grand Marshal Carla Hall of ABC’s The Chew, contestants from The Voice Billy Gilman and Sarah Potenza, country singer Ty Herndon and the Extreme pogo stunt team.
Saturday’s parade is on Constitution Avenue in Northwest between 7th and 17th streets in Northwest between 10 a.m. and noon.
Standing along the parade route between 9th Street and 15th street is free and open to the public. Grandstand seating, which will be between $20 and $30, could be purchased up until April 13.
National Cherry Blossom Festival activities after the parade include the Japan-America Society’s Sakura Matsuri Festival and events at the Tidal Basin Welcome Center stage from noon until 6 p.m. The festival runs through Sunday, April 15.
Find a full list of Saturday street closures related to blossom events here.
According to National Cherry Blossom Festival President Diana Mayhew, the trees are also cooperating this year.
“Cool weather has kept these beautiful blossoms on a like a refrigerator,” Mayhew said.
Spring is expected to officially have arrived with the parade the forecast for Saturday is sunny with temperatures in the low 80s.
“The weather will be spectacular,” Mayhew said.
