Say goodbye to the cherry blossoms and hello to weekend street closures.
On Saturday, the following streets will close for the annual Cherry Blossom Parade, according to officials:
“Early closure 3:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 7th Street between Constitution Ave. NW and Independence Ave. SW
Closures from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 9th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. NW and Constitution Ave. NW
- 10th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. NW and Constitution Ave. W
- 12th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. NW and Independence Ave. SW
- Access to 12th Street Tunnel from I395 ramp SW
- 14th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. NW to Independence Ave. SW
- 14th Street Bridge SW (inbound) all traffic diverted East onto I395 freeway
- 15th Street between E Street to Constitution Ave. NW
- 17th Street between New York Ave NW to Independence Ave. SW
- 19th Street between E Street to Constitution Ave. NW
- Virginia Ave between 20th Street to Constitution Ave. NW”
The parade spans 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue, featuring “giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers,” organizers say.
A “Japanese-inspired” Cherry Blast sponsored by Events D.C. will also take place tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Carnegie Library. Between 3,000 and 5,000 attendees are expected, the Metropolitan Police Department says: “The Cherry Blast event has been permitted for the closure of the 700 to 800 blocks of K Street NW. The closure is in effect from 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16th until 2:00 a.m. Sunday, April 17th.”
Meanwhile, the District’s official parade and festival for D.C. Emancipation Day will cause closures throughout Saturday. The parade will start around noon at 441 Fourth St. NW—aka One Judiciary Square.
The Cherry Blast will have “a range of activities from manga and gaming to electric drifting competitions,” its organizers say, on top of “Tokyo street food.” Both it and the Cherry Blossom Parade are ticketed events.
Photo by Andrew Giambrone