Downtown Hosts Cherry Blossom and Emancipation Day Celebrations April 16!

Share

no

The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) is the place to be April 16 when the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®, the DC Emancipation Day Parade and the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Cherry Blast are all underway in DowntownDC.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®, presented by Events DC, is one of the Festival’s largest events will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in the BID. Being one of the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s largest events, featuring celebrity entertainment, cherry blossom balloons, characters, floats, marching bands and more! The Parade, of which the DowntownDC BID is a segment sponsor, runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW and this year will be hosted by ABC-7/WJLA-TV anchors Alison Starling and Leon Harris. Be on the lookout for the DowntownDC BID ambassadors walking in this year’s parade with the BID’s balloon! This free event is open to the public. 

[Visit the BID’s event calendar to read more about the parade]

Join D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for the D.C. Emancipation Parade, which begins at 1 Judiciary Square and runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This parade is part of the D.C. Emancipation Day celebration honoring the anniversary of the signing of the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed 3,185 enslaved persons in the District. D.C. officials, schools and community groups come together for this family-friendly event, along with college marching bands, dancers and grand historic balloon floats. 

For more information visit their website http://emancipation.dc.gov

In the evening, head to the Carnegie Library (801 K St NW) for the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Cherry Blast, presented by Events DC. This springtime Japanese-inspired event, which runs from 6pm to 2am, offers participants an opportunity to sample Japanese street food, participate in sake tastings and attend sushi workshops as well as access to various activities related to anime, cosplay and gaming. The DowntownDC BID is a proud supporter of this year’s Cherry Blast.

[Learn more about Cherry Blast on the BID’s event calendar]