WASHINGTON, March 15, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The National Cherry Blossom Festival(R) is an annual two-week, city-wide celebration featuring daily international cultural performances, a festival Parade, delectable cuisine, sporting events, arts & crafts demonstrations and more. This year's Festival includes more than 95 events and exhibits featuring nearly 200 cultural performances.
NEW COMPONENTS TO TRADITIONAL FAVORITES:
NEW!!! National Cherry Blossom Festival(R) Opening Day Festivities: Saturday, March 25, 10am - 5:30pm; National Building Museum. A new day-long event with hands-on, family friendly activities, workshops and performances. Traditional Ceremonial Program begins at 4pm with welcoming remarks by dignitaries and highlight performance emphasizing Japanese and Western entertainment. Free.
Tidal Basin Stage Cultural Performances: Saturday, March 25 - Sunday, April 9, Daily beginning at Noon, Jefferson Memorial. Sponsored by Target, nearly 100 cultural performances will feature music, dance, song and martial arts demonstrations. Free.
The 40th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival: Saturday, March 25, 10 am - 4 pm. Washington Monument grounds. Festival features kite making displays, the ever popular hand-made kite competition, traditional Rokakku battle and new Hot Tricks-trick kite showdown. Free.
National Cherry Blossom Festival(R) Fireworks Celebration: Saturday, April 1, Southwest Waterfront. Enjoy music, food and fun at the 2nd Annual Prelude to the Fireworks beginning at 5pm and concluding with a fireworks display at 8:15pm. Free.
Southwest Airlines Presents the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival: Saturday, April 8, Parade Route: Constitution Ave. from 7th to 17th Sts., NW. This Washington tradition will feature Pat Sajak as Grand Marshal and will include exciting entertainment with American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov and Grammy-nominated artist Martha Wash Join marching bands, floats, balloons and plenty of family entertainment as they march down Constitution Avenue. Grandstand tickets: $15 each, available through Ticketmaster at (202) 397-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com. Standing along the route is Free.
45th Annual Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival: Saturday, April 8, 11am-6pm, 12th St. and Penn. Ave., NW. Produced by Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, this year's Sakura Matsuri features a new j-Pop Land. Free.
Cuisine at the 2005 National Cherry Blossom Festival(R):"Cherry Picks": March 25-April 9. Area restaurants will feature exceptional dishes highlighting cherries; for a listing of restaurants see the NCBF web site.
The Grand Sushi & Sake Tasting: Wednesday, April 5, 7pm - 9:30pm, National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall. Presented by the National Sushi Society, National Geographic Society. Grand Master Sushi chefs from Japan and area Japanese restaurants present and evening of extraordinary sushi and sake samples. (202) 661-7585. $85/person
Interested in exploring the cherry blossoms? Several tours are offered throughout the two-week Festival including a "Blossoms Secrets Stroll" Walking Tour and a Cherry Blossom Photo Safari.
Sport Enthusiast? Many sporting events take place including a 10-Mile Race, Crew Classic and Rugby, Golf, Lacrosse and Soccer Tournaments.