1999 National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 28-April 11

"A Washington Tradition"

Pre Festival Events

Saturday & Sunday-March 20-21

Event: National Cherry Blossom: Youth Soccer Tournament hosted by DC Stoddert Soccer League, Washington Soccer Club and Soccer on the Hill
When: 9 am
Where: West Potomac Park (Near Lincoln Memorial)
Cost: Free
Information: 202 965-4626 or (1-800 295-GOAL)

Cherry Blossom Festival Events
Sunday, March 28

Event: National Cherry Blossom Festival: Official Opening Ceremony: welcome remarks by major dignitaries; Japanese and American entertainment; introduction of 1999 Goodwill Ambassadors
When: 2 pm.
Where: Sylvan Theater, the Mall at 15th Street.
Cost: Free

Event: National Park Service Concerts: Glenard West High School Choir at 2:30 pm, Middletown High School Choir at 4 pm
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free

Tuesday, March 30, DC Day

Event: Cherry Tree Planting coordinated by the DC Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Spirit of Washington.
When: 9:30 am.
Where: 6th & Water Streets SW.
Cost: Free
Information: 202 638-3222

Event: National Park Service Concert: East Alton Wood High School Band
When: 10:15 am
Where: Lincoln Memorial
Cost: Free

Event: Concert & Cultural Fair sponsored by the DC Chamber of Commerce, BET on Jazz Restaurant & Downtown DC Business Improvement District.
When: Noon.
Where: Franklin Square Park.
Cost: Free

Event: DC Artists Performance, provided by BET on Jazz Restaurant.
When: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Where: Franklin Square Park, 14th & I Street NW.
Cost: Free

Event: Japanese Cultural Hand-On Activities for Children.
When: All Day.
Where: Capital Children's Museum, 800 3rd. Street NE.
Cost: $2 off admission fee.
Information: 202 675-4120

Wednesday, March 31, Virginia Day

Event: Cherry Tree Planting at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Reception.
Information: 703 549-0407

Event: National Park Service Concert: East Lamont Intermediate School Band.
When: 10 am
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free

Thursday, April 1, Maryland Day

Event: Cherry Tree Planting Ceremony, Art exhibit, VIP Reception. Gov. Glendening, Japanese Ambassador Saito and Mrs. Saito expected to attend.
When: 11 am.
Where: The Chelsea School, 711 Pershing Dr., Silver Spring, Md.
Information: 202 298-9424

Friday, April 2

Event: National Park Service Concerts: Warroad High School Band at noon
Bryan College Choir at 2 pm.
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free

Saturday, April 3

Event: 1st Annual Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk sponsored by the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation.
When: 10:30 am sign-in. Pre-registration required
Where: To be announced.
Cost: adults, $10; children under 10 and seniors, $5.
Information: 301 530-0048, 202 244-2149 or 703 938-8185 please leave a message.

Sunday, April 4

Event: Lantern Lighting Ceremony sponsored by the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) and the National Park Service. Lighting of the 300-year-old stone lantern by Japanese Ambassador Saito and the Embassy of Japan Princess.
When: 3 pm.
Where: Tidal Basin.
Cost: Free.

Event: Lantern Lighting Reception sponsored by the NCSS. Introduction of the State and Territorial Princesses, entertainment, hors'deuvres.
When: 5 pm to 7 pm.
Where: J.W. Marriott, 14th St. & Penna. Ave. NW.
Cost: $35 per person.

Monday, April 5

Event: Host Marriott Services/National Cherry Blossom Festival:Golf Classic to benefit NCBF Scholarship Fund and Children's Hospital National Medical Center.
When: 10:30 am registration; shotgun start at noon.
Where: The Army-Navy Club, 17 Army-Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
Information: 202 543-6864.
 
Event: National Park Service Concert: Sue Center High School Band & Choir.
Where: Lincoln Memorial. When 1 pm.
Cost: Free

Event: National Conference of State Societies Fashion Show Luncheon.  Pre Luncheon reception, lunch fashion show by Inga Guen of "Once Is Not Enough", music, door prizes. When: 11:30 am.
Where: JW Marriott, 14th St. & Penna. Ave.
Cost: $50 per person.  Tickets required.
Information: 202 547-1500.

Tuesday, April 6

Event: Taste Of the World Hosted by the NCSS. Specialties prepared by chefs of over 20 embassies.
When: 5:30 pm.
Where: Daughters of the American Revolution Building.
Cost: $30 per person.
Information: 202 547-1500

Event: National Park Service Concerts: Perkins High School Band at noon
Jefferson High School Band at 2 pm.
Where: Lincoln Memorial
Cost: Free

Wednesday, April 7

Event: National Conference of State Societies Congressional Reception. Congressmen, Senators and members of the Diplomatic Corps escort State and Territorial Princesses. Guest speaker to be announced.
When: 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Cannon House Office Building, Caucus Room.
Cost: $35 each

Event: The Art of Sushi-Master Sushi Chefs of Japan demonstrate their craft at Phillips Flagship Restaurant.
When: 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: 900 Water Street SW
Cost: Free, with reservations
Information: 202 488-8515

Thursday, April 8

Event: National Cherry Blossom Festival:Luncheon Cruise on the Odyssey. Join the Goodwill Ambassadors for a spectacular view of the monuments and the cherry blossoms.
When: Noon-2pm.
Where: The Odyssey, 6th & Water St. SW.
Information: Call 202 484-2320 for reservations

Event: National Park Service Concerts: The Viroqua High School Band at 9:30 am
Concordia Lutheran School Band at 1:30 pm. Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free.

Friday, April 9

Event: National Park Service Concerts; Crawford High School Band at 10 am
Naples High School Band at 11 am.
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free

Event: National Cherry Blossom Festival Gala; crowning of the 1999 Queen with the Mikimoto crown; opens with a Sushi reception featuring Master Sushi Chefs of Japan
When: 6 pm.
Where: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel; 2660 Woodley Rd. NW.
Cost: $100. Black Tie;
Information: Call 202 547-1500 for tickets.

Saturday, April 10

The 1999 Cherry Blossom Festival: Culminates
With Washington's Largest Annual Spectator Event
THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL  PARADE

Event: National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade sponsored by the Downtown Jaycees. When: 9:30 am
Where: Constitution Ave. from 7th to 17th Street NW
Cost: Grandstand tickets $12 through Ticketmaster at 202 432-SEAT.

Event: Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) 37th Annual Celebration sponsored by the Japan-America Society of Washington. Cross-cultural performing arts, crafts, Taste of Japan, Japanese storytelling.
When: Noon to 5 pm.
Where: Freedom Plaza.
Cost: Free.
Information: 202 833-2210.

Event: National Park Service Concert; Graham High School Choir.
When: 1:30 pm.
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free

Event: NCSS Post Parade Brunch. Meet the 1999 National Cherry Blossom Queen and her Japanese Counterpart. Brunch includes deli treats, salads, breakfast specialties, and more. When: Noon.
Where: J.W. Marriott Hotel, 14th St. and Penna. Ave.
Cost: $35 per person.
 

Event: Cherry Blossom Festival: George Washington University Invitational Crew Classic; largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington area featuring more than 400 rowers from 13 colleges and universities. When: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Washington Harbour
Cost: Free
Information: 202 994-8603

Event: The 33rd National Cherry Blossom Festival: Rugby Tournament hosted by the Washington Ruby Club. Teams from U.S. and Canada compete.
When: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Lincoln Memorial and West Potomac Park.
Cost: Free
Information: 703 204-4641

Event: Earth Day Celebration-Spectrum of Light Youth Rally, Year 2000 Kids Decade of Discovery; Local children to perform.
When: Noon to 6 pm
Where: Sylvan Theater

Event: Parade of Lighted Boats-
sorry, no details yet

Sunday, April 11

Event: The 27th NORTEL Networks Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run; nation's oldest road race, 5,000 runners.
When: 8 am.
Where: West Potomac Park, across Memorial Bridge
Information: 301 320-3350

Event: NCBF Tea Dance- Hosted by the Beethoven Society
When: 1pm-4pm. 
Where: The Willard Inter-Continental Hotel, Penna. Ave. at 14th St.
Information: Call 703 836-0534 for tickets

Event: Children Celebrate Japan Hosted by Arise: Parents with children 12 and under participate in hands-on, creative cultural exchange activities designed to teach about Japan.
Activities include: Japanese calligraphy, origami, flower arranging, kimono try-on, watercolor painting, Kabuki face painting, etc.
When: 12 noon to 2 pm.
Where: Arise, 6925 Willow Street NW
Cost: Admission is free, minimum materials fee (50 cents-$1) for some activities.
Information: 202 291-0770

Event: National Park Service Concerts: Addison Trail High School at 10 am
Terryvill High School Band at 1 pm.
Where: Lincoln Memorial.
Cost: Free.

Event: The 33rd National Cherry Blossom Festival Rugby Invitational Tournament Finals Teams from U.S., Canada and Japan compete.
When: 9 am-5 pm
Where: Lincoln Memorial and West Potomac Park.
Cost: Free
Information: 703 204-4641

 

FESTIVAL INFORMATION  HOTLINE
202 547-1500

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