The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington D.C. will be held as previously scheduled, according to organizers.
With lawmakers struggling to agree on a budget, and a possible government shutdown looming, there was concern that the parade may be cancelled. The parade route is partially on National Park grounds, and a government shutdown may have forced the park to close.
Alternate plans were made. In the case of a government shutdown, the parade route will be changed. Rather than the parade going onto Park Service land, it would run along Constitution from 7th Street to 14th Street.
The parade is predicted to draw approximately 100,000 spectators tomorrow morning. It is set to start at 10am, and to go until about noon.
–update, 12:07am, April 9, 2011–
With congressional leaders agreeing on a budget deal late this evening, a partial government shutdown has been avoided. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is set to start on time at 10am this morning and to follow along its original route.
A statement on the official website of the National Cherry Blossom Festival states “All events on Grand Finale Weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival will go on as originally scheduled, per the budget agreement the federal government reached late Friday evening.”
They went on to say that grandstand ticket holders will have access to their original seats, and that the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival will go on as planned after the parade. The Blossom Kite Festival will also go on as planned, on Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.
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