WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — To celebrate spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Petalpalooza is getting ready to take over the Capitol Riverfront Navy Yard Metro with a day full of events.
Featuring five zones, the Petalpalooza on April 5 brings together art, music and play to multiple outdoor stages. Starting at 1 p.m., attendees can expect art installations, a cashless beverage garden, roaming entertainers and activities along the Anacostia River.
Each zone will have a cherry blossom theme and have different performances and activity tents.
Zone 1, “Blossom Buds” can be found on Navy Yard and will have interactive games and several tents. There will be Cherry Blossom Follies, wooden cherry blossom cutouts with slits on the sides that enable pieces to be fit together and built into interactive 3D sculptures. Zone 2, “Rose’ All Day” will have body marbling and a cocktail bar. This zone will also have a silent disco and a series of Latin dance performances.
Zone 3, “Flower Power” will take place at Yards Park with an Asahi Beer Garden and a Petalpalooza Art Market.
Zone 4, “Color Way,” occurs on The Great Lawn and has a big arts stage. D.C. native Dave Chappell, along with Nakita Tiffany, Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Alumni Choir and more will also take the stage.
Zone 5, “Blossom Bay” will have picnic tables and hammocks. There will also be a lineup of bands, including Fitzkee Brothers Band, Night Train and Cheaper Than Therapy.
At the end of the day, the Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show will light up the night sky at 8:30 p.m.
Road Closures
The following streets will be closed to traffic and posted as Emergency No Parking on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.:
- 3rd Street from Tingey Street to Water Street, SE
- 4th Street from Tingey Street to Water Street, SE
- 4th Street from M Street to Tingey Street, SE (southbound only)
- Water Street from 3rd Street to Tingey Street, SE
Travel & Parking
With hundreds coming to the nation’s capital to see the beloved cherry blossoms, roads across D.C. during the National Cherry Blossom Festival will be packed.
Visitors are encouraged to use the Metrobus, Metrorail, DC Streetcar and other forms of transportation to attend cherry blossom events.
If you do plan to drive, event organizers encourage you to use SpotHero, where you can reserve a parking spot.
To reserve a spot for the Petalpalooza, click here.
Pet Information
If you are looking to bring your furry friends to the event, “Pet Comfort Stations” will be placed around the Tidal Basin Welcome Area and for the Petalpalooza.
Pet owners are encouraged to keep their dogs on a leash, pick up after their pets, and be aware of pets around people, kids and other animals.
