Washington, D.C. - The National Park Service (NPS) will offer a number of visitor services during the 2013 National Cherry Blossom Festival (NCBF), including special festival-related lantern walks, ranger talks throughout the Mall and even pet-friendly tours, as well as stage performances. NPS festival events will be held from March 23 through April 7, 2013 and all events on NPS property are free of charge.
Visitor information during the festival will be available at a welcome are in the Tidal Basin parking lot near the pedal boats that will be staffed by NPS park rangers and volunteers from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. Food, souvenir, and book sales will be located in the same area. Visitors can also enjoy a self-guided Audio Tour by dialing (202) 747-3465
Due to limited public parking, the NPS strongly recommends all visitors take Metro or bike to the festival. The closest Metro stop to the festival and the Tidal Basin is the Smithsonian station. The L'Enfant Plaza, Metro Center, and Federal Triangle Metro stations are also within walking distance.
ANC Tours by Martz Gray Line is operating a shuttle between Hains Point and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial throughout through April 15. This shuttle service is $1 per person for each boarding and runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a number of shuttle stops between Hains Point and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Five Capital Bikeshare stations are available within the park to provide another transportation option for visitors.
Handicapped parking is designated on West Basin Drive at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Additional handicapped parking is available on southbound Ohio Drive on the Washington Boundary Channel side of Hains Point, north of the intersection with Buckeye Drive.
During the festival, Ohio Drive will be one way going northbound between Inlet Bridge and 23rd St.
A complete list of NPS activities is below.
NPS Visitor Services for National Cherry Blossom Festival
NPS Information Tent
Location: Tidal Basin Parking Lot
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
National Cherry Blossom Festival Tent
Location: Tidal Basin Parking Lot
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Stage Performances
Location: Tidal Basin Parking Lot
12 p.m. - 6 p.m
Food Tents
Location: Tidal Basin Parking Lot
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Souvenir/Bookstore Tents
Location: Tidal Basin Parking Lot
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Emergency - Call United States Park Police (202) 610-7500
Cherry Blossom Ranger Talks
Focusing on history and lore of the cherry blossoms.
Three locations: Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (Family Friendly)
Daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m.
Ranger-led Lantern Walks
Location: NPS Tent, Tidal Basin Welcome Area
8 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Nighttime guided two-hour 1.8 mile walk around the Tidal Basin. Visitors are encouraged to bring flashlights.
Ranger-led Cherry Chit-Chat Run
Location: Washington Monument Lodge (15th St. adjacent to Washington Monument)
8 a.m., Saturdays
One-hour 3.5 mile jog and talk.
Ranger-led Walk
Location: Lincoln Memorial
1 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays
An afternoon stroll exploring the history of the cherry blossoms.
Ranger-led Bike Tour
Location: Thomas Jefferson Memorial
11 a.m., Saturdays & Sundays
Three-hour tour. Visitors need to provide their own bike and helmet.
Ranger-led Pet-Friendly Cherry Walks
Location: Thomas Jefferson Memorial
3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sundays
Visitors must bring leash, waste bags, and water.
Bloomin' Junior Ranger Activity Book
Location: NPS Information Kiosks
Ranger Talk: First Lady of Potomac Park: Nellie Taft
Location: Japanese Lantern
3 p.m. Mondays & Fridays
Ranger Talk: Cherry Blossoms over Okinawa
Location: World War II Memorial
4 p.m. Saturdays
Self-Guided Audio Tour
Dial (202) 747-3465
Recycling Receptacles
Location: Tidal Basin Welcome Area, Sylvan Theater, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
First Aid Tent
Location: Tidal Basin parking lot
10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m., daily
Portable restrooms
Locations: Welcome area, all stops along the Hains Point-Jefferson Memorial shuttle route, near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and near the tour bus parking areas on westbound Independence Avenue along the Washington Monument grounds
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
