National Parade: Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Performing in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is a unique experience. The parade draws polished, talented performers from around the U.S.  It is a great honor to be recognized among them. The Gym Dandies have been a big hit in this parade for several decades. There are usually around 150 thousand spectators for this mile long parade and it is well televised in the DC area and beyond.

Riding in formation down Constitution Avenue in our country’s capital is a huge thrill. Hearing the crowd roar when you shoot the tunnel is incredible.

Great camaraderie and community grows during this four day experience and great friendships develop between students and families. Some last for a lifetime.

There are lots of details about the trip that are yet to be determined and the cost will in part depend on how many people sign up.

Here is a very rough draft of an itinerary, based on what we have done in previous years.

Friday 4/14  

•      Load up buses early and ride to our Hotel at Silver Springs MD.
•      Lunch on the road.
•      Dinner at a food court.

Saturday 4/15

•      Early Hotel Breakfast, Take buses into DC
•      Parade at 10:00 AM
•      Lunch near the National Mall
•      Tour Museums on the National Mall – free reservations must be made
•      Dinner at some place like National Harbor with lots of eating options.                      

Sunday 4/16  

•      Breakfast at the hotel.
•      Tour some place like the National Zoo, or historic site.
•      After lunch, return to the National Mall for more museums.
•      Dinner at a food Court
•      Early evening – guided bus tour of the National Monuments.

Monday 4/17 

•      Pack up and head home
•      Breakfast and Lunch on the road
•      Home  – late afternoon

Many families decide to come for the event and transportation questions often arise. Here are some important considerations.

• The buses are for performers, staff and chaperones.
• All performers must have paid for a seat on the bus and have a chaperone with a paid seat.
• A chaperone can be another performer’s parent with written permission.
• People without a paid seat may not ride the bus into the parade, or for any of our excursions.
• Performers and chaperones do not have to return to Maine on the bus. (Families often plan to extend their stay in the area.)

I’m sure there will be many more questions as our plans unfold.

We will do our best to answer them as we best we can.