|
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 |
Last updated: April 10, 2015