The Cherry Blossom Parade

For more than 30 years, Downtown Jaycees produced and managed what is known as the annual Cherry Blossom Parade on Constitution Avenue in Downtown Washington, DC.

The official name of this Parade is the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®. Until 2006, the proceeds from this parade were used by the Jaycees to fund charities in and around Washington, DC.

In 2002, the Downtown Jaycees presented the 2002 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® as the first major public event in Washington, DC after the September 11 attacks on the United States. This as the scheduled Washington Marathon was canceled due to security concerns.

Please be aware that the Parade scheduled for April 14, 2007 is very similar in name and that it is called The Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This parade, copying the charitable parade, does not support the work of the Jaycees and it is not benefiting any of the Jaycees charities.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is now organizing the Parade for its own benefit. The name change was done as to avoid a contractual agreement that were to provide charitable funding to the Jaycees from the proceeds of the Parade.

The Festival also removed from their websites, all traces of the 30 years of contribution by the Jaycees to secure the success of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

Proceeds from the 2006 and 2007 Parade is controlled and disbursed by the staff of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, employees of Downtown BID (Business Improvement District). Downtown Jaycees ask that proceeds of these funds be provided for the charitable work of Jaycees so the Cherry Blossom Parade once again can benefit the whole community, not solely a well funded business improvement district in a better part of town.

Dcjaycees@yahoo.com