DC cancels 2021 Cherry Blossom Parade over COVID-19 fears

Officials with the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C., canceled the annual event months in advance due to COVID-19.

The festival will continue as scheduled for March 20 through April with safe programming planned as an alternative to the parade, according to an official statement released Wednesday.

“The health and safety of our festival staff and the attendees, sponsors and other stakeholders remain the Festival’s top priority,” Diana Mayhew, the festival’s president and CEO, said in the statement.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will work with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) office, the National Park Service and other groups to plan the 2021 festival and activities that follow safe pandemic measures.

The parade was also canceled this year after D.C. fell into a state of emergency near the start of the pandemic.