Traffic Advisory: Street Closures and Parking Restrictions will Occur in Conjunction with Weekend Events - Advisories

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Department and the Department of Transportation wish to aadvise the public that the National Cherry Blosssom Festival Parade and the Sakura Matsuri (Japanese Street Festival) will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Additionally, the Emancipation Day Parade is scheduled to be held on Monday, April 16, 2012. In conjunction with these events, there will be several street closures and parking restrictions that motorists should take into consideration.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

The following street will be closed for rehearsal on Saturday, April 14, 2012 beginning at 5:00 am.

7^th Street between Independence Avenue, SW & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade road closures will begin at 9:00 am with the parade beginning at 10:00 am and ending at approximately 12:30 pm.

Constitution Avenue, NW from 7^th Street to 17^th Street, NW
There will be no access to 14^th street or 12^th Streets from the freeway
No traffic will flow north or south crossing the route
All roads are expected to reopen by 2:00 pm

Sakura Matsuri (Japanese Street Festival)

The Sakura Matsuri (Japanese Street Festival) is scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The event will begin at approximately 11:00 am and end approximately at 6:00 pm. In order to facilitate this event there will be no vehicular traffic allowed along the routes of the street festival:

The following streets will begin closing down at 8:00 pm on April 13, 2012

Pennsylvania Avenue between 9^th Street and 14^th Streets
13^th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
12^th Street NW, between Constitution Avenue and E Street, NW
11^th Street, NW, between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
10^th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue and E Street, NW
Freedom Plaza

Emancipation Day Parade and Festival

The Emancipation Day Parade and Festival is scheduled to be held on Monday, April 16, 2012. The parade will begin at 11:00 am and end approximately at 2:00 pm. Street closings will begin at 8:00 am. All streets affected by this event are expected to be reopened at approximately 3:00 pm. However, some streets will remain closed until 11:00 pm due to fireworks display. Motorists should expect delays.

The following streets will be closed from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for the Emancipation Day Parade

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and the surrounding streets will be closed between 3^rd and 14^th Streets, NW

The following streets will be closed from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm for the Emancipation Day Festival

Constitution Avenue, NW and the surrounding streets will be closed for staging for the parade between 7^th Street and west cross over at Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and the surrounding streets will be closed between 12^th and 14^th Streets, NW
E Street, NW will be closed from 13^th and 14^th Streets, NW (for vendors)
12^th Street, NW will also be closed between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

The following Streets will be closed from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm for fireworks display.

12^th Street, NW will also be closed between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

All street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions.

Motorists could encounter possible delays if operating in the vicinity of this event and may wish to consider alternative routes. The Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Department of Transportation also wish to remind motorists in the vicinity of this event to proceed with caution as increased pedestrian traffic can be anticipated.

Due to the extremely heavy pedestrian crowds associated with this event, motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution when traveling in these areas. In addition, those wishing to attend these events are encouraged to use public transportation.

Note: The surrounding areas and streets leading to these events may be closed or affected as well.