The return of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade means road closures and detours.

The festival that attracts tens of thousands of people has been virtual the last two years due to the pandemic. Now, the festival, parade included, is back. The parade this Saturday runs ten blocks along Constitution Avenue Northwest in downtown D.C. Keep a lookout for giant colorful balloons, celebrity performers, and marching bands from across the country including D.C’s own Ballou High School Majestic Knights Marching Band, Washington D.C.’s Different Drummers, and the parade’s inaugural appearance from the United States Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.

The Metropolitan Police Department released a traffic advisory this week. All of the listed street closures due to the parade are subject to change. For updates, check the department’s Twitter account.

Starting Saturday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., these streets will be closed to vehicle traffic:

• SE/SW Freeway-Access to 12^th Street Tunnel from I-395 ramp
• Constitution Avenue from 14^th Street to 23^rd Street, NW
• Inbound I-395 (14^th Street Bridge) – All traffic will be sent eastbound on I-395
• Inbound I-395 (14^th Street Bridge – HOV) – All traffic will be sent eastbound on I-395
• 17^th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 18^th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 19^th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Virginia Avenue from 24^th Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

Starting Saturday, April 9 from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., these streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic :

• 7^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 14^th Street, NW
• 12^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Madison Drive, NW
• 14^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

Sakura Matsuri’s weekend-long Japanese Street Festival will also impact the roads. The festival that stretches from 3rd to 7th streets NW on Pennsylvania Ave will bring a splash of Japan to the nation’s capital through cultural performances, food, and crafts.

Starting Friday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. until Sunday, April 10 at 11:59 p.m., these streets will posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic:

• Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
• Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
• 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

The Nationals Opening Day is Thursday, so expect traffic closures then, too. Various streets by the stadium temporarily close before the start of every home game, so perhaps bookmark this traffic advisory.

This post has been updated to include road closures related to the Japanese Street Festival.