Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-27
4-Hour Parade Set
For Blossom Fete
So Processes.
200 Units to Be
In Procession

WIN iAlolc tIIdu zUU units ana
featuring the SO princesses. fete
officials announced today.
With every prospect that the
japanese blossoms will be in full
bloom for the festival time, April
2 through Z, the ticket commit
tee said parade tickets are now
on sale for reviewing stand seats.
Parade Chairman Herbert D.
Ford said parade units will come
from all over the country with
bands and colorful floats. drill
teams, marching comedy units
and majorettes. The stands
are in the park areas from
Thirteenth and K streets NV.
to Seventeenth street and 'front.'
ing on the World Center Build
ing. There will also be stands
on Connecticut avenue.
! The six-day spectacular. which
brings an estimated 100000
visitors to the city each spring. is
scheduled so far in advance that
when the blossoms come out
on time, it is cause for rejoicing.
Experts Inspect Blossoms
/ HorticulturalistS from Nation
al Capital Parks who toured the
Tidal Basin Tuesday, inspecting
the japanese cherry trees, said
the blossoms will be on display
all next week during the festi-
val.
They could even, if we should
run into a good warm day or
two, come out this week end.
/ In another announcement to-
day, Edward j. Kelly, general
chairman of the 1857 festival.
made public the final schedule
OF events for this years celebra-
ton.
The festival will open at 2:3O
pm. next Tuesday on the north
side of the Tidal Basin. when
japanese Ambassador Masaylki
TAM will present a huge Both
birthday cake to the festival
committee.
There will be daily events
from then through the follow
ing week end.
Drill Teams to Compete
Tuesday morning, as a festival
prelude. the annual University
ROTC drill team competition will
be held on the Ellipse. Nearly
80 teams from colleges across the
country are entered, each hoping
to crack the domination of Pur-
que University. which has won
for two years straight.
The following day. Wednes-
day, Will begin with Is high
school bands competing in the
annual competition. to be held
at 10 am. on the Ellipse.
Wednesday night, beginning
at 8 pm. the illuminated Festi-
val Parade will move along K
street NV. for about four hours.
Thursday, the festivals fash
ion show and luncheon will be
held at the Statler Hotel. 1t has
been sold out for many weeks.
After the show. the SO prin-
cesseS and members of the fes-
tival committee will be guests at
a tea at the japanese Embassy.
Ambassador TAM will present
the committee with a pearl
crown. valued at 100000. from
Japanese pearl king Yoshita
Mikimoto. to be used thereafter
in the annual festival corona
ton.
Dance for Princesses
Thursday night the Confer
ence of State Societies will hold
a reception and dance for the
lprincesses and their military es-
corts at the Mayflower Hotel.
The 8 pm. dance is open to the
public. with tickets available
through the State societies.
Friday at 8:45 pm. in the
Sheraton-Park Hotel the dra-
matte highlight of the 6-day
celebration will come. At the
Cherry Blossom Ball a huge
wheel of fortune will be spun
to choose the Queen of the Fes-
tival. Mrs. Eisenhower is eX-
pected to turn the wheel this
year.
The queen will reign over the
two-day pageant of entertain
ment to be held at 2 pm. on
Saturday and Sunday Free TO
the public. the pageant will fea-
ture tenor Morton Downey. the
Air Force Symphony Orchestra
and Singing Sergeants. the
George Washington University
Glee Club and other entertainers.
The show will be held in front
of the Jefferson Memorial.
Saturday night, the Marine
Band will play a concert at 8
pm. at the memorial for the
public and the queen and her
retinue of princesses.
Parade tickets are priced at
$3.50. 81 and $3.50 and can be
bought at the Potomac Building
and Loan Association in the
Trans Lux Building. the Shera-
ton-Park Hotel, the American
Automobile Association, the Drug
Fair at Seventeenth and X
streets NV. Talbert'S Ticket
Agency in the Willard Hotel and
the Hamilton. Raleigh, Lee
House. Dupont Plaza, Statler
and Ambassador Hotels. Tickets
also can be bought at the Greater
National Capital Committee OF
the Washington Board of Trade
at 1916 X street NV.