Parking and road closures: What you need to know for the Cherry Blossom Festival
The International Cherry Blossom Festival brings dozens of events to downtown Macon every year, meaning thousands of people flock to the city for the 10-day celebration.
Road closures and parking pandemonium are inevitable as festivities take over the downtown area.
Here is your guide to downtown road closures and parking places for the “pinkest party on Earth.”
Perfect Parking Places
Though spots are limited due to road closures, parking will still be available downtown on open streets. Street parking is metered and costs $1.25 per hour.
Additionally, designated parking will be available for festival goers at Carolyn Crayton Park.
Parking garages, located throughout the downtown area, are also available for parking during the festival.
The garages are located at 402 Cherry St., 427 Poplar St., 606 Cherry St., 440 Mulberry St. and 577 Mulberry St., according to Park Macon.
Second Street
Second Street between Poplar Street and Cherry Street will be closed from 6 p.m. March 21 through March 23 for the Dock Dogs Competition.
Second Street also will be closed between Mulberry Street and Cherry Street March 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Cherry Blossom Parade.
Third Street
Third Street will experience closures at varying times beginning March 22 at 7 a.m. and ending March 30 at 7 p.m.
On March 22, Third Street between Mulberry Street and Cherry Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for multiple events, including the weiner dog race, musical chairs event and the bed race.
The same section of street will be closed March 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Cherry Blossom Parade, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from March 24-28 for Third Street Park festivities, then again from 6 p.m. March 28 through 7 p.m. on March 30 for Food Truck Frenzy.
MLK Boulevard
MLK Boulevard will be closed between Mulberry Street Lane and Cherry Street from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 22 for the weiner dog race, musical chairs event and bed race.
MLK Boulevard will also be closed for the Cherry Blossom Parade from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 23.
Cherry Street
Cherry Street between Third Street and MLK Boulevard will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 22 for the weiner dog race, musical chairs event and bed race.
The parade route will also close Cherry Street from Fifth Street all the way to New Street on 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 23.
Cherry Street’s final closure will be from 6 to 7 p.m. on March 28.
Additional Closures
Fifth Street between MLK Boulevard and Oglethorpe Street will be closed for the parade from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 23
Mulberry Street from MLK Boulevard to New Street will also be closed at the same time for the parade.
This story was originally written for the Macon Telegraph on March 19, 2025.
