Cherry Blossom Festival Information and Princess Application


The Maine State Society no longer accepting applications for the 2024 Cherry Blossom Delegate Program.

Each spring, Washington, DC celebrates the National Cherry Blossom Festival with events sponsored by several organizations, including the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS). Since 1948, the NCSS has been the sponsoring organization for the Cherry Blossom Festival Delegate who represent their State/Territory/Country during Festival activities. Since that time, some 2,500 young ladies have participated in this popular and widely respected program. In 1996, the Embassy community was invited to participate as Delegate Partners and new international bonds of friendship are being formed through the Delegate program. All Delegates participate in an exciting week of activities culminating in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, one of Washington's largest and most popular spectator events.

Neither a beauty pageant or a talent competition, the Festival is a unique opportunity for a young Maine woman to represent Maine and the Society. Applicants must be at least 19 years old but not have reached her 25th birthday prior to the end of the festival, either a Maine native or the daughter, granddaughter, sister or niece of a Maine Native or have other strong Maine connections, at least a high school graduate, have never been married and have no children, and must be knowledgeable about Maine and available for the entire festival week.

The Maine delegate will join other young women representing their states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands. During the Festival, the delegates will be guests of the Japanese Ambassador at an Embassy tea; welcome Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival Delegate as well as the delegates of other countries; tour the White House and the US Capitol; visit charities supported by the Festival; participate in ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery and at the Vietnam Memorial; be escorted by a member of Congress from their state as they are introduced to attendees at a Congressional Reception; serve as models in the fashion show which is a traditional feature of the Festival luncheon; be featured in a nationally televised parade on Constitution Avenue; and be guests at the Festival Gala and Ball where one delegate will be selected as the Festival Delegate (an honor shared by four Maine delegates in past years) and travel to Japan to participate in that nation’s Cherry Blossom Festival.

IMAGES -- Credit: Carl Bouchard