Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

We are coming to DC on Sat., Apr. 4, and we were planning to walk around the Tidal Basin enjoying the blooming trees (I hope!) on the morning of the 4th. We noticed that the parade is at 10:00 on that morning. Does that make it more or less likely that the Tidal Basin will be a mass of people at the time?

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

I have never been before, so don%26#39;t really know, but the parade is on Constitution. I would imagine most will be lined up along the Avenue for the parade, but not really sure. Now after the parade will be another story.

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

If the blossoms are at peak on April 4th, there will be a ';mass of people'; as early as 7:30 in the morning.

I%26#39;m a local, and if the blossoms are peaking on a weekend morning I grab a thermos of coffee and head down there at 5:30 or 6:00 for a quiet walk - it%26#39;s amazing how many people have the same idea, and at 7:00 or so it%26#39;s fairly busy.

Parade or no parade, 10:00 will be very busy ';if'; the blossoms are out that day. If you don%26#39;t have to worry about parking you%26#39;ll be fine, but you won%26#39;t be alone. :)

We are coming into DC this weekend and staying until Tuesday. Would we be better to avoid the mall and do Arlington or do other things like the spy musuem? We have a 10, 9 and a 4 year old. I know there would be huge crowds on Sat and Sun but how about during the week? any thoughts?