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Sign Up: 2020 Cherry Picks Restaurant Program

DEADLINE: Friday, February 14, 2020

 

Program Participation Details

The National Cherry Blossom Festival, in conjunction with RAMW, is proud to showcase the District's vibrant and diverse restaurant scene to 1.5 million attendees throughout the Festival. Restaurants are encouraged to enroll in the program to highlight items from their seasonal, springtime menus. Please note: the use of cherries as an ingredient is not necessary to participate in this promotion.
 
Cherry Picks now features THREE distinct weeks to highlight your spring menus. You have the option to participate in any one week or all three weeks for the promotion:
 

Cherry Pick Weeks:

  • March 20-29 Delightful Drinks
    • Highlighting all festive libations, cocktails and mocktails
  • March 30-April 5 Fresh Foodie Week
    • Highlighting all seasonal non-dessert food items
  • April 6-12 Decadent Dessert Week
    • Highlighting desserts

Restaurant guidelines and responsibilities

  1. Complete the online application at https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cherry-picksinvolvement/ on or before February 14, 2020.
  2. Submit three $50 gift certificates for fundraising, promotional or publicity purposes for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
    • All gift certificates should be dated a year or more from the date of issuance; no purchasing restrictions
    • Failure to provide the gift certificate by February 21, 2020 will void the restaurant from the program. Email to cherrypicks@ncbfdc.org or by mail to: National Cherry Blossom Festival, 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 ATTN: Cherry Picks.
  3. Provide logo for use in promotional marketing (145 pixels x 145 pixels)
  4. Provide picture of your springtime menu items for use in promotional marketing (300 dpi)
  5. You may enter items for more than one week, but photographs are needed for each dish/drink.

Promotional Responsibilities of the Festival

Cherry Picks restaurants will be promoted through the National Cherry Blossom Festival's and RAMW's marketing materials including the following:
  • Media Pitches
    • Restaurant listing in the Cherry Picks press release, distributed in the Festival's press kit at the kick-off press conference
  • Social Media
    • Cross-promotion by RAMW and the Festival via various platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Festival reaches 100,000+ fans on Facebook 14,000+ followers on Twitter and 14,000+ followers on Instagram. RAMW reaches 7,500+ fans on Facebook, 7,400+ followers on Twitter and 7,300+ followers on Instagram.
  • E-blasts
    • Cherry Picks e-blasts focusing on Spring Menus sent to over 23,000+ subscribers of the National Cherry Blossom Festival list and 19,000+ subscribers on the RAMW Diner Insider list
    • Inclusion in a National Cherry Blossom Festival e-newsletter highlighting dedicated weeks
  • Website
    • Restaurant logo included on dedicated "Where to Eat" page on nationalcherryblossomfestival.org; link from "Where to Eat" page also included on various subpages of the site, including highest-trafficked "Bloom Watch" page.
  • Festival Official Guide distributed in The Washington Post*
    • Listing in Cherry Picks article

* eligible only to restaurants that complete all responsibilities by February 14, 2020

Questions?

Please contact Cherry Picks coordinator Matt Fox at cherrypicks@ncbfdc.org or 202-638-8372.
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL:
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the nation's greatest springtime celebration. The 2020 Festival, March 20 April 12, includes three weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information and find us on Facebook (CherryBlossomFestival), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest), and Instagram (@CherryBlossFest).
 
ABOUT THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. Visit www.ramw.org for more information.