NCBF Cherry Picks Restaurant Program | March 25 - April 14

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Sign Up for the 2019 Cherry Picks Restaurant Program

Now in its 17th year, the objective of the Cherry Picks Restaurant Program is for the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to highlight the area’s vibrant and diverse restaurant scene for over 1.5 million attendees throughout the Festival, March 20 – April 14, 2019. Restaurants are encouraged to enroll in the program to highlight items from their seasonal, springtime menus, which highlight culinary creativity through tasty dishes and/or delicious cocktails. Please note: the use of cherries as an ingredient is not necessary to participate in this springtime menu promotionParticipation deadline: January 18, 2019
 
NEW! Cherry Pick Weeks! Each full week of the National Cherry Blossom Festival will feature a special Cherry Pick offering from participating restaurants. Restaurants are welcomed to include an offering related to each of the weeks or select one or two weeks for your Cherry Picks item.
 

Week of March 25 – Delicious Cocktail Week

  • All restaurants highlighting cocktails should offer items during this week.

Week of April 1 – Exquisite Entrée Week (i.e. Creamy Spring Onion Soup)

  • All restaurants highlighting items from their seasonal, springtime menus should offer items during this week.

Week of April 8 – Divine Dessert Week

  • All restaurants highlighting desserts should offer items during this week.

Cherry Picks FAQs

  1. How do I register to be a part of the Cherry Picks program promotional weeks? Complete application HERE before January 25, 2019. Submission of three $50 gift certificates by February 8, 2019 for fundraising, promotional or publicity purposes of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. All gift certificates should be dated a year or more from the date of issuance; no bearer is required. Failure to provide the gift certificate by February 8, 2019 will void the restaurant from the program. Email gift certificates to nwright@ncbfdc.org or submit by mail to: National Cherry Blossom Festival, 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005; Attn: Nicole Wright.
  2. What if I want to offer items for each week during the promotion? Provide a photo and description of item(s) being offered to be promoted during the dedicated week. Although participation in the entire promotion is NOT required.
  3. How will my restaurant be promoted throughout promotion? 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 to all major local, national and international outlets.  
    • 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 11,000+ followers on Twitter and 8,000+ followers on Instagram.
    • E-blasts
      • Cherry Picks e-blasts focusing on Spring Menus to over 19,000 subscribers of the National Cherry Blossom Festival list
      • Inclusion in National Cherry Blossom Festival weekly e-newsletter highlighting dedicated weeks
    • Website
      • Restaurant logo included on dedicated “Where to Eat” page on nationalcherryblossomfestival.org; link to “Where to Eat” page also included on various subpages of the site, including highest trafficked “Bloom Watch” page.
      • Cherry Picks information on dedicated page on RAMW.org, linking to nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
      • All applicable restaurants will be listed on a dedicated Cherry Picks page on OpenTable

Important Guidelines for Participation:

  • Provide logo for use in promotional marketing (145 pixels x 145 pixels) by January 25, 2019
  • Provide picture of items for use in promotional marketing (300 dpi) images of your springtime items to be used in promotional marketing
  • Provide a description of your springtime item(s) being offered by February 16, 2018 to be included in Open Table listing (if eligible to be listed on OpenTable)
  • All items to be submitted to Nicole Wright via email at nwright@ncbfdc.org

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the nation’s greatest springtime celebration. The 2019 Festival, March 20 – April 14, includes four 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.