Sanctioned Event Application

Contact
Sarah Ford
478-330-7050
sford@cherryblossom.com 

2025 Cherry Blossom Festival Dates
March 21-30, 2025

Application, Fee & Insurance Deadline
February 28, 2025

Application Fees
School, Military, Macon-Bibb County: Free
Non-Profit: $50
Other: $250

Ticketed events: The Cherry Blossom Festival will collect 10% of all ticket sales or registration fees after the event. You will be sent a form that you must return with the 10% net profit by May 3, 2025.

Rules & Regulations
1. Use the official Cherry Blossom Festival logo on all promotional materials for the event (advertising, brochures, programs, etc.). Compliance on logo usage will be closely monitored and included in the evaluation reports to determine each event's continuing partnership eligibility.
2. Fit with the mission and maintain the same standard of ethics of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
3. Cannot contravene any of the Cherry Blossom Festival rules or regulations, or its mission statement, by negatively impacting on existing Cherry Blossom Festival sponsors or patrons.
4. Not focus on political, ideological, social, or controversial themes or issues.
5. No political statements or attire by staff or volunteers at the event. If the event is not community neutral, we will not sanction your event the following year.
6. Be an appealing, quality event.
7. Provide the appropriate Sanctioned Event fee to the Cherry Blossom Festival with the application. 
8. Obtain a liability insurance policy of $1,000,000 single limit and provide a copy of the policy with the application.
9. If you will be selling/serving food at your event, you must contact the Health Department. Vendors should contact Shondreka Webster with the Health Department for any questions at (478)749-0121 or shondreka.webster@dph.ga.gov.
10. If your organization is a non-profit, you are required to submit your 501-c3 certificate.
11. No refunds will be given for any reason.
12. It is your responsibility to notify the Cherry Blossom Festival as soon as possible if your event is canceled or if any changes to the event occur after an application has been submitted (i.e. venue or time change). 

Insurance
1. All applicants must submit a certificate of insurance evidencing commercial general liability insurance with an acceptable insurer and limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate, covering any and all claims arising from your event. Such insurance shall be primary and not require a contribution from any coverage maintained by the Festival. 
2. Your certificate of insurance must include Macon Georgia Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. as Additional Insured.

Benefits
1. Event listing on the Cherry Blossom Festival website and app.
2. Facebook posts with direct links to your event that will reach thousands of our Festival friends and followers.
3. The option to use the Cherry Blossom Festival name and logo in association with the event, event title, advertising, etc.

1. Your organization is solely responsible for producing your event, including obtaining any necessary permits. 
2. You are responsible for any/all street closures or park rental requests unless otherwise noted by the Cherry Blossom Festival. Permits must be completed and filed through the Macon-Bibb Parks & Beautification Department at least 30 days prior to your event. For more information, call 478-803-0484.

FORCE MAJEURE. I understand and agree that neither Macon Georgia's International Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., nor I (the “parties”) will be liable for any failure or delay in performing an obligation under this Agreement that is due to any of the following causes, to the extent beyond the Party’s reasonable control: natural disasters or acts of God, accident, riots, war, terrorist act, epidemic, pandemic, quarantine, civil commotion, breakdown of communication facilities, breakdown of web host, breakdown of internet service provider, natural catastrophes, governmental acts or omissions, changes in laws or regulations, national strikes, fire, explosion, generalized lack of availability of raw materials or energy.
For the avoidance of doubt, Force Majeure shall not include (a) financial distress nor the inability of either party to make a profit or avoid a financial loss, (b) changes in market prices or conditions, or (c) a party's financial inability to perform its obligations hereunder.

Initial stating you have read and agreed to this policy.