2027 Festival at CCP Community Stage

The Cherry Blossom Festival Community Stage celebrates the incredible talent, creativity, and diversity of our community. We invite local performers, organizations, schools, nonprofits, and community groups to apply for an opportunity to showcase their talents and engage with festival guests during the 2027 Festival.

Located at Carolyn Crayton Park (CCP), the Festival is the entertainment hub of the International Cherry Blossom Festival and features 10 days of amusement rides, attractions, shows, nightly headliners, and a variety of food and family-friendly entertainment. The Community Stage provides an opportunity for local talent and organizations to be part of the Festival experience by sharing their performances and programs with thousands of visitors.

Community Stage performances may include, but are not limited to, music, dance, cultural demonstrations, educational presentations, fitness demonstrations, theatrical performances, youth performances, and other family-friendly entertainment.

Community Stage performances are unpaid opportunities. By submitting this application, applicants acknowledge and understand that no monetary compensation will be provided for their performance. Applicants also acknowledge that they have reviewed and agree to comply with all rules, requirements, and guidelines outlined in this application.

All submissions will be reviewed by the Festival team. Performance opportunities are limited and selections will be based on quality, audience appeal, variety of programming, availability, technical requirements, and alignment with the Cherry Blossom Festival’s mission and family-friendly environment. 

Who Should Apply? The Cherry Blossom Festival welcomes applications from a variety of performers and organizations, including:

• Local musicians, bands, and vocalists
• Dance studios and performance groups
• Schools, colleges, and youth organizations
• Cultural and heritage organizations
• Nonprofit and community organizations
• Fitness and wellness instructors
• Theater groups, choirs, and vocal ensembles
• Specialty performers (such as magicians, jugglers, impersonators, and similar acts)
• Educational demonstrations
• Other family-friendly performers and entertainment acts

Confirmation
If selected, you will be contacted by the Festival team with scheduling and performance details. Performance opportunities and timeslots are limited, and submission of an application does not guarantee selection.

Date and Time of Performance
Performance dates and times are assigned at the discretion of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Requests for specific dates or times may be considered but cannot be guaranteed.

Timeslots

• Community Stage performance timeslots are limited. Performance lengths may include 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes, depending on the Festival schedule and programming needs. Because of the number of scheduled shows and attractions, 60- and 90-minute performance slots are available only on a limited basis.
• Your assigned timeslot includes stage setup, performance time, and breakdown. We ask all performers to be respectful of the schedule so that all participating groups have an opportunity to perform.
• A Cherry Blossom Festival representative will monitor the schedule and provide a five-minute warning before the conclusion of your assigned time. Performances must end promptly at the scheduled time.
• To help maintain the Festival schedule:
  • Performers should arrive early and be ready to begin setup at the start of their assigned timeslot.
  • Late arrivals will not receive additional performance time.
  • Performers arriving 15 minutes or more after their scheduled start time may forfeit their performance opportunity.

Audio/Visual (AV)

• The Cherry Blossom Festival works with a professional AV team to provide sound and lighting support for Community Stage performances.
• The AV team can provide equipment such as:
  • Microphones
    Stage monitors
  • Speakers
  • Audio hookups and basic sound support
• The Festival does not provide:
  • Musical instruments
  • Chairs
  • Tables
  • Specialty equipment or personal performance items
• Please provide any additional technical or stage requirements with your application. The Festival will make every effort to accommodate requests within available resources and limitations.

Compensation
All Community Stage performances are unpaid. Performers will not receive monetary compensation for their participation. 

Family-Friendly Content
All performances must be suitable for audiences of all ages. The Cherry Blossom Festival reserves the right to stop or cancel any performance that contains inappropriate language, gestures, music, costumes, or content.

Stage Safety
Performers agree to conduct themselves in a safe and professional manner.

No activity may damage Festival property or create a safety hazard for guests, volunteers, staff, or other performers. Open flames, pyrotechnics, smoke effects, weapons, or hazardous materials are prohibited unless expressly approved in writing by the Festival.

Photography and Media Release
By participating, performers grant the Cherry Blossom Festival permission to photograph, record, and use images, audio, and video of their performance for promotional, educational, archival, and marketing purposes without compensation.

Photography and Media Release
By participating, performers grant the Cherry Blossom Festival permission to photograph, record, and use images, audio, and video of their performance for promotional, educational, archival, and marketing purposes without compensation.

Cancellation
If selected, performers should notify the Festival as soon as possible if they are unable to perform. The Cherry Blossom Festival reserves the right to cancel, postpone, relocate, or modify performances due to weather, emergencies, operational needs, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond its control.

Liability
Performers participate at their own risk. The Cherry Blossom Festival, Carolyn Crayton Park, the City of Macon, Bibb County, volunteers, sponsors, and affiliated organizations are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property or for injuries sustained during participation, except as provided by applicable law.

Compliance
Performers agree to follow all Festival policies, instructions from Festival staff, and applicable local, state, and federal laws. Failure to comply may result in immediate removal from the Festival and disqualification from future participation.

Location

• Carolyn Crayton Park loacted
• 115 Willie Smokie Glover Drive, Macon, GA 31201

Festival Dates and Hours

• March 19–28, 2027

Festival Operating Hours:

• Friday, March 19, 2027: 11:45 AM–10:00 PM
• Saturday, March 20, 2027: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Sunday, March 21 – Thursday, March 25, 2027: 12:00 PM–9:00 PM
• Friday, March 26, 2027: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Saturday, March 27, 2027: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Sunday, March 28, 2027: 12:00 PM–9:00 PM