2027 CCP Community Stage
About the event
About the application
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
- Microphones
- 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
Terms & Conditions
By submitting this application, the applicant acknowledges and agrees to the following:
Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance or a performance opportunity.
The Cherry Blossom Festival reserves the right to accept or decline any application and to assign performance dates and times at its sole discretion.
All information provided in this application must be true, accurate, and complete. False or misleading information may result in the application being rejected or a scheduled performance being canceled.
Community Stage performances are voluntary and unpaid.
Applicants agree to comply with all Festival rules, policies, and instructions if selected to perform.
The Cherry Blossom Festival reserves the right to modify schedules, relocate performances, or cancel performances due to weather, safety concerns, operational needs, or other circumstances beyond its control.
By submitting this application, applicants certify that they are authorized to apply on behalf of the individual or organization listed in the application.
The Cherry Blossom Festival may contact applicants using the information provided regarding their application and performance details.
The decisions of the Cherry Blossom Festival regarding performer selection and scheduling are final.
Questions on the application
User information
- First name
- Last name
Additional information
- Name of Act
- Number of Members in the Group/Act
- Point of Contact
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Address (Parking passes and admission tickets will be mailed to the address provided. Please verify that your mailing address is complete and accurate, including any apartment, suite, or unit number, before submitting your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide a correct mailing address. The Cherry Blossom Festival is not responsible for passes or tickets that are delayed, lost, or undeliverable due to an incorrect or incomplete address.)
- Have you performed at the Festival before? If so, what years?
- Type of Performance
- If other, please specify.
- Please provide a brief description of your performance that may be used for promotional purposes if selected.
- Preferred Performance Length (Please indicate your preferred performance length. Your assigned timeslot includes setup, performance, and breakdown. Performance lengths are assigned based on Festival scheduling needs and are at the sole discretion of the Cherry Blossom Festival.)
- Preferred Performance Day(s) (Please select your preferred performance day(s). While the Festival will consider your preferences when possible, requests are not guaranteed. The Cherry Blossom Festival creates the performance schedule based on overall programming needs, stage availability, technical requirements, and the needs of the Festival. Final performance dates and times are assigned solely at the discretion of the Cherry Blossom Festival.)
- Website and/or Social Media Links
- Please provide a link to a recent performance (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, etc.).
- Stage, Audio & Technical Requirements Please describe any stage, audio, or technical needs for your performance. Include the number of microphones needed, instruments or equipment you will bring, audio playback needs, and any special setup requirements. Please note: The Cherry Blossom Festival provides basic sound and lighting support. Backline equipment, instruments, tables, chairs, and specialty equipment are not provided. Performers are responsible for providing any equipment necessary for their performance.
- How many microphones are required?
- Microphone Requirements Please list the number of microphones needed and the intended use for each microphone. (Examples: 3 vocal microphones, 2 instrument microphones, 1 microphone for speaking/announcements.)
- Will you be using any of the following?
- If available, upload your stage plot and/or input list.
- Will you be selling performance-related merchandise during your assigned performance timeslot or immediately before/after your scheduled performance?
- Family-Friendly Policy: The Cherry Blossom Festival is a family-friendly event. Performances, costumes, music, language, and conduct must be appropriate for audiences of all ages. Political advocacy, profanity, obscene language, sexually explicit content, or offensive imagery are prohibited. Festival staff reserve the right to require changes or discontinue any performance that does not comply with these guidelines. Please initial acknowledging you have read and agree.
- Liability Policy: Please initial below acknowledging you understand that Macon, Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal property, merchandise, wares or equipment. Performers accept responsibility, liability and costs for any lost, stolen or damaged merchandise, wares and equipment. Performers are advised to secure their items, merchandise, wares and equipment.
- 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 financial distress nor the inability of either party to make a profit or avoid a financial loss, changes in market prices or conditions, or a party's financial inability to perform its obligations hereunder.
- If other, please specify.
- If a specialty act, please specify.
- If 5+, please explain.
- If other, please specify.
- Please list all instruments/equipment you will bring:
- Parking Policy: Due to limited parking behind the Community Stage, each act will receive up to three parking passes. Parking behind the stage is permitted 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after your scheduled performance. Vehicles remaining beyond the allotted time may be towed at the owner's expense if the Festival is unable to contact the primary applicant. Please initial acknowledging you understand the parking policy.
- If yes, please list all merchandise you plan to sell, including the item description and price for each item. All merchandise must be submitted for review and receive prior approval from the Cherry Blossom Festival before the event. Only items listed on this application and approved by the Festival will be permitted for sale at the Festival at Carolyn Crayton Park. Merchandise sales must be directly related to the approved performance or participating organization and may only occur during the performer’s assigned timeslot or immediately before/after the scheduled performance. The Community Stage is not a vendor space, and merchandise sales are subject to Festival approval.
- Merchandise Setup Requirements If selling merchandise, please describe the setup you plan to bring, including any tables, chairs, displays, racks, signage, or other equipment needed. Performers are responsible for providing their own merchandise setup. The Festival will designate the approved merchandise location near the Community Stage. Merchandise displays may not be placed in any other area of Carolyn Crayton Park without prior Festival approval.
- The undersigned certifies that this application is submitted for the purpose of assisting Macon, Georgia's International Cherry Blossom Festival in evaluating Community Stage performers. The undersigned certifies that: 1. They are authorized to submit this application on behalf of the performer or organization. 2. All information provided in this application is true, accurate, and complete. 3. They have reviewed all questions and provided complete responses. 4. They understand that submitting an application does not guarantee a performance opportunity. 5. They agree to comply with all Festival policies if selected to perform.
