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April 8-12, 2026
Wednesday - Travel Day - April 8
5:00 am CST (4) Anchor Transportation Buses Spot at VHHS
2235 Lime Rock Rd, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
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6:00 am CST Depart for Washington DC (meals on your own in route)
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11:30 am EST Lunch stop at West Town Mall Food court
7600 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
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12:30 am EST Depart for Staunton, VA
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6:30 pm Dinner stop at I-81 Exit 222
101 George M Cochran Pkwy, Staunton, VA 24401
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7:30 pm Depart for hotel
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11:00 pm Arrive at the Doubletree by Hilton Dulles Hotel
13869 Park Center Rd, Herndon, VA 20171
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Thursday - Day 1 - April 9
7:00 am EST Full breakfast at the hotel (included)
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8:00 am Depart for Arlington National Cemetery
Memorial Avenue, Arlington, VA 22211
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9:00 am Meet your licensed Washington, DC guides for narrated tour
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TBA Your narrated tour will include a stop at The White House for a photo op
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12:30 pm The tour will end at the National History Museum for lunch followed by free time to visit
the Smithsonian Museums of your choice in small, self-guided groups
($20 per diem included)
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5:30 pm Meet back on the steps of the Natural History Museum
5:45 pm Depart for the DC Waterfront
580 Water St SW, Washington, DC 2024
6:30 pm Boarding begins for your Spirit of Washington Dinner / DJ Cruise (included)
7:00 pm Cruise sets sail
9:30 pm Cruise ends
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10:00 pm Load buses and depart for hotel
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Friday - Day 2 - April 10
7:30am EST Full breakfast at the hotel (included)
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9:00 am Depart for the Smithsonian Museums
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10:00 am Arrive at the Smithsonian Museums
Depart for self-guided tours of the Smithsonian Museums and/or National Archives
($20 per diem included)
National Museum of American History
National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of the American Indian
National Gallery of Art
U.S. Botanical Garden
4:00 pm Meet back on the steps of the Museum of Natural History
Load buses and depart for dinner
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4:30 pm Dinner at Carmine's Restaurant (included)
425 7th Street NW, Washington DC, 20004
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6:00 pm Depart for the Reagan Federal Building
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, 20004
6:30 pm Depart on guided Illuminated Monument/Memorial Bus Tour (included)
10:15 pm Depart for hotel
Saturday - Day 3 - April 11
6:30am EST Full breakfast at the hotel (included)
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7:30 am Depart for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade staging area
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8:45 am Arrive at Parade Staging
* Buses will drop the Band off at Independence SW & 4th Street
* Parent/Chaperones will remain on the buses and continue to the bus parking area at
the end of the parade route at Constitution Ave & 19th Street
* After the buses are parked, parents walk back up Constitution Ave and find a suitable
place on the street to watch the parade
* Note: Parents - when the band marches past you in the parade, you should return to the
buses. We will most likely be departing before the parade ends.
10:00 am The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade Steps Off
Lunch boxes will be delivered to the buses (included)
Return to the hotel to freshen up for dinner
6:00 pm Load buses and depart for dinner at Dave & Buster's
11958 U Fair Oaks Shopping Center, Fairfax, VA 22033
7:00 pm Dinner at Dave and Buster's (included)
(included $20 Power Card + Unlimited Video Play - "Let the Games Begin")
9:30 pm Return to hotel
Sunday- Day 4 - April 12
6:30 am Breakfast at the hotel (included)
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7:30 am Load buses, depart for Vestavia Hills (meals on your own in route)
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12:00 pm Lunch stop at the Marketplace Shopping Center
2700 Market St NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073
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1:30 pm Load buses and depart
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5:00 pm Dinner stop at I-75 Exit 222
12505 TN-72, Loudon, TN 37774
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6:00 pm Load buses and depart
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10:00 pm CST Arrive at Vestavia Hills High School
2235 Lime Rock Rd, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Why should your student attend?
​During a student's four years as a member of the Vestavia Hills Rebel Band, they will have the opportunity to perform in only two parades during their high school career; one domestic trip within the United States and one international trip. If a student decides not to perform in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, then the student will not have an opportunity to perform in another domestic parade during their high school career. For juniors and seniors, this is their final opportunity to march in a parade.
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In addition, in order to receive an invitation to future international parades, a band must demonstrate its ability to perform well domestically. The larger the band performing in a domestic parade, the more likely an invitation will be extended to perform in a prestigious international parade. The Vestavia Hills Rebel Band has had the privilege of performing in the 2010 London New Year's Parade, 2018 Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the 2024 Rome New Year's Parade. For freshmen and sophomores, performing in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade will ensure an invitation to a popular international parade during their junior and senior years. ​​
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Important Information
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Chaperone applications close December 5.
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Applications for chaperone can be submitted via the following link: Chaperone Application
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Application does not guarantee selection. After all applications have been submitted, chaperones will be selected and announced the following week.​
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Student registration closes December 19.​
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Registration
American Travel Consulting (ATC) is partnering with Vestavia Hills Rebel Band to provide services for the upcoming trip. ATC have worked closely with the band directors to organize a fantastic travel experience. ATC utilizes an online registration and payment platform to help make your entire experience with ATC easy. Please follow the instructions below to register for the trip through the registration site.
There are two ways to access the trip registration page.
and insert the following trip code in the trip code box: vestaviabanddc2026
or
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Copy and paste (or type) the following URL into your address bar: https://americantravelconsulting.grcoll.co/v2/go/vestaviabanddc2026
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For your convenience, ATC have included full registration instructions with FAQ as well as a tutorial video. For full registration instructions including FAQ, follow the link.
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