Marathon, Stadium, Blossoms, Kites: D.C. Abuzz This Weekend

March 27, 2008 - 10:39am

As long as you're in the city, you might as well add in a little paddling. (AP)

Adam Tuss, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON -- It's not every day your city opens a new ballpark, or hosts a marathon or has thousands of people from around the world come to look at cherry blossoms. But all of that will be happening this weekend, and it could make getting around the area tough.

"What really makes this weekend both exciting and interesting is we are opening the (Nationals) stadium on the same weekend that we have the kickoff with the Cherry Blossom Festival, the National Marathon going on (and) the Kite Festival going on the National Mall with the Smithsonian," says Emeka Moneme, director of the D.C. Department of Transportation.

"It is pretty unprecedented."

To handle all of the crowds, traffic and events, DDOT, the Metropolitan Police Department and emergency officials will coordinate with one another.

"We are teaming together to make sure that we provide support, keep traffic moving and keep people safe during these events," says Moneme.

The first major event is the National Marathon, which will pass through six of D.C.'s eight wards. It starts at 7 a.m. Saturday and there will be rolling streets closures.

The Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Saturday near the Tidal Basin in the District.

To top it off, the Nationals host the Orioles starting at 6 p.m. Saturday for an exhibition game at the new ballpark in Southeast.

And that is just Saturday.

Sunday, the Cherry Blossom Festival continues, and the Southeast neighborhood around the new ballpark will get a major test as the Nationals' home opener against Atlanta gets underway at 8 p.m. More than 41,000 fans are expected to attend.

Moneme says orchestrating the events is "going to really call on the resources of every employee working."

If you do have to get around the city this weekend, officials are touting a familiar line, 'Take Metro.'

Metro says it will open two hours early -- at 5 a.m. on Saturday -- to help move crowds. The transportation agency also says it will make sure fans get home from the ballgame on what could be a late Sunday night. Metro normally shuts down at midnight Sunday, but with the game against the Braves starting at 8 p.m., trains may have to run later than midnight.