Cancellation of 2020 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess Crowning

Out of concern for the safety and well-being of all of the cherry blossom princesses nationwide, the National Cherry Blossom Princess Program has been postponed until 2021. From this, the 2020 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess crowning ceremony of Kelley Ann Babphavong scheduled for 10 AM on Friday, March 12^th at Woonsocket’s Harris Hall has been canceled.

Per the guidelines of the National Cherry Blossom Princess Program, Kelley Ann Babphavong, Rhode Island’s 2020 Cherry Blossom Princess, is given the first right of refusal to be the 2021 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess. Ms. Babphavong has accepted that responsibility and will formally be crowned in early 2021 and then head to Washington D.C. to represent Rhode Island during the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM PRINCESS PROGRAM:
Each year a new representative is crowned by Rhode Island city and state leadership and the consul general of Japan to represent Rhode Island and to then join other princesses representing all of the 50 United States, five territories, the District of Columbia and the international embassy community in the National Conference of State Societies’ Cherry Blossom Princess Program during the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. The 2020 Cherry Blossom Princess program will take place from March 29 to April 4.