Staff reports

One of this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival parade grand marshals has a couple of legs up on previous celebrities picked for the honor.

For this year’s event, festival organizers have turned to AC Pup, mascot for the Central Georgia CARES animal advocacy group. Other grand marshals are internationally acclaimed concert violinist Robert McDuffie and Col. Mitchel Butikofer, 78th Air Base Wing commander at Robins Air Force Base.

Jake Ferro, president and CEO of the Cherry Blossom Festival, said it was “a great tribute” to have a group of grand marshals like this year’s.

The annual parade down Cherry Street begins at 3:30 p.m. March 17.