Aoi Matsuri Festival

If I am early at the Imperial Palace for the Aoi Matsuri Festival, will I be allowed to go around the palace grounds/park?
Also, how early should I go to get a good front-row spot?
Many thanks!

Shusui-Tei, inside Kyoto Gyoen, is open from 9:00 even on the day of Aoi Matsuri. So, anyone could enter the park.
http://www.fng.or.jp/kyoto/service/shusui-tei.html
Unfortunately, another facility inside the park, Kaninnomiya-Tei Ato, should be closed because of the regular Monday closings this year.
http://www.env.go.jp/garden/kyotogyoen/2_guide/map2_kaninnomiya.html

According to this blog, you should have been there before 9:00 to get a good position to see the parade, 1:30 before the start at 10:30. It should have got crowded around 10:00. How was that?
http://lifestyletoollog.com/archives/7112.html

The parade is on May 15, but Aoi Matsuri itself continues until May 21.
http://kyototravel.info/%E8%91%B5%E7%A5%AD%E6%97%A5%E7%A8%8B
The last one starts from 10:00 on May 21 at Shimogamo Shrine.
http://kyototravel.info/%E4%B8%8B%E9%B4%A8%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE%E7%85%8E%...