The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual spectacle of the changing seasons that brings thousands of bloom enthusiasts to Newark, New Jersey, is kicking off on Saturday as the trees are expected to approach peak bloom.
Festivities will continue in Branch Brook Park as planned through the weekend as it sustained no damage from Friday's earthquake, Essex County officials said on Friday.
The return of the blooms each year marks a welcome development for many Newark residents.
“The first time I set upon the cherry blossoms, it was like I was in a fairytale,” said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Central Ward resident. “It was like I was in a magical land of wonder. And every way you looked, it was like this explosion of visual delight. And I just remember how moved I was.”
Booker has rejected Washington’s status as the cherry blossom capital of the United States, telling a Senate subcommittee in 2015 that Newark was the “number one city in America ... for cherry blossoms.”
Here’s what you need to know about the cherry blossom festival in Branch Brook Park.
What’s happening during the festival?
The festival is a two-weekend affair that starts Saturday. A 10K run will kick off at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center on Sunday at 10 a.m., which aspiring participants can still register for online.
A fun run for children 15 years old and younger is scheduled for next Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m., to be followed by child-friendly activities and food vendors at family day, which runs until 3 p.m.
The festival ends with food, music and Japanese cultural performances at Bloomfest on April 14.
The cherry blossoms in Newark's Branch Brook Park are in full bloom over the next couple of weeks.
Which events are free?
Admission to the fun run, family day and Bloomfest is free, though vendors will be charging for their wares.
The cherry blossoms in Newark's Branch Brook Park are in full bloom over the next couple of weeks.
What if I just want to gawk at trees?
Stroll through the park any time, or join one of the park’s archivist-led cherry blossom talks any Thursday or Saturday in April.
The cherry blossoms in Newark's Branch Brook Park are in full bloom over the next couple of weeks.
When is peak bloom?
Park stewards at Branch Brook Alliance have projected full bloom to come between April 4 and April 14, including both weekends of the festival.
The cherry blossoms in Newark's Branch Brook Park are in full bloom over the next couple of weeks.
Will it rain?
Saturday started off a little damp, but we should be in for some better weather, according to the latest forecasts. High temperatures are in the low to high 50s this Saturday and Sunday, and are expected to warm up next weekend. But check back closer to next Saturday for better predictions.
