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Cherry Blossoms are starting to bloom up and down the Northeast of the US. There are plenty of festivals to choose from and plenty of cities to visit. Each festival is unique and has its own personal flair. You can try Hanami, the ancient Japanese art of viewing cherry Blossoms at each stage of development. Take a look at each stage here.
You don’t need to travel far to see beautiful cherry blossoms if you live in New Jersey. The 29th Annual Cherry Blossom Gala & Festival is at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ. From April 10th to the 23rd, you can take part in many fun activities including, a bike tour, photography workshops, and a 10k run. Sunday April 19th enjoy the Essex County Bloomfest, featuring Japanese cultural activities, origami, bonsai, and dance.
In New York City cherry blossoms bloom at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The viewing season begins on April 4th until May 10th. The ‘rite of spring,’ Sakura Matsuri takes place on May 2nd and 3rd. Visitors can watch performances and enjoy traditional costumes and music, as well as Japanese pop music. Also learn the art of flower arranging, tea ceremonies, doll making, woodblock printing, origami, and bonsai.
This weekend is the opening ceremony for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC. The views are truly spectacular with our nation’s capital as the backdrop for the beautiful blossoms. On March 28th, take your family to the free festivities of Family Day. You can enjoy the Japanese tea room, create origami structures, design anime characters, and plant some trees. Other festival events include a lantern lighting ceremony, the cherry blossom parade, a street festival, a 10 mile run, a dinner cruise, as well as daily cultural performances. The festival lasts from March 28th until April 12th.
Cherry Blossoms have already started to bloom in Philadelphia. The 2009 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia begins in late-March and lasts until about mid-April. Make your way to Fairmount Park and enjoy plenty of activities throughout the duration of the festival, including Sake Fest, Japanese food tasting, tea seminars, Taiko drummers, and film screenings.
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