Essex County will once again hold its Cherry Blossom Festival in Newark’s Branch Brook Park from Saturday, April 2 to Sunday, April 10. The festival, which is returning from a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, highlights the blooming season of the park’s 5,200 cherry blossom trees.
The 46th annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival includes the following events:
- Cherry Blossom Challenge Annual Bike Race, Saturday, April 2, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Cherry Blossom 10K Run, Sunday, April 3, registration: 8 a.m., 10K race: 10 a.m., disabled start: 10:10 a.m.
- 1-Mile Fun Run and Walk, Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. race
- Essex County Family Day, Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Bloomfest, Sunday, April 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cherry Blossom Talks, Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 11 a.m.
Visitors can also access a free, self-guided historic walking tour by cell phone or smart phone, by calling 973-433-9047 or scanning the bar code at each tour stop.
The general public and business community can participate in a fundraising campaign to purchase and plant cherry trees for the park. Each new cherry tree can be purchased for $225 from the Essex County Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible, checks can be made out to “Essex County Parks Foundation” and mailed to the Essex County Parks Foundation, 115 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104. Please write “Cherry Blossom Campaign” on the memo line of the check. Donations are being recognized in a “Cherry Blossom Giving Tree” located at the entrance of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Welcome Center.
