Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival
2012 36th Annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, April 7-22 2012!
The festive highlight of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival is Bloomfest, Sunday, April 22, a day of live performances and attractions in Branch Brook Park. Bloomfest 2012, will be held in Essex County Branch Brook Park, Belleville/Newark on Sunday, April 22 from 11 am-5pm. Bloomfest attracts over 7,000 attendees from New Jersey and surrounding metropolitan areas for stage performances, cultural demonstrations, and children’s activities. The Bloomfest marketplace features crafters and artists selling handmade, cherry blossom themed crafts and products. Bloomfest is held rain or shine.
Features Performances for this year’s Bloomfest are: Cobu Japanese Taiko Drum & Tap Dance Co., Samurai Sword Soul, Tomofuji Kai Dance Troupe, and Yosakoi Dance Project.
More information can be found at essexcherryblossom.com.
Cherry Blossom 10K Run
Held on Sunday, April 15, the Cherry Blossom 10K Run begins at The Cherry Blossom Visitor’s Center with an 8AM Registration. The race starts at 10AM. Registration fee is $18 for Pre-Registrants, $16 for USATF-NJ Members, and $20 General. Register online at https://www.compuscorereg.com/register/?event=9289.
Children’s One-Mile Fun Run/Walk
The Children’s One-Mile Fun Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, April 14. Registration is at 8AM (Free), and the race begins in the Southern Division of Branch Brook Park at 10AM. Schools should register in advance. More info at http://www.essexcherryblossom.com/index.php/events/childrens-one-mile-fun-runwalk.
Cherry Blossom Challenge Annual Bike Race
This exciting bike race takes place on Saturday, April 7 on the Branch Brook Park Northern Division Oval. The first race begins at 7AM, and the last at 12 noon. Free to watch.
Cherry Blossoms Trolley Tours
From Sunday, April 14th to Friday, April 21, trolleys will provide a 45-minute guided tour of Essex County Branch Brook Park. The cost is $5 per person, and reservations are required. Seating is limited so book early! Call 973-268-3520 for reservations. Click here to download Trolley Tours brochure.
Pride of Essex Community Picnic!
The Pride of Essex Community Picnic will be held Branch Brook Park on Saturday, April 14, from 11AM to 3PM. A free Children’s Fun Run and Walk for ages 6-14 will be held prior to the picnic at 10AM. Pack your own picnic basket or purchase food from on-site vendors. Events include fishing derby, games, entertainment, food & more! Call 973-268-3500 for more information. Click here to download picnic flier.
Come See the Cherry Blossoms!
Of course, the star attraction of this event will be the cherry blossom trees. Japanese cherry blossoms predominate among the more than 4000 cherry blossom trees in the park. Their large white blossoms put on quite a show, and are the most prominent feature of the bloom season. However, the addition of flowering Yoshino, Higan and Fuji cherries add blooms that range from pink to white in color. This variety also extends the blooming season to two weeks or more.
Thousands of visitors, both local and international, converge on the park every April to see the first reddish-white flowers bloom on the trees. The celebration of the start of the cherry blossom bloom season has been a longstanding Essex County tradition. The festival is a point of pride for Belleville, which identifies itself as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of America.”
New Essex County Branch Brook Park Web Site
Essex County has a new website with Cherry Blossom Festival information. Go to: http://www.essexcherryblossom.com/.
Cherry Blossom Photography Tips
Do you want to capture the best photos of the beautiful cherry blossom trees during the festival? What is the one inexpensive photographic accessory that you must have if you want the best outdoor portraits and photos of your children? Read my Top 5 Cherry Blossom Photography Tips. These tips are easy to remember and can be used with any camera for better photos during the cherry blossom festival.
Essex County Cherry Blossom BloomWatch
Do you want to know when the cherry blossoms are in peak bloom? Our Essex County Cherry Blossom BloomWatch report will give daily status reports and photos starting on March 17. The cherry blossom season may start earlier this year due to the very mild winter. Stay up to date with daily online BloomWatch status reports. When you sign up for our free BloomWatch email service you become eligible to win a beautiful 20×30 cherry blossom photographic art print by photographer Donald Peterson.
Late Breaking Essex County Cherry Blossom News
The Branch Brook Park Live Bloom Camera is now online, showing a live view of the park from the from the roof of the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center. Click on this link to view.
I will be adding more photos of beautiful cherry blossoms as the cherry blossom season proceeds. Be sure to come back and visit often to see new cherry blossom photos as the festival progresses.
This Cherry Blossoms in Sepia image was also photographed at the 2010 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. You can get more information about this photo (along with downloads) on this page.
Cherry blossoms are a wonderful testimony to our loving Creator, who has made all things on earth for our benefit and endless delight.
Photo shown above: Pink Cherry Blossoms in Bloom, by Donald Peterson, Newark1 Web Design Studio.
Tags: Branch Brook Park, cherry blossoms, Essex County, flowers, New Jersey, Newark
