Spring is finally here! It’s that time of the year again, to enjoy the cherry blossom festival. If you adore cherry blossom or sakura, surely you don’t want to miss celebrating this beautiful festival. The Cherry blossom festival is one of the oldest celebrated festivals in Japan, dated back to 794 during the Heain period. Now days, the festival is celebrated all over the world including United States. So if you live in the East Coast or plan to visit, here are my favorite places to celebrate the Cherry Blossom festival in East Coast.
Kelly Drive, Philadelphia
Kelly Drive is a perfect place to enjoy cherry blossom especially if you like a quiet place. This picturesque place is so stunning. It looks like something out of a painting. You can lay a blanket under a cherry blossom trees and have a picnic. There’s also a walking path where you can stroll along and enjoy the view.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York
The Japanese Hill and Pond garden inside Brooklyn Botanic garden is a great place to experience the cherry blossom season. There are over two dozen cherry are planted here. Behind the Japanese Hill and Pond garden, there’s a cherry walk. The cherry walk is a pathway that display flowering cherries. This year, the cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri will take place on April 28, 2018. There’s no free admission during the festival day. If you want a free admission to the garden, then visit the following weekend on Saturday between 10 AM to 12 PM.
Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ
Who doesn’t like free stuff right? I do. So if you do too, the cherry blossom festival at Branch Brook Park is perfect for you to enjoy the cherry blossom season. The festival is free and the park was featured on VH1 top 20. This scenic, 360 acre park featuring lakes, bridges, cherry trees will surely entertain you. Not to mention the Bloomfest will include Japanese cultural demonstration, children’s activities, live music and food. Mark your calendar for April 14 -15, 2018.
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA
Subaru cherry blossom festival will be celebrated almost entire month of April, starting with Japanese movie screening, Sushi making contest, gourmet sake dinner, tea ceremony, kimono dressing, calligraphy to origami. While the Sakura Sunday will take place inside the Fairmount Park, Philadelphia on April 15, 2018. For more detail check this link
Tidal Basin, Washington DC
The best place to take a stroll under the cherry trees is around the tidal basin in West Potomac Park. You can also enjoy the cherry blossom season in East Potomac Park and on the Washington Monument ground. The national cherry blossom festival will take place at several locations from March 20, 2018 – April 15, 2018 This celebration will start with an opening ceremony. Other activities are family day, blossom kite festival, firework, festival parade, sakura matsuri (Japanese street festival) and cherry blast. Another way to enjoy the cherry blossom season in Washington DC is by taking the cruise on the Potomac River. What a view!
Have a colorful springtime!
