Essex County will celebrate the 50th annual Cherry Blossom Festival April 4 through April 19 at Branch Brook Park
The park’s 5,300 cherry blossom trees are the largest collection in the United States.
The two-week celebration will include races, cultural demonstrations, family activities and a photo contest commemorating the festival’s half-century history.
Cherry blossom 2025 Bloomfest in Newark
Cherry Blossom Challenge Annual Bike Race
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Oval, Northern Division, Newark
Cherry Blossom 10K Run
A portion of the race proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. Online registration can be done at www.compuscore.com. Same day registration begins at 8 a.m. Advanced registration is recommended. Race starts at 10 a.m.
Date: Sunday, April 12
Time: Registration: 8 a.m.
10K Race: 10 a.m.
Disabled Start: 10:10 a.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Newark
1-Mile Fun Run and Walk
Date: Saturday, April 18
Time: 9 a.m. Registration; 10 a.m. Race
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Southern Division, Prudential Concert Grove, Newark
Essex County Family Day
Events include live performances, children’s activities and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic lunches or purchase food from vendors on site. Admission is free but food and other merchandise will be for sale.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Southern Division, Prudential Concert Grove, Newark
Bloomfest
The event includes cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, food and more at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center. Additional musical performances will be held at the Prudential Concert Grove in the Southern Division of the park. Admission is free; food and merchandise will be for sale.
Date: Sunday, April 19
Times: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park. Main Area: Oval, Northern Division, Heller Parkway, Newark. Second Stage: Southern Division, Prudential Concert Grove, Newark.
50 Years of Blossoms Photo Contest
As part of the 50th Anniversary of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, Essex County launched its ’50 Years of Blossoms’ Photo Contest. This contest is a celebration of memories, tradition, and community.
From April 1 through April 12, residents and visitors are invited to submit their favorite cherry blossom photos.
Selected winners will receive a family membership to the Turtle Back Zoo along with a special Essex County swag bag. Winners will be invited to accept their prize on-stage during Bloomfest on Sunday, April 19 at 11 a.m.
Photos should be submitted via social media using #50YearsOfBlossoms and tagging the accounts below:
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Instagram Tag: @JoeDEssexCounty and @EssexParks
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Facebook Tag: Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex County Park System
All photographs submitted into the contest become the property of Essex County and may be used in the future to promote the Essex County Parks System, Essex County Branch Brook Park or the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Cherry Blossom Talks
Join staff from the Essex County Parks Archives to learn more about the history of Essex County Branch Brook Park and the historic cherry blossom tree collection. All talks take place at 11 am in the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center. No pre-registration is required. Cherry Blossom Talks will be held as follows:
Dates: Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15 and 22; Saturdays, April 3, 10 and 17
Times: 11 a.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Newark
Guided Bus Tours
Park historians lead 50-minute guided tours through Branch Brook Park. Guides will point out the historic features of the Olmsted-designed park and share stories of the largest cherry blossom tree collection in the United States! For more information or to book a tour, email mmcfarlane@parks.essexcountynj.org or call 973-735-6231.
Historic Tours by Cell Phone
This free, self-guided historic walking tour can be accessed by cell phone or smartphone all season long. Spend the day exploring all 72 tour stops or pick and choose your favorites. One call to 973-433-9047 or a scan of the bar code at each tour stop unlocks a world of park history and horticultural information. The tour is now available in Spanish.
History, driving directions, a complete list of activities and a webcam where the public can monitor the cherry trees for the peak of the bloom season can be accessed by visiting www.essexcountynj.org/branch-brook-park.
The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Cherry Tree Planting Campaign
The general public and business community can participate in a fundraising campaign to purchase and plant cherry trees in Essex County Branch Brook Park. Each new Cherry Tree can be purchased for $225 from the Essex County Parks Foundation, a nonprofit 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. “Cherry Blossom Campaign” should be written 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. Donations of $225 are recognized with a leaf on the Giving Tree and donations of $1,000 or more are recognized with special plaques on the Giving Tree wall.
Donors can choose to have their name inscribed on the Giving Tree or make the contribution in memory of a loved one.
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