Essex County's Popular Cherry Blossom Fest Will Return For 2022

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County's popular Cherry Blossom Festival is returning for 2022, organizers recently announced.

The free, family-friendly festival was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was held virtually in 2021, although people who wanted to check out the cherry blossom trees in Branch Brook Park were still able to visit and see the spring bloom.

The park is home to a massive collection of more than 5,000 Japanese cherry trees. And every spring – usually around mid-to-late April – they bloom and herald the coming of warm weather, bringing joy to the thousands of visitors who have turned out for the county's annual festival in previous years.

In all, the cherry blossom collection at Branch Brook Park is larger than the national display in Washington D.C., and is one of the most diverse in the country, according to county officials.

Earlier this month, Essex County officials announced that the festival will return this year at the park from April 2 to April 10. Learn more here.

The list of events includes:

Cherry Blossom Challenge Bike Race

• Saturday, April 2
• 7am – 1pm
• Oval, Northern Division

Cherry Blossom 10K Run

• Sunday, April 3
• 10am – 12pm
• Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Division

1-Mile Fun Run/Walk

• Saturday, April 9
• 10am – 11am
• Concert Grove, Southern Division

Essex County Family Day

• Saturday, April 9
• 11am – 3pm
• Concert Grove, Southern Division

Bloomfest

• Sunday, April 10
• 11am – 5pm
• Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Division and Concert Grove, Southern Division

Historic Cell Phone Tours

• (973) 433-9047
• Available All Season

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