Essex County To Kick Off 50th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Branch Brook Park in Essex County is gearing up for the 50th annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The park boasts one of the largest displays of cherry blossoms in the United States, with approximately 5,300 trees representing 18 varieties.

On Thursday, March 19, festival officials revealed plans for this year's event. The festival, which runs April 4–19, will feature new activities alongside traditional events such as a 10K run, a cherry blossom bike race, a kids' fun run, a family day, and Bloom Fest, according to the Essex Local.

"For 50 years, Bloom Fest has brought people together across generations and communities to experience the power of this historic landscape work of art," said Thomas Dougherty, the president of the Branch Brook Park Alliance, in a statement shared with Eyewitness News 7abc.

Individuals and groups are also welcome to enjoy the cherry blossoms and learn about the history of Essex County Branch Brook Park with a guided bus tour. Alternatively, individuals can access a free, self-guided historic walking tour by smartphone throughout the cherry blossom season. Guests can visit all 72 tour stops or select their favorites. To access the tour, which is available in Spanish, call 973-433-9047.

Members of the public can visit the Branch Brook Park website to learn more details about the festival, get driving directions, view a complete list of activities, and view the Bloom Watch webcam, where individuals can monitor the cherry trees for the peak of the bloom season.

Typically, in New Jersey, the peak bloom happens between the second and third weeks of April.