Time To Take A Ride To See Branch Brook Park's Cherry Blossoms

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Newark, New Jersey is held each year in the beautiful Branch Brook Park. This festival celebrates the beauty of 5,200 cherry blossom trees that were planted in a park that was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. During the Cherry Blossom Festival visitors are treated to a plethora of activities including a 5K run through Branch Brook Park in the midst of the Cherry Blossom trees. The festival is being held this year (2023) from Saturday, April 1, to Sunday, April 16, 2023

In 1927, Caroline Bamberger Fuld donated two thousand Japanese flowering cherry trees to Branch Brook Park.  The cherry trees rival and some say surpass, the cherry trees in Washington, D.C.  The donation was monumental but it was augmented by the contributions of Frederick Law Olmstead whose designers laid out the trees on the tiered slopes of the park in a manner that the trees would be seen in Japan and thus distinguished Branch Brook Park’s Cherry Blossom trees as exceptional.  The number of trees has grown to 5200 and expanded beyond its original area to adjoining areas including a part of the park that is in neighboring Bellville NJ.  There was however a time when the number of trees had diminished only to a little over a 1000 trees.

The full bloom is expected from Thursday, April 6th through Sunday, April 12^th.  If you have free time during the week, it is suggested you go during the week as the word has spread about the beauty of the cherry blossoms that large crowds visit on the weekends especially with Easter falling on Sunday this year (2023).

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Newark, New Jersey is a wonderful celebration of the beauty of nature and a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy some family-friendly activities. For more information on Branch Brook Park’s Cherry Blossom Festival is available by clicking on the blue Cherry Blossom Festival link. 

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo has been instrumental in upgrading Essex County Parks including Branch Brook Park.  County Executive  DiVincenzo has collaborated  with the Branch Brook Park Alliance to the benefit of all residents and visitors. There is no admission to the park but if you want to make a Donation, we are providing a link to the Branch Brook Park Alliance which accepts donations for the benefit of the park.  You can also purchase a Cherry Blossom Tree for the Alliance to plant in the part in your name or in honor of a loved one.

You can also obtain information from the Branch Brook Park Alliance including historical information on the park.

For more information, you can click on the blue text links in the article.

You can join the discussion about the Branch Brook Park and the Cherry Blossoms and share your pictures on our Discussion Board