Spring is here, the snow has melted, we’ve ditched the parkas and are itching to get outdoors. One telltale sign of the new season is the annual Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place over 4 weeks from March 20th through April 17th. My intention was to visit DC once the trees had reached peak bloom, but between traveling to Paris and the uncooperative weather, I missed seeing them. Disappointed, but not ready to give up, I started looking into other options. In doing so, I not only discovered the interesting history behind the festival, but that this tradition extends far beyond the nation’s capital.
While visiting DC many years ago, I recall walking along the Tidal Basin and my mom explaining that all the trees lining the basin were gifted from Japan in 1912. What I didn’t realize at the time was how this gift of over 3,000 trees, a symbol of friendship and close relationship between the U.S. and Japan and the subsequent festival, coincided with a particularly dark period in history between the two nations.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Relations between the U.S. and Japan began deteriorating following an influx of Japanese immigrants. This was reflected in legislation including the Naturalization Act of 1870, California’s 1906 regulation which forced children of Japanese descent to attend segregated schools, the Alien Land Law of 1913 and the Immigration Act of 1924. All were aimed at curbing Asian immigration and limiting opportunity for those already in the country. Tensions reached a fever pitch following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the same day several of the donated trees in DC were cut down in protest. But what made things uglier still was the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans beginning in 1942 and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 3 years later.
In spite of the turmoil, the Cherry Blossom Festival continued to grow in popularity and duration as did the pomp and circumstance surrounding it. Even in the aftermath of these horrific events, both countries made efforts to reconcile. In 1952, the U.S. assisted Japan in restoring its historic grove of cherry trees, which were damaged by the war. And later, a 300 year old lantern and pagoda were gifted to the United States to commemorate the 1854 treaty of peace and to symbolize continued friendship. The lantern is still used to officially open the national festival each year. In 1965, Japan donated another 3,800 more cherry trees to Washington, further demonstrating a desire to move forward as allies and friends.
After learning the history behind the Washington trees and its annual festival, I was looking forward to experiencing it first-hand this year. Unfortunately, the blooms peaked early and I was away in Paris when it happened. I considered traveling to Japan, which boasts some of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the world. Known as Hanami, or flower viewing, these celebrations include outdoor picnics, performances, live music, colorful parades, lanterns, traditional foods and sake and take place throughout Japan from March through May. Hopping a plane to Japan to partake in the festivities seemed a bit impractical and I figured there had to be an alternative closer to home. In researching other options, I was happy to discover that in fact numerous states across the country celebrate this annual tradition. Below is a rundown of the U.S. cities that hold annual cherry blossom festivals.
FESTIVALS NEAR YOU
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA’S Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival occurs over 2 weekends in April. The festival takes place in Japantown and celebrates the blooming trees as well as Japanese culture. Over 200,000 people attend annually, making it the 2nd largest cherry blossom festival behind DC.
DENVER, COLORADO’S festival known as Sakura Matsuri is a two day event held in June. This festival is more a celebration of Japanese culture than cherry trees and serves to bring the community together by encouraging diversity and cultural understanding.
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT commemorates the planting of 73 cherry trees in 1975 with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival held on the last weekend in April in Wooster Square Park.
MACON, GEORGIA holds the International Cherry Blossom Festival each year. This 10 day event occurs at the end of March and allows the community to celebrate nature’s beauty. Over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees grow in Macon, Georgia, making it the cherry blossom capital of the world.
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA celebrates Japanese culture with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival held one Sunday each May. The widely attended event features music, dancing, art, Japanese cuisine and a variety of other activities.
MARSHFIELD, MISSOURI holds its Cherry Blossom Festival at the end of April. The 3 day event is full of activities the entire family can enjoy.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY boasts more cherry trees than DC. Each year, the town celebrates its thousands of blooms with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival held in Branch Brook Park, which runs throughout the month of April.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK celebrates Sakura Matsuri, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, each year. The event takes place at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden the first weekend in May. The hundreds of cherry trees that bloom in the garden throughout April and May are a major attraction.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK also holds the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival annually at the Japanese garden in Delaware Park the first week in May. The cherry tree grove and festival surrounding it encourages tree planting and celebrates the beauty of spring.
BABBERTON, OHIO will hold its annual Cherry Blossom Festival May 20th-22nd at Lake Anna Park. The weekend long event features parades, rides, performances, food, fun and more.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA’S Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival takes place throughout the month of April. The festival commemorates the gifting of 1,600 cherry trees by Japan in 1926.
RHODE ISLAND had its first Cherry Blossom Festival in 2010. The planting of nearly 100 cherry trees in 2009 helped revitalize what was once an industrial area. Since then, the community celebrates the annual festival in April with a 5k race and various other activities held in Central Falls and Pawtucket.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE’S Cherry Blossom Festival takes place on the 2nd Saturday in April. A city initiative was proposed in 2009 to plant 1,000 cherry trees throughout Nashville over the course of 10 years. The trees now serve as a symbol of friendship between the U.S. and Japan and provide a colorful backdrop for the festival.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA holds its annual Cherry Blossom Festival the first Saturday in April. It celebrates the 150 donated Yoshino cherry trees and its ongoing friendship with Miyazaki City, Japan. Sadly, the festival was canceled this year due to weather.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON celebrates the Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival each year. This 3 day event began in 1978 and is aimed at forging friendship and understanding between the people of Japan and the Pacific Northwest.
WASHINGTON DC is of course the location of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It is the largest and most popular of its kind, attracting over 150 million visitors each year. The month long festival includes a parade, a fireworks display and countless other activities that celebrate the ongoing friendship between the U.S. and Japan symbolized by the 6,000 plus trees that were gifted to DC beginning in 1912. You can check out the blooms on the live earth cam, here. More information about the history of the trees and national festival can be found here.
DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN holds the Festival of Blossoms, which celebrates the blooming of hundreds of varieties of flowers and trees including thousands of acres of white cherry trees from April through June.
I couldn’t believe just how many states celebrate this tradition. Even in my own back yard, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the cherry blossoms are a must see attraction. Fortunately, a majority of the trees in the Japanese garden are in peak bloom and I was able to witness the beautiful trees in their full glory. Many are still in the pre-bloom stage and will peak just in time for the Sakura Matsuri celebration in a few weeks.
AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH
Given the number of states that celebrate this annual festival and the large crowds that they draw, it’s clear that these trees mean a great deal to many. Unfortunately, climate change and erratic weather pose a threat to these beautiful blooms. These changes cause the trees to peak earlier and earlier in the year, which disrupts the timing between the blooms and pollinating insects. In order to continue enjoying the natural splendor, the threat has to be acknowledged and everyone must do their part to reduce their carbon footprint. Getting outdoors and walking, biking and recycling are small ways we can help ensure these flowering trees keep blooming for years to come. For more information about the impact of climate change on cherry blossom trees, click here.
These trees are a national treasure and a reminder of the goodwill that exists between the U.S and Japan in spite of the rocky past. The good news is that anyone can experience the blooms and celebrate the history and culture they represent regardless of where they live. I encourage you to go outside and take part in the beauty that surrounds you! Happy blooming and wending!
Have you ever attended a cherry blossom festival? How do you celebrate spring? Share your comments below!
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