It’s been a long winter, and seeing the soft pink blooms at parks and cherry blossom festivals in NJ and the surrounding area is the official sign in 2023 that we’ve turned a corner. While the time for these flowering trees to show off their color is brief (most trees peak for a week beginning in April before the petals fall off into pink-tinged snow-like drifts), you can catch them all over NJ, including the most extensive collection of cherry blossoms in the United States (yup, bigger than Washington DC). Scroll down for where to go to cherry blossom festivals and places to see them and when, and don’t forget to use our guide to spring flowers to find more blooms in the state. (featured photo credit: @pastrychefmatthew)
Cherry Blossom Festivals in NJ and Beyond
Essex County Park Cherry Blossom Festival at Branch Brook Park
April 1-16, 2023
With over 5,200 cherry blossom trees that burst into full bloom in April, this park is the nation’s first county park, and it’s noted to have the largest collection of Japanese cherry blossom trees in the United States, rivaling the famous Washington DC blooms. During the peak blooms, you can visit the annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival at Branch Brook Park from April 1-16, which features a Cherry Blossom 10K, Essex County Family Day, Essex County 1 Mile Fun Run, and culminates on April 16 with Bloomfest! featuring live music, children’s activities, a crafter’s marketplace, food, and more.
Cost: Free
Park Avenue and Lake Street, Newark, NJ 07104
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival Of Greater Philadelphia
April 15 and 16, 2023, from 10:30 AM-4 PM
This annual spring celebration features both the beautiful blooms of the Cherry Blossoms and Japanese arts and culture. Organized by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the cherry blossom festival has it all from performers, a tea ceremony, a pop-up beer garden, a vendor fair, and of course, the gorgeous flowering cherry trees. Don’t miss the chance to usher in spring with the whole fam.
Cost: Free
Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum, 100 N. Horticulture Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Peekskill Rotary’s 6th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival and Plant Sale
May 6, 2023, from 10 AM-5 PM
Over 100 cherry blossom trees have been planted by the Peekskill Rotary and will be on full display at their 6th Annual Festival. Each year, the Rotary holds this event for people of all ages to come and celebrate the beginning of spring and take in the beauty of the blossoms. The event also features flower pot painting, arts and crafts, kids’ games, inflatable slides, food trucks, a plant sale, and more.
Cost: Admission and parking are free
Peeksill Riverfront Green Park, 1 Robin Drive, Peekskill, NY 10566
Where to See More Blooms in NJ and Beyond
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Over 120 acres of beauty surround this Morristown arboretum, where cherry blossoms flourish in the first week of April. While there, you can also explore the Colonial Revival mansion, the woodlands, meadows, gardens, and more.
353 E. Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
Hurd Park
Cherry blossoms debut at Hurd Park in Dover just in time for spring. Take Insta-worthy photos at the gazebo, footbridge, or War Memorial with the blooming trees in the background.
West Blackwell Street and Park Heights Avenue, Dover, NJ 07801
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
Part of Ringwood State Park, these gardens are dripping with beauty. This 1,119-acre estate property in Passaic County has gardens, walkways, and more. The cherry blossom magic happens in their Perennial Garden and is well worth visiting—call ahead to find out the peak blooms (around the first week of April).
2 Morris Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456
Rahway River Park
One of 36 parks in Union County, this park has cherry blossoms in early spring. After admiring the blooms, head to the many activity spots around the park, including a multi-use path, running track, playground, sports fields, picnic area (non-reservable), and a spray park.
St. Georges Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
This nonprofit arboretum and garden in Union County is a popular spot to take in the sight of cherry blossoms in NJ. With thousands of visitors a year, this location is blooming with beauty. Don’t miss their daffodils in April too.
165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
Verona Park
This cherry blossom spot is part of the Essex County Park System—a park with over 54 acres offering picturesque locations. After you walk through the cherry trees, stop by the pretty boathouse and lake for photo ops.
Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044
Warinanco Park
This Union County park is perfect for setting up a picnic and spending the day under the cherry trees. The park takes up 205 acres, and it is in both Roselle and Elizabeth. If you are looking for more of nature’s beauty, Warinanco park has magnolias too.
Warinanco Park Roadway, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
David C. Shaw Arboretum
Established in 1963, this arboretum in Holmdel Park contains 22 acres, and it is named after David C. Shaw, the former Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission Superintendent. The arboretum was one of his first projects, and now it’s a springtime treat when you want to spend time among the blossoms.
Holmdel Park, Pond Walk, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Divine Park in Spring Lake
Nothing says spring like Spring Lake, where you can catch a burst of pink at Divine Park in the center of town. This 16-acre park with a freshwater lake is a stunning setting for the flowering trees, which reflect onto the water and offer beautiful photo moments.
801 Lake Drive, Spring Lake, NJ 07762
Sayen House and Gardens
In historic Hamilton Square, you can find a sanctuary for nature lovers. This popular photo location also has fish ponds, an arched bridge, and many other picturesque spots for pretty, flower-filled family photos.
155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690
Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill
Two miles of pink goodness grace the streets of Cherry Hill. Travel down Chapel Avenue between Haddonfield Road and Kings Highway—cherry trees were planted as a solemn tribute to the lives lost on September 11, 2001. Cherry blossoms are expected to arrive during the last two weeks of April.
Chapel Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Looking for a spot near NYC to see the beautiful cherry blossoms? You’re in luck. Head to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, where you can take in rows of trees. Meander down the Cherry Walk, a path created in 1921 lined with cherry blossoms forming a canopy overhead. They are expected to bloom in the Garden from late March or early April through the middle of May.
Entrances are located at 150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11225, 455 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225, and 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Central Park Cherry Blossoms
Take a stroll through Central Park from April to May and wonder at the beauty of their annual cherry blossom festival of trees. Their blooming season may be short-lived, but when the petals fall, they create a blanket across the ground that kids (and adults) love to see.
Central Park, between 72nd Street and 96th Street
New York Botanical Garden
With over 200 flowering cherry trees, when these beauties are in bloom, it’s a great way to spend the day with the fam. There is a Cherry Blossom section of the Garden, and there’s a path you can walk down as you admire the pinks and whites of the trees. The trees are expected to bloom from late March to May.
2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458
Randall’s Island Park
Come visit the waterfront park and see the gorgeous cherry blossom trees in bloom from late March to early April. Bring your own food and drinks and enjoy a picnic at one of the many picnic areas within the park after you enjoy the beautiful blooms.
100 Central Road, New York, NY 10035
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