NEWARK, NJ – When you think of Newark, New Jersey, natural beauty and spectacular floral views are probably not the images in your mind. Each Spring, Newark becomes one of the most beautiful places in the Garden State, drawing tens of thousands of tourists.
It’s the annual blooming of the Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park.
Branch Brook Park, nestled in Newark, boasts a rich tapestry of history, natural beauty, and community spirit that comes alive each spring with its famous cherry blossom display. Designed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the esteemed Olmsted Brothers, successors of Frederick Law Olmsted, the park’s design reflects a deep appreciation for natural landscapes, incorporating meadows, forests, and a series of streams and lakes. This vision transformed Branch Brook Park into one of the country’s most significant urban parks, not just for its size and design but also for its role in community and cultural events.
The park’s cherry blossoms, a hallmark of spring, were the brainchild of Caroline Bamberger Fuld, a local philanthropist and sister of department store magnate Louis Bamberger. Inspired by the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., Fuld donated the first 2,000 Japanese flowering cherry trees in 1927, setting the stage for what would become one of the largest cherry blossom collections in the United States. Today, the park is home to over 5,000 cherry trees, drawing visitors from all over the country each April for the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival.
Visitors to Branch Brook Park during cherry blossom season can expect a landscape transformed by blooms in a variety of shades of pink and white, covering the park’s 360 acres. The festival itself offers a range of activities, from races and family day events to cultural demonstrations and live music, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Beyond the cherry blossoms, the park features historical bridges, sculptures, and buildings, making it a place of beauty and interest year-round.
For those planning a visit, the best time to catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom is typically in early to mid-April, with the festival usually scheduled during this peak bloom period. Branch Brook Park is accessible by public transportation, and there is ample parking available, although it can be challenging to find a spot during the busiest days of the cherry blossom festival.