Join us for many of our fabulous featured events during the 2024 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival!

Schedule of Events

April 6, 2024

7am – 1pm: Cherry Blossom Challenge Bike Race - Oval, Northern Division

Race through the Park in the Cherry Blossom Challenge, an official NJBA event! Various races occur throughout the morning. Cash prizes! Registration fees apply to racers. Come cheer on the cyclists while enjoying a day in the park. Free to enter the Park and watch!

Cost: $35 - $45, varies by race category

April 7, 2024

10am - 12pm: Cherry Blossom 10K Run - Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Division

We invite you to compete in this year's Essex County Cherry Blossom 10K Coed Team Championship Run in Essex County Branch Brook Park. Race through the historic cherry tree groves and experience this natural wonder in a special way.

Entry Fees
$45 Pre-Registrants;
$40 USATF-NJ Member Pre-Registrants;
$50 General Race Day Registrants

$3 per entry will be donated to Special Olympics New Jersey!

No Refunds for any reason, All sales are final.

Packet Pick Up will be from 8:00AM-9:45AM on Sunday, April 7, 2024 same day of the race at the Cherry Blossom Center Parking Lot underneath large tent.

Location:
Branch Brook Park, Branch Brook Park Drive
Newark, NJ US 07104

Click here for Registration

April 13, 2024

10am - 11am: 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk - Concert Grove, Southern Division

Join your family and classmates in Essex County Branch Brook Park on Saturday, April 13th for the 2024 One-Mile Fun Run, part of our annual Cherry Blossom Festival. In 2023, over 1,000 children aged 6 through 14 ran through Branch Brook Park to celebrate the blooming of the historic cherry tree groves. Many then stayed into the afternoon to enjoy activities, crafts, and performances at our Family Day event held directly after in the Prudential Concert Grove section of the park.

There is no fee to participate. The first step is to get your school to register by having them complete one school entry form by March 15th, 2024. Permission slips for each run participant must also be received prior to the start of the race. Children can enter individually on race day. All participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and an award at the completion of the race.

Click here for 2024 Fun Run Permission Slip
Click here for 2024 School Fun Run Registration Application
Click here for 2024 Fun Run Flyer

11am – 3pm: Essex County Family Day - Concert Grove, Southern Division

Visit the renovated and landscaped concert grove to enjoy an afternoon outdoors with your family. Work out in our paddle boats, construct a craft, get your face painted, jump in a bouncy house, climb a rock wall, or grab food from a food vendor and enjoy the cherry blossom trees!

Main Stage Entertainment

Cost: Free

11am: Cherry Blossom Talks - Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Division

April 14, 2024

11am - 5pm: Bloomfest - Oval, Northern Division and Concert Grove, Southern Division

Enjoy a family day in New Jersey's pinkest park! A packed schedule of events includes Japanese cultural demonstrations, children's activities, live music, a crafter's marketplace, food and more!

Cost: Free

Date: April 6-14, 2024

Location: Essex County Branch Brook Park,
Park Avenue,
Newark, NJ 07104

Click here for More Information