Spring is coming, and seeing the soft pink blooms at parks and cherry blossom festivals is the official sign that we’ve turned a corner. While the time for these flowering trees to show off their color is brief (most trees start end of March, then peak for a week beginning in April before the petals fall off into pink-tinged snow-like drifts), you can catch them all over NY and nearby, 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: istock/Boogich)
Cherry Blossom Festivals Around New York And Nearby
Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival
April 25-26
Enjoy the springtime blizzard at the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park. The fun starts on April 25 and 26, with a bunch of fun family-friendly events to celebrate the cherry blossoms blooming in Buffalo. On April 28, a tea tasting ceremony will take place, along with other activities like food trucks, activity tables, and vendors. Don’t forget to wear pink for the pink parade, too.
25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo, NY 14216
Essex County Park Cherry Blossom Festival at Branch Brook Park
April 4-19
With over 5,300 cherry blossom trees that burst into full bloom in April, this park (only 30 minutes outside of NYC) is famous first for being the nation’s first county park and second for having 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 4-19, which features a Bike Race, Cherry Blossom 10K, Essex County Family Day, and Essex County 1 Mile Fun Run. The festival culminates on April 19 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
March 28-29
This annual spring celebration features the beautiful Cherry Blossoms and Japanese arts and culture. Organized by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, this cherry blossom festival is filled with performers, calligraphy, sushi classes, 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 9th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival and Plant Sale
May 2
Over 100 cherry blossom trees will be on display at this Hudson Valley festival, not far from the NY/NJ state line. It’s a great way to celebrate the beginning of spring and take in the beauty of the blossoms. The event includes 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
National Cherry Blossom Festival Washington DC
March 20-April 12
What began with a gift of trees from Japan at the Tidal Basin in 1912 now drapes the nation’s capital in pink and white. From March 20, 2026, to April 12, 2026, the nation’s capital comes into full bloom with cherry blossoms. Enjoy Cherry Picks restaurants, City in Bloom® installations, hotel stays, and more. It all starts with the opening ceremony on March 21, followed by the Blossom Kite Festival on March 28 and Petalpalooza on April 4, a street party with music, art, and fireworks.
Events are at various locations throughout Washington DC
Where to See More Blooms in New York and Beyond
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Looking for a spot near NYC to see the beautiful cherry blossoms? 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. Their Cherry Watch map updates the status of the areas during pre-bloom, first bloom, peak bloom, and post-peak bloom, so you will know just when to visit.
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
Flushing Meadows
See the flowering cherry trees of Queens’ flagship park. In 2026, there will be a special walk from 2 PM to 3 PM on April 19 to see the grove of Okame cherry trees, located near the Unisphere. According to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Flushing Meadows cherry blossoms are usually the first to bloom.
Meadow Lake Drive, Queens, NY 11301
F.R. Newman Arboretum at Cornell Botanical Gardens
In late April, a variety of cherry blossoms awaken at Cornell Botanical Gardens. There are 20 different types of flowering cherries, from the Weeping Flowering Cherry to the Flowering Cherry to the Sargent Cherry.
124 Comstock Knoll Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
New York Botanical Garden
With over 500 flowering cherry trees, the New York Botanical Garden is the place to be when these beauties bloom. The garden has a Cherry Blossom section, 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 mid-May.
2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458
Randall’s Island Park
This waterfront park has gorgeous cherry blossom trees in bloom from late March to early April—picnic among the pinkest pinks at one of the areas within the park.
100 Central Road, New York, NY 10035
Roosevelt Island
Typically, in early to mid-April, Roosevelt Island becomes one of the most-photographed cherry blossom spots in NYC. If you are hoping to get the tree tunnel photo on the south side of the Queensboro Bridge, you actually should arrive at or before sunrise, since it can get busy quickly.
Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044
Sakura Park
Sakura (literally means cherry blossom) Park got its name from the more than 2,000 cherry trees delivered to parks in New York City from Japan in 1912. Now visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms typically in April, but check ahead for final bloom dates.
Riverside Drive, Claremont Avenue To W. 122 Street, Manhattan, NY 10027
Where to See More Blooms Outside of NY
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. Keep an eye out for the blossoms to peak in mid-April.
Chapel Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
David C. Shaw Arboretum in Holmdel Park
Established in 1963, this 22-acre arboretum in Holmdel Park is named after David C. Shaw, the former Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission Superintendent. The arboretum was one of his first projects, and now, spending time among the blossoms is a springtime treat.
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
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
Liberty State Park
With the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in the background, it’s no wonder this Jersey City park is a popular spot. You can visit the Azalea Garden with azaleas and rhododendrons surrounding a big reflecting pool that’s filled with pink lotus and lily pads. When the trees bloom, the double-flowering dogwood and cherry blossoms take center stage in the spring, and the Japanese maple is not to be missed in the fall. Liberty Science Center and the Empty Sky Memorial are also nearby and worth a visit.
200 Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
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.
3 Parkway Drive, Rahway, NJ 07065
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
This nonprofit arboretum and garden in Union County is a popular spot to see cherry blossoms in NJ. With thousands of visitors a year, this location is blooming with beauty. Check out their Spring Discovery weekends in March, leading up to the blooms.
165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
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
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 ideal for setting up a picnic and spending the day under the cherry trees. The park is a whopping 205 acres and spans between two towns, Roselle and Elizabeth. If you are looking for more of nature’s beauty, Warinanco Park has magnolias, too.
Warinanco Park Roadway, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
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