March 28, 2016
Cherry blossom season has arrived. Washington, D.C. reached full bloom over Easter weekend, while the peak dates for Philly are expected to be between April 9-13.
Plan a day to enjoy the incoming spring weather and celebrate the pretty pink flowers.
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia.
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is now open to the public for cherry blossom season. The garden is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Starting Saturday, March 26
$2-$8 general admission
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Lansdowne & Horticultural drives
(215) 878-5097
For two Saturdays in April, Morris Arboretum, near Chestnut Hill, will feature traditional Japanese cultural activities as part of its Cherry Blossom Festival. The events are part of the larger Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival in Philly.
All the scheduled activities are free with general admission. Members and PennCard holders have free admission.
Both dates have a 45-minute walk through the cherry blossom trees led by an Arboretum expert, a taiko drumming show and a tour of Japanese elements found in the Arboretum's gardens.
The only differences are that on April 9 there will be a tea ceremony and on April 16 there will be a kimono dressing lesson and origami workshops.
Saturday, April 9 and 16
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $9-$17 general admission
Morris Arboretum
100 E. Northwestern Ave.
(215) 247-5777
Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park is awash in pink as thousands of cherry blossom trees burst forth with their delicate blooms. The trees, which are the focal point of the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, became part of the local landscape in 1926 when the Japanese government gave 1,600 flowering trees to Philadelphia in honor of the 150th anniversary of America’s independence. In 2007, a 10-year campaign to plant an additional 1,000 trees ended, creating a stunning spectacle each spring.
This weeklong festival is presented by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. Find all kinds of activities scheduled from April 11-17.
Learn to make sushi from Madame Saito during classes held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 11-16 (with the exception of April 13). Each class is $50 per person and includes complimentary admission to Sakura Sunday at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival on April 17.
Sakura Sunday is the festival's final event and features live music and dance performances, martial arts, cultural demonstrations, arts & crafts and karaoke.
The event is held at Fairmount Park's Horticulture Center, home to hundreds of blooming cherry trees.
Monday, April 11 through Sunday, April 17
Of course, there are also plenty of spots around Philly to catch a glimpse of pink petals without heading into a garden. Just walk down streets in Bella Vista, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square West, or head to Kelly Drive.
