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May 10, 2023

Cherry blossom festival returns to New Haven’s Wooster Square

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Blooming cherry blossoms in Wooster Square in New Haven on April 7, 2020.

Cherry blossoms bloom in Wooster Square in New Haven on April 7, 2020.

Cherry blossoms bloom from the trunk of a tree in Wooster Square in New Haven on April 7, 2020. The

The arrival of spring also signals the return of New Haven's Wooster Square Cherry Blossom celebration, which will take place on Sunday, April 16. The celebration, taking place from noon to 4:30 p.m., features live music and food trucks. Bear's Smokehouse, Crispy Melty, Ben & Jerry's and Soulfully Vegan will be among the food vendors at the festival.

Dating back to 1974, the festival spotlights the 72 Yoshino Japanese Cherry Blossom trees that were planted by the New Haven Historic Commission in conjunction with the New Haven Parks Department and Wooster Square neighborhood residents.

According to the Wooster Square Blossom Blog, the incoming cold weather will help the Cherry Blossoms "chill out" from the unseasonably warm weather, adding that the flowers are coming in slowly.

Cherry blossoms bloom near the statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square in New Haven on April 7, 2020.

One of the most notable examples of Cherry Blossom festivals in the U.S. is in Washington D.C. Peak Cherry Blossom season in Washington D.C. passed on March 23, according to the National Parks Service. The "blooming" season technically starts when at least 70 percent of the blossoms have opened.

Peak bloom for Cherry Blossoms only last for a few days, but cool weather can help extend the duration of the bloom. Any late frosts though could prevent the bloom from occurring.