Family Day, Fun Run at Branch Brook April 20

The 37th annual Cherry Blossom Festival continues this weekend with events held through the end of the month.

The festival is held at Branch Brook Park, home to the most diverse collection of cherry blossoms in the world. When the flowers are first in bloom, tourists from around the globe converge on Branch Brook Park, the largest in the Essex County park system.

Following is a list of the events this month:

Cell Phone Tours
Visitors to Essex County Branch Brook Park can enjoy a self-guided tour by dialing 973-433-9047 and following the prompts or by using their Smart Phone to scan the bar codes at each location to connect to a short history of the park. There is no charge for the cell phone tour.
 
1-Mile Fun Run and Walk April 20
Celebrate the arrival of spring and get fit with your family or friends. Children are encouraged to run individually or as a member of a school team. This is a free event. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. The Fun Run and Walk registration will be held at 9 am, with the race at 10 am, beginning at the Prudential Concert Grove in the park’s Southern Division.
                       
Essex County Family Day April 20
The public is encouraged to come out and enjoy an afternoon of family-fun with a variety of events including a fishing derby, carnival games, music and other entertainment. Bring your own picnic lunch or purchase food from vendors who will be on site and enjoy the picturesque views overlooking the lake. Admission is free but food and other merchandise will be for sale. The Family Day will be held 11 am to 3 pm at the Prudential Center Concert Grove.
 
                     
Cherry Blossom Trolley Tours, throughout the month
Have knowledgeable guides take you on a 45-minute journey and point out 118 years of history hidden within Essex County Branch Brook Park’s structure and design. Tickets are $5 person and can be purchased at the Welcome Center on the tour dates. Space is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Tours leave on the hour. Call 973-239-2495 to inquire about group tour bookings. The Trolley Tours will be held at the welcome center on Mill Street Friday, April 5 from noon to four; Sunday, April 7 from 1 to 4 pm; April 12 from noon to 4; April 13 from noon to 4; and April 19-21 from noon to four.
 
History, driving directions, a complete list of activities and a web cam where the public can monitor the cherry trees for the peak of the bloom season can be accessed by visiting www.essexcountynj.org and clicking on the Cherry Blossom banner at the top of the home page. More information can also be obtained by calling 973-268-3500.
 
The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. It is sponsored by Aetna and Prudential.
 
Cherry Tree Planting Campaign
 
The general public and business community can participate in a fundraising campaign to purchase and plant Cherry Trees in Essex County Branch Brook Park. Each new Cherry Tree can be purchased for $250 from the Essex County Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible, checks can be made out to “Essex County Parks Foundation” and mailed to the Essex County Parks Foundation, 115 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104. Please write “Cherry Blossom Campaign” on the memo line of the check. Through this campaign and an aggressive planting program initiated by the County Executive, the number of cherry trees in Branch Brook Park has grown to 4,300.
 
Donations are being recognized in a “Cherry Blossom Giving Tree” located at the entrance of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Welcome Center. Donations of $250 are recognized with a leaf on the Giving Tree and donations of $1,000 or more are recognized with special plaques on the Giving Tree wall. Donors can choose to have their name inscribed on the Giving Tree or make the contribution in memory of a loved one.