Why travel to D.C. when Georgia is home to the cherry blossom capital of the world? That’s the title Macon claims, thanks to its more than 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees.
The Macon trees were first discovered by William Fickling in 1949. He didn’t recognize a blossom in his backyard, but came across the same trees in Washington D.C. He returned to Macon and learned how to propogate the trees, giving them to all who wanted one. Carolyn Crayton wanted more than one.
"I shared with him a dream of mine, one where the entire town was bursting with thousands of the graceful pink cherry trees. I asked if he would donate trees to plant in my neighborhood of Wesleyan Woods, and he generously agreed, helping my dream become a reality," Crayton said.
That was just the beginning. Crayton, who was executive director for the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission, launched the Cherry Blossom Festival in 1982 to celebrate the trees and to honor Fickling.
What began as a three-day festival has grown into one of the South’s top 20 events in March.
Macon’s 2022 International Cherry Blossom Festival will be March 18-27. Events range from the aquatic acrobatics show to wiener dog races. There will be free nightly concerts, hot air balloons and dozens more activities during the festival. Most activities are free with admission ($5 Sunday-Thursday, $10 Friday-Saturday). All tickets are sold only at the gate.
You can enjoy unlimited Midway rides for just $20 Monday-Friday, and $25 on the weekends.
DETAILS
40th International Cherry Blossom Festival
March 18-27
Carolyn Crayton Park (formerly Central City Park): 150 Willie Smokie Glover Drive, Macon, GA 31202
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