International Cherry Blossom Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids International Cherry Blossom Festival |
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| Status | Active |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Macon, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 32°49′58″N 83°36′53″W / 32.8328°N 83.6148°W |
| Years active | 43 |
| Inaugurated | 1982 |
| Founder | Carolyn Crayton |
| Website | International Cherry Blossom Festival Online |
The International Cherry Blossom Festival is a special event held every spring in Macon, Georgia. Macon is known as the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World." This is because it has about 300,000 to 350,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees. These trees bloom with beautiful pink and white flowers every year in late March.
The festival lasts for ten days, usually when the cherry trees are blooming. It offers fun events for everyone to enjoy. It has been an annual event since 1982. The festival in 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This festival is different from the National Cherry Blossom Festival held in Washington, D.C..
Contents
Discovering Cherry Trees in Macon
How the Trees Arrived
A local real estate agent named William A. Fickling, Sr. found beautiful Yoshino Cherry Trees in his own yard. At first, he did not know what kind of trees they were. He also did not know that these trees are not native to the Southern U.S..
In 1952, Mr. Fickling visited Washington, D.C. There, he saw trees that looked just like the ones in his yard. He compared samples from his trees to those at the Tidal Basin in D.C. He found out they were the same kind of tree!
After this discovery, Fickling started to grow more of these trees. He gave them away to people in the community. He became known as Macon's "Johnny Appleseed" because he spread so many trees.
Planting More Trees
Carolyn Crayton was new to Macon and noticed the beautiful cherry trees. She thought they were amazing. She met Mr. Fickling at a picnic and talked about planting even more trees around Macon. Mr. Fickling agreed to donate the trees if she would organize the planting.
On November 24, 1973, the first Yoshino cherry trees were planted. The community planted about 500 trees along Wesleyan Woods Drive, Guerry Drive, and Oxford Road. Over the years, these trees became a common sight. They grew to be a special symbol of the city.
The First Festival and Today
Celebrating the Trees
By 1982, Mr. Fickling had donated about 30,000 trees. Carolyn Crayton had an idea to celebrate Mr. Fickling and all the trees he brought to Macon. She and The Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission worked together to create a special event.
Macon held its first International Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring of 1982. The event lasted three days and took place at the Wesleyan College campus. It was meant to be a one-time celebration. However, everyone loved it so much that it became an annual event.
The Festival Now
The festival did not happen in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 39th festival was moved to 2021. The community still plants Yoshino cherry trees every year. The Fickling Family Foundation donates the trees after William Fickling's passing.
How the Festival Works
Planning the Event
Planning for the Cherry Blossom Festival starts many months before it happens. The festival's board of directors and staff work hard. They plan events, find sponsors, and work with the community. Volunteers, like the Think Pink committee, also help. They set up and run many of the events.
As the festival gets closer, staff and volunteers make final preparations. Fountain water is dyed pink, and cherry blossoms are painted around the area. The festival board also works with the Bibb County Sheriff's office to keep everyone safe during the festival.
Fun Activities and Events
Each year, the Macon International Cherry Blossom Festival begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The festival often has many exciting activities. These include animal shows, concerts, and plays. There are also international showcase events, house tours, and fashion shows.
Other events include galas, luncheons, marathons, and dances. You can also enjoy fair rides and bus tours along scenic Cherry Blossom trails. Some events change each year, but these are some of the annual favorites:
- Pink Pancake Breakfast - The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department hosts this breakfast in Central City Park. It started in 1990 and raises money for the American Cancer Society.
- Mulberry Street Festival - This is an outdoor art and crafts show on Mulberry Street in downtown Macon. Artists from all over the country show their work here.
- International Food Fair - Held with the Mulberry Street Festival, this fair sells food from different cultures around the world. Mellow Mushroom Macon presents it.
- Cherry Blossom Street Party - Bands and performers play live rock, blues, country, and other music at night.
- Cherry Blossom Pageant - A royal court is chosen each year. It includes one queen and four princesses.
- Air Show - This show happens every year at the Macon Downtown Airport. It features amazing aerobatic performances by military airplanes.
- Cherry Blossom Parade - Floats, marching bands, and performers ride through historic downtown Macon.
- Ocmulgee Lantern Light Tour - This is a guided walk at twilight through the trails of Ocmulgee National Monument.
- Tunes and Balloons Festival Finale - Hot air balloons, live music, family activities, and fireworks close out the festival. It takes place on the Middle Georgia State University Macon campus.
Global Connections
The festival has welcomed visitors from all over the world. Officials and delegates from European countries like Ireland have visited. People from Taiwan, Russia, and Uganda have also come. They have joined parades to celebrate the festival's theme: "love, beauty, and international friendship."
In 2013, Jean-Patrick Courtois, the mayor of Mâcon, France, visited the festival. He came to celebrate 40 years of friendship between the two cities.
Japan has a long history with the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival. At the very first festival, representatives from Kurobe, Macon's sister city, visited. Since that first year, Kurobe has sent gifts to the festival every year. These gifts have included lanterns and flowers.
Economic Benefits
The Macon Cherry Blossom Festival is a non-profit organization. It gets most of its money from sponsors. However, the festival also helps Macon's economy a lot. In 2018, it was estimated that over 100,000 people visited the festival. About 30 percent of those visitors were from out of town.
In the same year, the festival itself brought in about $3 million. Visitors also spend money at hotels, shops, restaurants, and other places in the area. This helps the local economy even more. A study by the University of Georgia found that the festival's total economic impact each year is usually between $10 million and $12 million.
Awards and Recognition
The International Cherry Blossom Festival has been recognized by the International Festivals and Events Association. The festival has won many Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle awards. These awards are Gold, Silver, and Bronze in different categories. The awards recognize the festival's great promotion, programming, sponsorships, merchandise, media campaigns, and community outreach.
See also
