Macon's approximately 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom every year around the same time as the International Cherry Blossom Festival takes place. This year the festival will take place from Friday, March 17th through Sunday, March 26th. 

The overall theme of the festival is “Love, Beauty, and International Friendship.” Multiple special events will take place in the community even before the first day of the festival.

The following is a list of events taking place this year that are officially connected to this International Cherry Blossom Festival.

PINK PROVISIONS TRAIL APP: Visit Macon presents a new Pink Provisions Trail app for the festival this year from March 1st through March 31st. This app will help visitors easily find places to eat "everything pink" with over 3 dozen restaurants featuring food items like pink tortillas, cherry ice cream, pink pancakes, nachos, and more. There will also be a "Drink the Pink" activity where participants can vote for the People’s Choice Award for over a dozen alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages competing to win the title of the Best Pink Drink. Visit this website to download the Pink Provisions Trail app.

CHERRY BLOSSOM CAR PAINTING: On February 25th and March 4th from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. a Cherry Blossom Car Painting event takes place at the Acme Center located at 1979 Riverside Drive in Macon. This event encourages people to celebrate the festival with a colorful painting of Cherry Blossoms, anything pink, and more. Participants can spend $10 - $50 to get their windshields colorfully painted. If you are not able to attend either event, you can call (478) 737-3059 to schedule a painting at another time.

JURASSIC KINGDOM DINOSAUR SHOW: This educational and entertaining event will take place at Carolyn Crayton Park from March 17th through 26th. The Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show is a live action, interactive dinosaur show. Attendees will be able to see moving and lifelike dinosaurs and be able to touch and interact with themas well.

MEET AND GREET WITH PETALS THE POODLE: On several dates between March 17th through March 26th festival goers will be able to meet Petals the Poodle, the Official Mascot of the Cherry Blossom Festival. The following are dates and times to meet or see Petals the Poodle during the festival: 

• March 17th from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Carolyn Crayton Park (CCP).; 
• March 19th at 2:30 p.m. Petals the Poodle will take part in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and then at 4:00 p.m. Petals will take part in a meet and greet at CCP.; 
• March 21st at CCP from 5 to 6 p.m.  Petals will take part in a meet and greet.

SELECTED EVENTS TAKING PLACE DURING THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: 

• On March 17th at 12 p.m. the festival's Opening Ceremony will take place at CCP with state and local dignitaries, the Cherry Blossom Board of Directors, and the community attending a ribbon cutting at CCP.;
• On March 18th from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. will be Race Day in Downtown Macon. During this portion of the festival, the Wiener Dog Race, Bed Race, Trash Can Trot, Ultimate Air Dock Dogs Diving Competition, and the Classic Car Show will take place.;
• On March 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the Festival Finale will take place at CCP.;
• On March 17th from 7 to 11 p.m. the Cherry Blossom Ball will take place at the Macon City Auditorium located at 415 1st Street. This event will include food and a dining experience presented by Oliver’s Corner Bistro, decor by Canaan Marshall Designs, and live musical  entertainment from The Swingin’ Medallions and Streetline Percussion. This is a black-tie optional event and tickets are $100 per person (plus fees): seating will be at tables of 8.;
• On March 17 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. one of the more unique events during the festival will take place. The Ocmulgee Lantern Light Tours take place at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park located at 1207 Emery Highway. Attendees will stroll with lanterns in hand down concrete paths and listen to interpretive talks from actors dressed as historical figures at several locations in the park.;
• On March 18th from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. the Macon-Bibb Fire Department Pink Pancake Breakfast will take place at Luther Williams Stadium located on Willie Glover Drive. The fire department will team up with the Macon Bacon to serve Cherry Blossom themed breakfast items like pink pancakes, sausage, bacon.
• Nightly Concert Series: A different musical performance will take place every night of the festival and will include the following live musical acts: Friday, March 17th AJ the DJ; Saturday, March 18th The Legendary Wailers; Sunday, March 19th A Tribute to Elvis; Monday, March 20th Demun Jones; Tuesday, March 21st Sugarhill Gang; Wednesday, March 22nd Rock the 90’s; Thursday, March 23rd Yacht Rock Revue; Friday, March 24 Eli Young Band; Sunday, March 25th Mother’s Finest; Sunday, March 26th Macon Pops. Visitors to Carolyn Crayton Park can enjoy the performances for the cost of entry into the festival.

Admission to the festival will cost $10 per day and will be free for children 10 years of age and under. Ride tickets will cost $20 on Mondays through Fridays and $25 on Saturdays and Sundays.

The festival will take place in Carolyn Crayton Park on Mondays through Fridays from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and on Sunday, March 19th from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m., and on Sunday, March 26th (the last day of the festival) from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The events listed above are just a few of the things to do both before and during the 41st Annual International Cherry Blossom Festival. Visit the official website of the festival to read more about the many activities taking place this year as part of the "Pinkest Party on Earth".

The cherry blossoms are out in full display during the Cherry Blossom Festival each year (Photographer Nate Weeks)