Children were able to play a number of carnival games on Friday at Kirby Park during the Cherry Blossom Festival’s preview night for amusement rides.
Sam Zavada | Times Leader
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Children rode the carousel, one of the amusements at the Cherry Blossom Festival, on Friday at Kirby Park during the preview night for rides.
Sam Zavada | Times Leader
Amusement rides and carnival games packed the Kirby Park parking lot on Friday during the Cherry Blossom Festival’s preview night.
Sam Zavada | Times Leader
Cherry blossoms are in bloom at Kirby Park on Friday night during the festival bearing their name. The line of vendors was mostly closed on Friday, as it was only the preview night for the amusement rides and carnival games set up in the Kirby Park parking lot.
Sam Zavada | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — The Cherry Blossom Festival in Kirby Park kicked off Friday night, with amusement rides and carnival games being set up for public interaction. It was just a preview of the full festivities — including music and dozens of food vendors — which will begin on Saturday.
Though the rain fell steadily in the early evening, the crowd was building and the workers were in full force.
A man named Sebastian was helping his friend operate an airsoft target shooting game, and it was his first time doing so in a Northeast Pennsylvania carnival atmosphere. He was instantly complimentary of the experience.
“So far, it seems really nice,” Sebastian said of the festival. “You all have a really nice park.”
Torrey O’Brien was operating a different game across the parking lot from Sebastian, but it wasn’t his first time at Kirby Park.
“Yesterday, when we were setting up, there was definitely a lot more people in the park than usual when we set up,” he said.
And then there was Jennifer Flick, another experienced game operator who represents a familiar face to those who make their way to a lot of the spring and summer events in Luzerne County.
Flick said she is worried about the weekend weather but was still looking forward to everything the Cherry Blossom Festival has to offer. It’s a needed relief, she said, as the temperature becomes more fair and people start to leave their homes.
“Tonight, even with this little bit of rain, it feels really nice out here,” Flick said. “I look forward to trying to get away from the game and going down and listening to some of the music and stuff, and trying different food.”
Saturday event lineup
• Northeast Region Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Cherry Blossom 5K Walk or Run will kick off the day. Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The Fun Run starts at 10 a.m. For information, visit specialolympicspa.org.
• Live entertainment at the Martz Pavilion will begin with a 10 a.m. celebration of World Tai Chi Day.
• Tommy Guns Band will perform from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Daddy-O & the Sax Maniacs will perform from 4 to 7 p.m.
Sunday event lineup
• Wyoming Valley Striders 50th Annual Cherry Blossom 5-Mile Run begins at 9 a.m. Visit www.wyomingvalleystriders.com for information.
• Chase Who? will perform from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• The Traveling Wilkes-Barreans will perform from 4 to 7 p.m.
Amusement rides
• Huey’s Amusements will have family-friendly rides in the Kirby Park parking lot.
• Amusement ride tickets on Saturday and Sunday are $1.50 each, $15 for 12 tickets, and $25 for 24 tickets; $40 for 48 tickets, and $75 for 96.
A variety of food and retail vendors will also be on hand both days.
Food vendors
• Boozy Caboose
• Bulldog BBQ
• Ce-Ce’s Lemonade
• Cherry Hill
• Cibo Pizza
• Dave Norman
• DP’s Apple Dumplings
• DP’s Ice Cream Truck
• Glen Lyon Kielbasi
• Horr’s Hot Dogs
• Latin Flavors
• Los Parceror
• Lou’s Concessions
• Maddy’s Doghouse
• Mark’s Thai Taste
• Notis
• Nutmeg Concessions
• Tacos La Catrina
• Taste Our Balls
• Tony Thomas
• Yogi
Retail vendors
• AT&T.
• Awa’s Arts and Crafts.
• Bully Mugs.
• Calvary Bible Church.
• Camp Kresge.
• Commonwealth Charter Academy.
• Cricket Wireless.
• Gimmy’s Glass.
• Green Mountain Energy.
• Inkas Crafts.
• Just Plain Crazy Face Art.
• Joyce Zhang.
• Kiddie Kartunes.
• My Dog & Me Barkery and Boutique.
• New Age Clothing.
• Paca Poncho.
• RACATEC ATM.
• Scentsy.
• Shpoppy Shawn’s Shmoked Cheese.
• Southwest Expressions.
• The Rock Shop.
• Trading Faces.
• West Wind Jewelry.