Hundreds turn out to annual Cherry Blossom Festival
Michelle Richar and her daughter Amelia, 3, both of Kingston, play with chalk in Kirby on Sunday.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Cherry blossoms are in bloom at Kirby Park on Sunday, during the final day of the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Lorretta Ahmetaj, 11, creates bubbles with a bubble wand on Sunday at the Wilkes-Barre Cherry Blossom Festival.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Bill Hunt, lead vocalist and lead guitarist for the rock band X-Terra, along with drummer Bob Kachline, performs on the last day of the Wilkes-Barre Cherry Blossom Festival.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Hundreds gather for the final day of Wilkes-Barre’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Kirby Park.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
A young boy with his face painted rides his bike in Kirby Park on Sunday during the Wilkes-Barre Cherry Blossom Festival.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — It may have gotten off to a rainy start this weekend, but Wilkes-Barre’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival ended its run on Sunday under blue skies.
Hundreds gathered for the all-day event in Kirby Park, where over 40 food trucks and vendors were lined up.
Even with a cool breeze in the air, attendees spent time in the playground, while kids enjoyed face painting and playing in two large bounce houses. Families walked around the pond or sat on the grassy lawn, eating fried food and listening to music under the pavilion.
Sunday’s entertainment lineup consisted of the rock/metal band X-Terra, followed by Leighann & Company.
The upgrades to Kirby Park, with new fountains, footpaths, and landscaping around the pond, were on full display, and people made the most of them.
“I love the fountains, especially at night when they’ve got the different lights going. It’s really cool to see,” said Wilkes-Barre resident Chelsea Chamberland, who was hanging out by the pond with her son, Miles.
Sunday was Chamberland’s first time visiting the Cherry Blossom Festival.
“It’s been good. Spent too much money on food, but it was tasty,” she said.
The mom was especially happy to support so many local food trucks and vendors.
“Knowing they got rained out yesterday, we really wanted to prioritize coming out today,” Chamberland said.
Keisha Rivera, of Wilkes-Barre, and José Castro, of Scranton, spent their time at the Cherry Blossom Festival lying on a blanket in Kirby Park.
“She dragged me out here and my daughter as well,” Castro said jokingly. “I was like, ‘Well, I gotta go. I’m always working, so it’s been a nice, relaxing change.”
Rivera was quick to answer when asked about her favorite part of the event.
“The funnel cake, the lemonade,” she said.
“I always tell her that I can make it for her at home. I’m a chef,” Castro said.
Rivera shook her head and smiled. “It’s not the same. It has to be here.”
Upcoming city events
The Wilkes-Barre Cherry Blossom Festival was just the start of the city’s summer season. Below is a list of upcoming events to look forward to.
• Fine Arts Fiesta, May 14-17, Public Square
• Sunsets on SOMA: Wednesday, May 20, 5 to 7 p.m., featuring WCK featuring John Morgan Kimock
• Sunsets on SOMA: Wednesday, June 17, 5 to 7 p.m., featuring The Joe Cirotti Trio
• Farmers Market, every Thursday, June 18 to Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Public Square. Preview Farmers Market Days: Thursday, June 4 & 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• America250 Commonwealth Concert Series featuring Lady A and En Vogue, June 20, 7 p.m., Kirby Park.
• Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, July 4, noon to 10 p.m., Kirby Park
• Sunsets on SOMA: Wednesday, July 15, 5 to 7 p.m., featuring The Outcrops
• Wilkes-Barre free concert featuring Dire Straits Legacy, 7 p.m., Public Square
• Sunsets on SOMA: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 5 to 7 p.m, featuring The Dishonest Fiddlers
• Sunsets on SOMA: Wednesday, Sep. 16, 5 to 7 p.m., featuring South Side Five
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