Spring has sprung here in Westchester County, and seemingly overnight, flowers are emerging. Daffodils, forsythia, and tulips have been adorning my daily drives.
But I’m on full cherry blossom watch.
Cherry blossoms are the delicate pink or white flowers of ornamental cherry trees, largely grown for their beauty. Also known as sakura in Japanese, they are symbolic of springtime.
Cherry blossoms represent a new season, a time of renewal, hope, and optimism. They also remind us of impermanence, mortality, and the ephemeral nature of life.
They symbolize friendship and goodwill as well. In Washington, D.C., which typically reaches peak bloom by the beginning of April, the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates Japan’s gift of over 3,000 cherry trees to the United States in 1912.
Is your family looking for ways to celebrate the sakura season?
As we eagerly await full bloom in our area, your kids will surely enjoy creating works of cherry blossom art with the easy craft below. And continue reading for information on upcoming events in Westchester County that you won’t want to miss!
Fingerprint Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossom season is famously fleeting, but you can prolong the splendor of this short-lived symbol of spring by making fingerprint cherry blossom trees. Using only white cardstock, a brown marker, and pink ink pads, it’s a simple and fun art project for children and adults alike.
Instructions:
- With a brown marker, draw a tree with branches on white cardstock.
- Press thumbs or fingertips into the pink ink pad, then press into cardstock along branches to create blossoms.
- Let dry, and enjoy!
- Optional: Add leaves, birds, or butterflies to further embellish.
Westchester County Cherry Blossom Festivals
You don’t need to travel to the nation’s capital or even to Brooklyn to experience the magic of cherry blossom festivals. Below, you will find details on exciting festivities set to take place in our county.
Sakura Celebration
- Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden, North Salem
- Saturday, April 19, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
- Free with museum admission
Hastings-on-Hudson Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
- Villard Pocket Park, Hastings-on-Hudson
- Saturday, April 26, 2025 (rain date: April 27), 12:00—3:00 p.m.
- Free
Peekskill Rotary’s Cherry Blossom Festival & Plant Sale
- Peekskill Riverfront Green Park, Peekskill
- Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
- Free
