Pretty in Pink: Marietta's Cherry Blossom Festival

Mention cherry blossoms and visions of Washington, D.C., at springtime immediately come to mind. However, you don’t need to travel to the nation’s capital to see stunning clouds of pink blossoms. Front Street in Marietta, along the banks of the Susquehanna River, becomes a sea of pink each spring. Take in the awe-inspiring beauty of this stretch of 150 cherry trees in full bloom, just blocks away from our historic bed-and-breakfast at B.F. Hiestand House, and join the community celebration during the annual Marietta Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Marietta Cherry Blossom Festival will shut down a section of Front Street from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, so participants can bask in the view of over a mile of cherry blossom trees and enjoy live music, drinks, food and shopping with local vendors. This popular street fair boasts four stages for live music, featuring five bands and three solo musical artists. There will be more than 40 artisans and vendors offering items you won't find anywhere else, plus a variety of food and beverage trucks and other entertainment — all for FREE. A $10 wristband gets participants a discount at participating restaurants along the street, including Marietta Tavern on Market, Railroad House Inn, McCleary's Pub, Shanks Tavern and River Trail Brewing. Proceeds benefit the restoration project being undertaken to preserve the aging cherry trees.

It was in the early 1990s when Marietta resident James Sagris spearheaded the planting of about 150 Kwanzan cherry trees along Front Street as part of a beautification project, which took about three years to complete. These trees are the same variety that are planted along the Potomac Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. When in full bloom, the trees appear as if they are draped in a delicate veil of pink flowers. The picture-perfect view of the blossoms as they take over the landscape along Front Street is a sight to be seen, reminding us of the rebirth and renewal that each spring brings.

In the morning before the Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off, local artists will be capturing the cherry blossoms and other downtown Marietta scenes on canvas as part of the Plein Air Quick Draw Challenge. Using oils, acrylics, watercolors, pencil, pastel or charcoal, participating artists have just two hours to create their art, which is then judged and prizes are awarded. The Quick Draw Challenge is part of a larger event, River Towns Plein Air, where juried artists capture the essence of our historic riverfront town in their artwork. No doubt, the cherry blossoms will be a popular subject for many of these masterpieces.

Marietta's Cherry Blossom Festival is a cherished tradition that honors the breathtaking spectacle of cherry blossoms that have bloomed in our community for decades. We invite you to stay with us at B.F. Hiestand House and be among the visitors from near and far who gather to witness nature's stunning display as the town transforms into a wonderland of pink petals. Join us in celebrating the splendor of cherry blossoms and the magic of springtime in Marietta.