Macon's International Cherry Blossom Festival, renowned as "The Pinkest Party on Earth," is set to celebrate its 43rd edition from March 21 through March 30, 2025. This annual event transforms Macon into a vibrant sea of pink, thanks to over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom. For 2025, the festival offers a diverse array of events and activities.
Here are the top 10 things to do at this year's festival:
1. Opening Ceremony: State and local dignitaries, the Cherry Blossom Board of Directors and the Macon community will kick off the 43rd Cherry Blossom Festival on March 21 from noon to 1 p.m. at Carolyn Crayton Park.
2. Cherry Blossom Parade: The event promises a vibrant celebration of community spirit at the Cherry Blossom Parade on Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m. in downtown Macon. The parade will include colorful floats, marching bands and performers showcasing the best of Central Georgia.
3. Nightly Concert Series at Carolyn Crayton Park: Live performances by local and regional artists will occur nightly in Carolyn Crayton Park. A wide range of genres will be displayed, including rock, blues, country, R&B and more. The nightly concerts are included with the purchase of a $10 daily park admission ticket.
4. Cherry Blossom Ball: Kick off the festival in style at this elegant event on March 21, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. held at the historic Macon City Auditorium.
5. Cherry Blossom Gospel Fest: Experience an uplifting evening of gospel music on March 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the United Community Church.
6. Third Street Park Festivities: From March 24 to 27, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., enjoy live entertainment and food vendors in Third Street Park, making it a perfect lunchtime retreat.
7. CBF Isekai at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame: Experience the esport and cosplay convention on March 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame at 301 Cherry St.
8. The Macon Sound Performance: The Macon Sound will perform live on March 24, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Carolyn Crayton Park. The high-energy performance will feature top 40 hits spanning multiple genres.
9. Big Mike and the Booty Papas Concert: The Grammy-nominated blues band from Macon, established in 1995, will perform at Carolyn Crayton Park on March 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
10. Food Truck Frenzy and Cherry Market: Explore your taste buds with the Food Truck Frenzy and Cherry Market on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Third Street. Various vendors and food trucks will offer a variety of food and shopping for Cherry Blossom guests.
Details for the festival can be found on cherryblossom.com
Griffin Xu '28 is a biology and journalism double major and first-year staff writer for The Cluster. In his free time he enjoys reading and spending time with his friends.
