Along the banks of the Hudson River, between the trails connecting Peekskill’s Riverfront Park with the Fleischmann Pier, a hundred cherry trees are beginning to dress in white and pink. This year, their blooming will once again be the main reason for the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which will celebrate its eighth edition on Saturday, May 3.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will last at least six hours. During the festival, there will be live music, plant sales, food trucks, and children’s activities such as pot painting and games. Additionally, there will be a fair featuring artisanal and gastronomic products.
The festival, organized by the Peekskill Rotary Club, will be free to attend and will continue its usual program, regardless of weather conditions. According to the organizers, neither rain nor thunder will cancel the event, which aims to bring families together and foster community ties and outdoor activities.
Throughout the day, club volunteers will manage logistical and informational activities. One of the tents will offer assistance with scholarships, grants, and programs that the organization is developing. These projects include school initiatives, cultural spaces, social assistance organizations, health campaigns, food security, and youth programs.
Volunteers from the Peekskill Rotary Club organizing logistical activities and providing information about scholarships and social programs. (Peekskill Rotary Club Facebook)
A Good Cause
While enjoying quality family time is the primary motivation for the festival, raising funds to support various causes is also a significant aspect for the organizers. The Rotary Club supports educational projects and annually awards 15 scholarships to students from Peekskill, Hendrick Hudson, and Walter Panas high schools.
The club also finances summer camps, leadership programs, and vocational education for young people. This year, the Oakside Elementary School in Peekskill received a grant to reopen a greenhouse, and the high school is building a recording studio.
Additionally, the club supports initiatives for veteran associations, cancer patients, people with Alzheimer’s or autism, and other diseases and conditions. They also support programs that distribute prepared meals to CHHOP (Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill).
The Pink Tones of Peekskill
The event is also a quiet announcement of the changing season, the arrival of the much-anticipated spring. It is in that corridor of trees, planted by the Peekskill Rotary Club to commemorate its centennial in 2019, where families will be able to enjoy countless activities.
The landscape provided by the cherry trees in Peekskill is undoubtedly unique. They were planted in such a way that they do not obstruct the view of the Hudson River. The brief stop of the train in the city captivates tourists, who are mesmerized by the beauty of this pink-toned path. Two species of cherry trees bring this springtime scene to life: Yoshino and Kwanza, both known for their abundant flowers.
