Philly’s peak cherry blossom bloom begins April 10

Welcome to April; it’s sunny, bright, and spring finally feels like it’s here.

And welcoming in the season, as always, is the bloom of the pink and white cherry blossoms.

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden announced today that peak bloom will begin April 10 and last through April 15, which means it will coincide perfectly with the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, which kicks off April 6 and runs through the 14th. The festival has tons of evens meant to celebrate Japanese art and culture, all while highlighting the cherry blossoms.

In anticipation of the popular event, we’ve put together a quick rundown on what to see, when to see it, and how to get there.

When is the festival?

The festival starts this Saturday, April 6 with the beginning of Sakura Week at Shofuso gardens, and a sake garden. It ends on April 14 with Sakura Sunday, the event’s major festival.

What are some popular events?

From sake gardens to sushi making classes, there are a ton of great events over the course of the week that you can sign up for. But some big happenings are a must-see, like the cherry blossom 10K and 5K on April 13, and Sakura Sunday on the 14th. You can buy tickets now for the latter, which includes a full festival, with drummers, dancers, a samurai contest, and a chance to picnic out in Fairmount Park.

How do I get to the festival?

Festival events are held all over the city—but largely in Fairmount Park—so it depends what you’d like to see. Sakura Sunday will be held at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center on the west side of the park. Though you can’t park at the center, there are plenty of other ways of getting there. The most convenient is a shuttle, which leaves from the old post office building near 30th Street Station starting a 9:30 a.m. April 14, and departing every 15 minutes until 3:30 p.m.

If you’re getting a ride or taking a taxi, the center asks that you get dropped off at 4300 Avenue of the Republic.