Sunday, April 16, New Haven celebrated the 50th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival held in the historic Wooster Square.
In its development in the 1700s, due to its close proximity to Long Island Sound, Wooster Square became a place filled with warehouses and factories, named after Major-General David Wooster who himself maintained a warehouse in Wooster Square until dying in combat in 1777.
With its high population, Wooster Square became a migrating place of immigrants primarily from Ireland then later from Italy. With more and more people gathering in Wooster Square and the Revolutionary War being over, the square became more of a residential area known to have its own grocery stores, parishes and synagogues.
Wooster Square later became New Haven’s first historic district in June of 1970. In Spring of 1973, 72 Yoshino Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees were planted by the New Haven Historic Commission along with local residents. Since 1973, Wooster Square has celebrated the Cherry Blossoms beauty with an annual celebration which has grown bigger and bigger over the years.
This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival welcomed hundreds of people into Wooster Square to share its beauty.
A group of people walking on a path with cherry blossoms on the trees, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Round stone engraving honoring David Wooster in the Square’s pavement walkway, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
People walking along Wooster Square, one with a dog. Historic apartment buildings in the background, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Numerous food trucks and stands lined the surrounding streets of the square contributing to the celebration with a variety of foods. Some of the food trucks that appeared were La Carreta, Bears Smokehouse, Abate Pizza, Ben and Jerry’s and many others, some stands sold popcorn, and some went as far as to sell CBD and THC infused drinks and foods. Each truck and stand accumulated its own long line. The warm spring weather made it a great day for picnics on the green.
Some people attending the festival even decided to go all out with their picnics, equipped with tables, tablecloths, cake, drinks, and even a candelabra.
Table with a tablecloth, cut cake, a bottle of liquor, plates and a candelabra, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
This year’s festival had a live band performing on a stage in the center of the square. Crowds of people were gathered around the stage singing and dancing along to the music. While some stayed further back to enjoy the music from a distance whether they were picnicking, playing lawn games, catching up with family and friends or just enjoying the day with an outstanding view.
People gathered around the stage with the band playing, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
People standing in a long line for food trucks with Cherry Blossoms overhead, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Dozens of people in the park. Also, with people laying on blankets on the grass, and a dog, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Musicians playing instruments with Cherry Blossoms in the background, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Walking around the square one could see people of all ages and interests finding joy in the festival. Whether it was families enjoying a picnic on the green, couples dancing to the music, young adults using the trees as a background for their next post, artists taking advantage of the scenery or kids just happy to be out on a beautiful day with what to them must seem like an unlimited amount of sidewalk chalk and sidewalks.
Artist sitting on a bench drawing in a sketchbook, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Families picnicking on the green, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
People gathered in a street below cherry blossom trees. Highlighting a person bent down taking a picture of another person posing below the blooming trees, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Kids playing on the sidewalk, drawing with sidewalk chalk, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
The annual New Haven Cherry Blossom Festival held in a place of rich New England history, is a great event for people of all ages and interests. Just coming out to appreciate the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees makes for a beautiful day in and of itself. All of the perks that the growth of the festival has accumulated makes for a perfect day and celebration.
People walking on a sidewalk under a cherry blossom tree, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Pink cherry blossoms collected in a street gutter, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
Looking down a sidewalk with overhanging cherry blossom trees, New Haven, CT, April 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Horseshoe Magazine/Arielle Rinaldi.
