Wooster Square (Cherry) Blossoms Into Spring

Teresa Joseph and her daughter. Lily Sutton Photos.

Teresa Joseph is no stranger to the Wooster Square Cherry Blossom Festival. As she looked around at the blossom-less trees Sunday, she said it felt good to be back. 

Hundreds of people and their furry friends gathered in Wooster Square Sunday for the 47th annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the first-in person celebration of the annual event since 2019. Scaled back to curb the spread of Covid-19, it was technically renamed the "Festival"–but nobody seemed to notice. 

Playing, dancing and eating under the trees with her fellow New Haveners, Joseph said the festival was good, “vibe wise.” It is the third Cherry Blossom Festival she has attended in the neighborhood. 

The impact of the ongoing global pandemic was present too. Festival organizers decided against allowing craft vendors this year in an effort to continue to prevent the spread of Covid-19. What they did not have in craft tables, they made up for in live music and food.

Both dancing and coffee were on the menu. Lots of attendees lined up for the Jitter Bus, a neighborhood favorite. 

Next to the stage, people sat soaking up the sound of singing and music from just a few feet away. Attendees danced to the sounds of reggae, calypso jazz and drumming provided by St. Luke's Steel Band, Movimiento Cultural Afro Continental, Airborne Jazz, and Carlos y su Momento Musical. 

A family of women in bright Indian dresses danced to the music, spinning each other around, with their arms in the air, smiling and laughing. A couple hugged and watched the stage from the back of the small crowd, swaying and listening intently. Another couple was making their own stage dancing on a tall tree trunk, getting a good look from the back. 

This year’s festival attracted  families with small children who spent their time running about, riding small toy tricycles, and jumping or walking next to their adults. Many held large balloon animals in their petite hands. 

A festival goer named Chris (pictured above; he provided only his first name) said this year was his second time attending the festival. As he waited for food on one side of Wooster Square, he said his favorite thing about it is “being in the presence of the New Haven people.” Smells of early summer air mixed with the scent of cooking meat.  

Young adults were eating from the various food options, which included hamburgers, pizza, coffee drinks and Olmo bagels for only a dollar per bagel. Making their own picnic set ups, playing cards, and using stumps as tables, people sat on the grass and caught up with friends and family. 

Top: Will Culpepper and Liah Sinquefield.

Will Culpepper is a regular at the Cherry Blossom Festival, attending almost every year. Culpepper said he loves to see people that he wouldn’t normally see otherwise, like an old neighbor or coworker, at the festival. He added that he was excited to see streets closed for the festival, and would be interested in seeing the city close streets on a more frequent basis. 

He came with a festival newbie, Liah Sinquefield. As the two decided what they wanted to eat, they kept an eye on their two dogs. Sinquefield wore a layered outfit that seemed made for the spring day, with black pants, a denim button-down, black shirt and coffee-colored coat over a white tank top. A rounded black hat sat on her head.  

People “were emerging out of hibernation together,” she said. “Which is nice.”