Macon The Most of Cherry Blossom Season

Washington’s National Cherry Blossom Festival® begins this weekend, but today marks the end of  “The Pinkest Party on Earth,”  the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia.  Unlike the crass commercialism of DC’s event (“Brought to You by Target“), the spring observance in Macon preserves many of the serene, graceful, and contemplative customs of traditional Japanese hanami (blossom-viewing):  the Bed Race, the Sea Lion Splash, Pink Pancake Breakfast, Lawnmower Races, Pink Tutu Ballet, Amazing Animal Athletes, all your old-time Asian faves.

Macon also has poodles. Pink poodles.

Poodles are not normally part of your typical Japanese blossom-viewing. The poodle’s appreciation of cherry trees is not in keeping with the conventional sense of decorum. American poodle groomers favor European-style topiary coat clipping; Japanese dog fanciers favor an asymmetrical, bonsai-derived look, which the AKC frowns upon. 

But March in Macon is poodle time. This week, Macon’s poodles are pink. Poodle parade cars are pink. A giant Pink Poodle Monster is used to scare bad manners out of naughty children.

 Ah, springtime. Enjoy.

 

NotionsCapital.com received no consideration from Macon’s International Cherry Blossom Festival for posting this, not even a cherry ice cream cone.

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Tags: cherry blossoms, festivals, Macon GA, Washington DC