Many people around the country are flocking to Washington, D.C. to see the cherry blossoms bloom, but New Jersey residents do not have to leave the state if they wish to see the springtime flowers.

The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival begins this weekend at Branch Brook Park in Newark.

“We now have 5000 cherry blossom trees, which outnumbers Washington, D.C. in scale,” says Essex County Parks deputy director Katie Hartwyk. “We also have a larger variety. We have 14 different varieties of cherry blossom trees here in Branch Brook Park.

News 12 New Jersey Meteorologist Justin Godynick says weather plays a big part in when these trees bloom. He says that with this year’s mild March, the peak blossoms should occur during the festival.

The festival runs from April 6 through April 14.