Alexis Ruffino and her hand-crafted cherry blossom headband. Alexis Ruffino brought a piece of her hometown to New Haven during the 52nd Cherry Blossom Festival in Wooster Square. She donned a cherry blossom headpiece that she crafted herself, a skill she honed by making accessories for Mardi Gras and Halloween in New Orleans. Ruffino, who helped organize Sunday’s festival, was one of hundreds of people who basked under overcast skies and wind-swept petals to celebrate the annual bloom of Wooster Square’s cherry blossom trees. The revelers huddled under umbrellas to watch a shadow puppet show by Nappy’s Puppets, listen to St. Luke’s Steel Band, or sample one of the 33 food trucks lining the park. Ben Meyer, Maya Hollenbeck, and Hollenbeck’s dog, Haku. Maya Hollenbeck, a college student in Hartford, said cherry blossoms connect to her Japanese heritage. In Japan, cherry blossom viewing — or hanami — has been an annual tradition for more than 1,200 years. “I think they’re so beautiful,” she said. “My mom’s from Japan, so it’s really cool for me to see actual cherry blossoms.” Emilio, Liana, and Howie Estrella. As Howie, an 11-month-old dog, sniffed around for cheese, Emilio and Liana Estrella told the Independent how much they love New Haven’s cultural diversity. “Here, there’s new stuff [to experience], like a good Ethiopian food truck,” said Emilio. “And cannolis,” added Liana. “New Haven is where everything’s going on, so we’re keeping an eye on the festivals and different events,” including the Puerto Rican Festival, said Emilio. Pat Madley, Kelly Shoemaker, and their dog, Scout. Kelly Shoemaker, Pat Madley, and their dog, Scout, joined Sunday’s festivities to connect with New Haven’s cultural scene. “We’re trying to see what’s out there and just do more things together,” said Madley. “I just love coming out and seeing all the dogs and other people.” Shoemaker agreed, adding, “We just want to take advantage of everything the city has to offer.” The annual event was organized by the Historic Wooster Square Association, a neighborhood group that Sarah Greenblatt leads. On Sunday, Greenblatt donned a fuschia rain jacket, pink flower earrings, and a floral brooch. The organizers canceled last year’s festival due to rainy weather. Despite this year’s forecast, they decided to push forward anyway. The drizzle started halfway through the festival, but people still seemed “happy to be here” and “see the blossoms,” said Greenblatt. In 1972, 72 Yoshino cherry blossom trees were planted in Wooster Square. Because Yoshinos have a 40-year lifespan, however, many of the original trees have been replaced with new blossoms. “If you look around, some of the trees are bigger, and some are smaller,” Greenblatt told the Independent. “The panorama of the cherry blossoms has changed over the last ten years.” The post Some Wind, Some Rain, Many Blossoms, Much Fest appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less