Celebrate Spring! Cherry Blossoms in the Cherry City of Salem

Salem has a long history of loving cherry trees and cherry blossoms. Cherries arrived in Salem as part of a nursery expansion in the 1850s, thanks to the Lewelling family. One member had come across the Oregon Trail with hundreds of tiny trees, and his brothers joined him after not finding success in the California gold fields. The Lewellings were responsible for breeding the Bing cherry, now one of the most popular cherry varieties around. Cherry trees continued to be planted throughout the last half of the 1800s. In the early twentieth century, canning technology improved, and cherry growers eagerly canned huge volumes of cherries. Canned cherries were very popular for a while but started to fade out (along with other canned fruit) in the 1970s.

By 1903, Salem had its first Cherry Festival. The name “Cherry City” was coined in 1907 when a plant nursery group declared Salem the Cherry City. The Cherry Festival lasted until about 1950 and featured a cherry queen, ball, and car show. Unlike the earlier cherry festival, the current festival focuses on cherry blossoms and their importance to Japanese culture. As it now exists, the Cherry Blossom Festival highlights Salem’s relationship with its sister city in Japan, Kawagoe City, since 1986.

The Cherry Blossoms at the Capitol

Oregon Capitol State Park
155 Waverly Street NE, Salem

One hundred fifty Akebono cherry trees are planted along and around the capitol mall, just in front of the state capitol building. Originally planted in 1992, the trees have had some difficult times. The 2021 ice storm damaged a number of trees, but after some strategic pruning, they have come back strong.

Every year, on the third Saturday in March, visitors can experience the Cherry Blossom Festival, created by a governor’s proclamation in the 2010s. In addition to viewing the cherry blossoms, people can get their faces painted, try Japanese calligraphy, view ikebana (Japanese flower and plant arranging), and experience some great entertainment, from taiko drumming to martial arts.

The Yozakura, or Cherry Blossom viewing, happens in the last weeks of March and into April. Japanese lanterns are strung from the trees along the sides of the Mall. From 6 to 9 nightly, it’s the official Yozakura. Taking photos is one of the most popular activities with the cherry blossoms. People bring entire extended families, newborns, and even wedding parties to get some of the most incredible views of the blossoms possible at the Capitol Mall.

Fresh Cherries to Pick and Eat Around Salem

Salem continues to have a thriving group of cherry orchards, and interested groups can go and pick their own. The cherry season usually starts in June and often lasts into July or August. Even though the Capitol might be the best place to see the cherry blossoms, there are cherry trees all over Salem, as befits a city with the “Cherry City” nickname. The cherry orchards below are all within the city limits of Salem – if you want to go further out, there are even more.

Vaughan Cherry Farm
6875 Hazelgreen Road NE, Salem

Vaughan Cherry Farm is the only cherry-focused farm in Salem. If you’re looking for a variety of cherries, this is the place for you. Open for U-pick only, it’s dependent upon the cherry season, so you’ll need to check its website. Also, remember that you’ll need to bring your own receptacle for picking, as the farm doesn’t have those.

Olson Farms, Inc.
6925 Joseph Street SE, Salem

At Olson Farms, you can pick your own in their orchard or buy at their farm stand. In addition to cherries, visitors can get raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, as well as stone fruit (nectarines, peaches, prunes). The farm is open daily from June 1 to September 30.

Rick Johnson Farm
3310 Perkins Street NE, Salem

The Rick Johnson Farm is an excellent U-pick option in the Salem-Keizer area. Strawberries of many varieties, blueberries, cherries, and peaches are the focus here. Be sure to bring your own container, as the farm doesn’t provide them. Check their website for opening days and hours – it depends on the fruit!

No matter how you want to interact with cherries – reveling in their lovely blossom, picking, or eating – Salem is an excellent stop for cherry lovers. For people of all ages, the Cherry Blossom Festival is a lovely way to welcome spring and spend time outdoors.