Cherry Blossom Festival newbies: Rain, rain go away

Editor’s note: Caitlyn Stroh and Stephen Mays are both newbies to The Telegraph as well as newbies to the Cherry Blossom Festival. They’re going out into the festivities this week and giving us a firsthand account of their CBF experience.

Despite it being Day 3 of the overcast, on-and-off rain, I set out to Central City Park in search of some wildlife.

With most people still enjoying Easter lunch (or hiding from the weather), I was among small company at 12:30 p.m. And while I didn't check this, I would guess at least 80% of the non-workers at the park were watching the tigers.

According to our photographer Jason Vorhees, the Horses, Horses, Horses! show did not go on, so it's possible the tigers were a second choice for some. I would personally choose tiger over pony, but I don't know if I would choose tiger over pink pony entering to Lou Bega. Personal preference,I suppose.

The tiger show in all was moderate interesting. The animals were beautiful, and at some point every girl who has seen "Aladdin" wants a pet Rajah. So the show had me considering if I could handle a pet tiger.

But my 6-month-old puppy already has me stretched thin. I'll have to wait on the tiger.

I was impressed with the tiger that spoke on command. Again, I can't get an Australian Shepherd to do that, so kudos to the tiger trainer.

As the show ended, I hung around for a little bit to watch kids feed the tigers. Although the $5 only bought a chance to hold the opposite end of a 5-foot pole behind two different barriers from the tiger, I watched two kids have genuine fear as they "fed" the tiger.

Up next on my to-do list was the snake show. I do not like snakes. I have no patience for them. But I was committed to the animals. Sadly, the showman told me would only happen if the weather held out and there were people in the audience. He wasn't in the mood for "talking to a bunch of empty seats."

No snakes for me today. Instead, I opted for the farm animals on my way out. Goats, sheep, a donkey, an alpaca...and, of course, a pink parrot.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Cherry Blossom Festival newbies: Rain, rain go away."