Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon offers jam packed fun on Saturday
Once again, the Cherry Blossom Festival aims to keep visitors in pink of things from sunup to sundown on its opening Saturday. From pink pancakes and a cruise-in to the bed race and firefighters competitions, this is the day where everything is a big (pink) spectacle!
The ever-popular Bed Race is an undeniable yearly favorite, and this year is no exception. The Bed Race is not an event to sleep through, as teams strive to build the fastest bed-cart and then gather at 1 p.m. downtown to chase victory down Cherry Street.
Winners will be determined by fastest times, and announced in four categories: Most Original Bed Design, Funniest Bed, Judges Choice and Fastest Bed. Teams also will be split into two categories: "Wild N' Wacky" for newbies and "Fast and Furious" for the experienced racers.
This fun race is free to watch, but get there early because the sidelines will be crowded!
The Macon-Bibb Firefighters competition, beginning at 3 p.m. just down Cherry Street in Third Street Park, combines skill, agility and teamwork in a challenging display that gives the everyday person a chance to see what it is these brave men and women are prepared to do to keep us all safe.
"This is a don't-miss awe-inspiring event for the whole family to enjoy," said Jake Ferro, president and CEO of the Cherry Blossom Festival. "With free admission for spectators, this is a family-friendly event sure to impress people of all ages. More than that, this is a chance to come out and say thank you to those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect us all."
The Macon-Bibb Fire Department is hosting a Pink Pancake Breakfast earlier in the day. Tickets are $5 each, which allow participants access to plenty of pink pancakes being sold to benefit the American Cancer Society. Happening from 7-10 a.m., there is plenty of time to eat a short-stack, and for those who cannot get enough of the pink pancakes, there is a second opportunity to feast on April 2.
Happening from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sid's Sandwich Shop, the Varsity Cruise-In brings together auto-fanatics and classic cars. Admission is free and it's $10 to enter a car.
"This is the fourth year we've had it," said Bob Berg, owner of Sid's. "This used to be a Varsity drive-in and young people would gather here to show off their hot rods. It's a reunion for a lot of folks. This is always a benefit, and this year we're are donating to a Randall Frasier, who was injured in a motorcycle accident."
Just in case looking at cars makes you hungry, Sid's will be open for food.
To round out the big day Saturday, the Macon Mayhem will meet the Fayetteville FireAntz on the ice at the Macon Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $8. With the Mayhem's first season coming to a close on April 1, there are very few chances remaining to be a part of the team's inaugural year. Get out there and cheer them to victory!
For more information about any of these events, visit www.cherryblossom.com. Still need more to do Saturday? Check out the daily listing of Cherry Blossom Festival events on page 41E.
This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon offers jam packed fun on Saturday ."