Your Guide To Brookhaven's Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party 2021

BROOKHAVEN, GA — Brookhaven's annual Cherry Blossom Festival is coming back in a new form this weekend, now called the Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party, featuring multiple live music stages, food trucks, a Kidz Zone, the Budweiser Clydesdales and more.

The free, two-day event is scheduled for Friday from 3-11 p.m. and Saturday from noon-11 p.m. at the Brookhaven MARTA parking lot, as well as along Apple Valley Road and Dresden Drive.

Masks will be available if guests desire to wear one, but they will not be required.

Here's what you need to know if you're planning on attending — or if you're trying to skip the traffic that comes with big events like this.

Concert Lineup

Friday

Main stage:

Revel in Romance: 4 p.m.

Amy Ray Band: 5:15 p.m.

Baylee Littrell: 6:30 p.m.

Rick Springfield: 7:45 p.m.

Collective Soul: 9:30 p.m.

Second stage:

Lilac Wine: 4:30 p.m.; 5:45 p.m. (second show)

AJ Ghent: 7 p.m.; 8:55 p.m. (second show)

Saturday

Main stage:

Hunter Callahan: 3 p.m.

Saleka: 5 p.m.

Jagged Edge: 6:15 p.m.

Better Than Ezra: 7:45 p.m.

The Revivalists: 9:15 p.m.

Second stage:

Leah Belle Faser: 3:45 p.m.

Sailing to Denver: 5:30 p.m.

Blair Crimmins and the Hookers: 7:15 p.m.; 8:45 p.m. (second show)

Road Closures

Starting at 11 a.m. Friday, Dresden Drive will close between Peachtree Road and Camille Drive, as well as the entirety of Apple Valley Road.

Apple Valley Road will be closed from its intersection with North Druid Hills Road to its intersection with Dresden Drive. Motorists needing access to Apple Valley Drive north of the closure are encouraged to use East Osborn Road, Oaklawn Avenue and Sunland Drive as access to/from Caldwell Road. Caldwell will lead motorists to/from Redding Road for access to/from Peachtree Road.

Additionally, motorists wishing to travel south from Peachtree Road should plan on using North Druid Hills Road or Clairmont Road as alternate routes, as Dresden Drive will not be accessible from Peachtree Road during this closure.

Apple Valley and Dresden will fully open to all traffic around 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

For more details and alternate routes, visit Brookhaven's website here.

Parking

There is no festival parking in the immediate area of the MARTA station. All side streets will be posted and vehicles will be subject to towing to alleviate congestion for local residents.

A round trip fare is $6 total with the purchase of a MARTA ticket, which city officials say is the easiest and "most headache-free way" to attend the festival. Visit this link to see the MARTA schedule.

There will also be a city shuttle service for local Brookhaven residents from the following locations:

• Blackburn Park (Near Tennis Center)
• Murphey Candler (Baseball Side)
• Murphey Candler Softball (Football Side)
• Northeast Plaza (Corner of Buford Highway and Briarwood Road NE)

Shuttle service starts 30 minutes prior to the start of the festival —so Friday at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Riders should anticipate waiting 45 minutes between shuttles. The last shuttle leaves the festival site at 11:45 p.m. both days.

Rideshare services are also encouraged. City officials said they encourage all those using rideshare service to use 3944 Peachtree Road in Brookhaven address for drop off and pick up. This is the Brookhaven Plaza parking lot located across from the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station where the festival is located.

Vendors

Food and drink will be available for purchase. Participating food vendors include:

• Carta’s Azucar Cuban Cuisine
• Bululu Arepas & Grill
• Pizza Nova
• Coconut Bowl and Grill
• Drive By Tacos
• King of Pops
• Makara Mediterranean Restaurant
• Operation Mini Donuts
• Quesadilla Gourmet
• Sweet Rain Vegan Bakeshop
• Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q
• Love At Wurst Sight
• Al A Carte Foods - Ice Cream Carts

What can I bring (or not bring)?

Bags

All bags brought to the festival must be clear, and can be any size. Small wallets under 5" by 7" will be permitted. Lockers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exceptions to the clear bag rule may be made for non-clear diaper bags accompanied by an infant and medically-necessary items after proper inspection by security personnel.

Chairs, strollers and wagons

Chairs, strollers and wagons are allowed in the music festival area. You may be asked to remove your chair from its bag before entering, and all items are subject to security search.

Coolers, tents and umbrellas

Coolers will not be allowed in the festival area. Lockers will not be big enough to hold coolers, so city officials ask guests to refrain from bringing coolers to the event as you will be turned away.

Tents are also not permitted, but umbrellas are allowed — even for protection from the sun. A heat advisory is in effect for metro Atlanta from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

Pets

No pets will be allowed at the festival due to hot asphalt.

For more information on the festival, visit BrookCherryFest.org.

Related:

• Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival Returns As Summer Block Party
• Collective Soul Joins Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party
• Budweiser Clydesdales Added To Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party