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The Other Cherry Blossom Festival

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On March 28, the day that Washington, D.C., opens its National Cherry Blossom Festival this year, another--and, they claim, bigger--such festival will finish up in this city of 113,000.

The 17th annual Macon, Ga., International Cherry Blossom Festival, which begins Friday, boasts 230,000 cherry trees throughout town, compared to an estimated 5,000 trees in D.C. parks. The blossoms usually bloom during the Macon festival, which includes scores of related events over nine days. About 500,000 visitors attend each year, local officials say.

Many events are free, including a mass ascent of 32 hot-air balloons on March 26 and an all-day arts festival on March 27, followed by an outdoor concert and fireworks. You can also tour residential streets by bus, car or even horse and carriage. Call the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau, tel. (800) 768-3401.

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