The Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival has spent more than two decades bringing a little bit of Washington, D.C., to Marshfield.
Now, the festival has another title to add to its history.
The Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield has officially been designated Missouri's state cherry blossom festival. The designation became law Aug. 28.
For festival chairman Nicholas Inman, the recognition is about more than adding another title to an event that has become a spring tradition in Marshfield.
“We're very excited about what this means for the festival and what it means for Marshfield,” Inman said. “I think it'll give a statewide appeal even more than what we've seen in the past.”
The designation was included in legislation approved by the Missouri General Assembly and signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe earlier this summer.
A ceremonial signing was recently held to recognize the designation and those involved in making it happen.
For those who have never attended the festival, Inman said its mission goes well beyond the cherry trees that bloom around Marshfield each spring.
History has always been at the heart of it.
“Our festival focuses on the preservation of history, and that is a threefold mission that is local, state and national history,” Inman said.
Over several days each spring, that history comes to life through speakers, panel discussions and other events.
Over the years, the festival has welcomed presidential descendants, veterans, authors, people who worked in the White House and familiar faces from television and movies.
But Inman said preserving Webster County's own history is just as important.
“It's so important that we preserve our own history,” he said. “It's important that we teach it to new generations, that we keep it alive.”
The festival itself grew from Inman's own connection to Marshfield and Washington, D.C.
After graduating from high school, Inman spent time in Washington. He eventually became homesick and returned to Marshfield. Once he was home, though, he found himself missing Washington.
That gave him an idea.
Marshfield already had Harvest Days in the fall and its long-running Independence Day celebration during the summer. Inman thought the community needed something for spring.
Cherry trees offered a way to bring a little of Washington back home while also adding something new to Marshfield.
The idea continued to grow. Instead of creating another traditional festival centered mainly around vendors and crafts, Inman wanted history to play a major role.
The connection made sense. Washington's cherry blossoms are known around the world, while the nation's capital is also closely tied to American history.
More than two decades later, the pink blossoms have become part of the festival's identity. Many festival-goers even wear pink during the event.
And now, the event that started with an idea to bring a little Washington, D.C., to Marshfield officially represents Missouri as the state's cherry blossom festival.
Planning for the next festival is already underway.
Inman said announcements about guests and upcoming events typically begin in October.
Those interested in volunteering can also get involved through the Cherry Blossom Auxiliary, led by Jeanette Alcorn. The auxiliary works alongside the Cherry Blossom Foundation and helps provide the volunteers needed to put on the festival each year.
Information and announcements about the next festival can be found through the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, MO. Facebook page.
For Inman, the new state designation is another chapter in a festival that started with a simple idea and grew into something closely connected with Marshfield.
And with another Cherry Blossom Festival already on the horizon, that story isn't finished yet
