Hanami (花見, "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of cherry blossoms ("sakura"), and celebrating the fleeting beauty of life, itself.

HANAMI PICNIC RESERVATIONS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2023

$28pp

We are inviting reservations for two picnic dates for 2023 and are excited to welcome our first guests to Hanami Days.

GROW WITH US AS OUR TREES MATURE

Traditionally Hanami is enjoyed under the cherry blossoms at full bloom and that is what we we will offer too, when our trees have matured. This year, we invite you to tour the orchard and picnic in the Blenheim Park’s owner's private gardens, alongside the pristine shores of McCurdy Pond since our orchard trees are still very young and dining lakeside will be a more lovely experience in these early years.

BYO PICNIC BASKET

Pack your picnic basket to the brim with your favorite foods and refreshing beverages (please note, we are not licensed for you to bring alcohol) and we’ll do the work of creating a beautiful environment for you to dine with friends and welcome Spring to the beautiful midcoast of Maine.

Your investment includes use of a sweet dining table with chairs in the garden, complete with lace tablecloth and bud vase, or a picnic blanket if you prefer. We’ll have lawn games set up along with lovely vintage music floating over the grounds. We’ll also offer you a delicious welcome beverage and a coupon you can redeem in our farm store on the day of your picnic.

Your day will begin at 12:00 noon with a tour of the Sour Cherry and Cherry Blossom Orchards, where you’ll learn about the varietals we’re growing, the history of the beloved cherry blossom, and get to sample some of the products we’re creating here at Blenheim Park.

We’ll then make our way to the private home of Blenheim Park’s owners, surrounded by gardens, next to a sparkling lake, where you can relax and dine on the fine fare you’ve prepared while being serenaded by the loons and lovely vintage melodies; soak up the beautiful views or get your ‘old sport’ on with a game of croquet, bocce or badminton. The event will wrap up at 4:00pm and you are welcome to browse in our farm store or stroll through the orchard until we close the property at 5:00pm.

BLENHEIM PARK, BEAUTIFUL ALL YEAR LONG

Cherry blossom season usually lasts about a month from the earliest bloomers to the latest. Blenheim Park’s orchard has a variety of trees to extend the viewing period. Dates for peak bloom will vary every year for this event, depending on weather, and the viewing will grow more beautiful with each passing year as our trees mature. For reference, our blossoms reached peak bloom around May 20 in 2021 and May 23 in 2022.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. One ticket is for one person. If booking for a group please select the appropriate number in your party.

2. In the event of rain, refunds will not be issued but we will reschedule the picnic to a future date. Guests will be welcome to visit the Farm Store, all weather.

3. Blenheim Park is located in a town which has been ‘dry’ since Prohibition therefore we cannot sell alcohol and are not licensed for guests to BYO. (our money is on the Teahouse seeing some Speakeasy action back in the day though, and we confess we quite like the idea).

4. Not everyone shares our love of pets, so please leave yours at home for this event. (but do check out our Dog Halloween Parade and start planning your joint costumes now!).

5. For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, we ask that you observe our no-smoking policy throughout the property, thank you.

6. Protecting the beautiful waterways of Maine is a role we’re passionate about, we are in fact Stewards of the McCurdy Islands Preserve, so we ask that you do not bring paper napkins or any other picnic goods likely to ‘take flight’ so they do not end up in the lake.

7. Our aim is to provide you with a lovely, elegant afternoon, so thank you for not bringing in outside seating, grills or music devices.

8. Please advise in advance if anyone in your group has special needs so we are able to make a plan to accommodate them, since we are a working farm and some areas of the orchard are not readily wheelchair accessible. Thank you.

WORKING FARM — NO LIABILITY FOR INJURY

Warning: Under Maine law, there is no liability for injury to a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity.  Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment and animals, as well as the potential for injury if you act in a negligent manner.  You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.