MACON, Ga.-- Although the annual International Cherry Blossom Festival is cancelled, people can have the pinkest party in the world at their finger tips.

Coordinators of the festival are teaming up with Visit Macon and New Town Macon to create a virtual Cherry Blossom experience.

The experience includes nightly Facebook live performances, the Cherry Blossom Bloom Cam, and deals on cherry blossom themed items from local businesses and restaurants for the duration of the originally scheduled festival, March 27th through April 5th.

"The blooms are still blooming so we wanted to bring into their homes as they social distance in these time," says Gary Wheat, President and CEO of Visit Macon.

"We're just trying to uplift everyone spirits during this time of uncertainty while still offering some of the things that make Cherry Blossom so unique to our community," says Emily Hopkins, Director of Place at New Town Macon.

The virtual experience is kicked-off with the release of a new official cherry blossom song, "Cherry Blossom Party Time."

The song was done in collaboration with Macon Pops, the Otis Redding Center for Creative Arts, Mercer Music at Capricorn, the McDuffie Center for Strings, and Larry Najera Designs.

Stacy Moore, President and CEO of the Cherry Blossom Festival says, "'To be able to watch the music video, remember how much fun we had last year, and keep a positive attitude about things and then look forward to next year. It's really just lifting people's spirits and that's what we want to do during this time. "

Wheat says this experience brings a sense of normalcy and helps those who need it most during this time of extreme uncertainty.

"It gives the opportunity for our musician to continue to perform, for our restaurants to continue to do take out, for our businesses to continue to stay open and keep employees on the payroll.

Moore says all three organizations will be posting daily to the Virtual Cherry Blossom Experience event page with updates and information about the experience. People can also tune into this page at 7 p.m. to watch the live performances, starting March 27th.

https://wgxa.tv/news/local/cherry-blossom-lifting-peoples-spirits-through-virtual-festival-experienc