Walk Up, Don’t Drive: Cherry Blossom Fest Goes Pedestrian This November

Correspondent

Shillong: The much-awaited Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Shillong on November 14 and November 15 with international sensations ‘The Script’ and ‘Jason Derulo’ headlining the celebration.

Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Friday announced that for the first time, the entire stretch from Hotel Pinewood to Ward’s Lake up to Polo Grounds will be declared a pedestrian-only zone during the two-day festival. “We will be encouraging walking as a way of life. Movement towards the venue will be strictly pedestrian, and no vehicles will be allowed along this stretch,” said Lyngdoh, adding that synchronised LED wristbands will also be introduced for all attendees to enhance the festival experience.

Lyngdoh said the decision to shift the festival venue to JN Stadium in Shillong was based on several factors, including improved accommodation, transportation logistics, and the city’s recognition as the music capital of India. Reflecting on last year’s success, he stated, “In the past year, the state government had invested Rs 23.5 crore as part of support for various festivals, and in turn, we generated a total economic stimulus of Rs 133.42 crore, which is roughly about six times the return on our investment.”

The minister highlighted the state’s growing stature in global entertainment. “From Bryan Adams to Cherry Blossoms – how 13 days of music, culture, and strategy redefined Meghalaya as India’s newest powerhouse in global live entertainment,” he said. Last year’s festivals drew 3.86 lakh attendees, including 76,000 tourists who made up 4.7% of Meghalaya’s annual tourist footfall in just under two weeks. Shillong and Sohra saw full hotel occupancy, contributing Rs 33.78 crores—nearly 27% of the total stimulus.

He further noted that the digital footprint of the events was massive, with 60,000 organic social media posts and 22 million reel views. “For every Re 1 spent on tickets, we yielded an additional Rs 334 across hospitality, travel, dining, and local shopping,” Lyngdoh said. The tourism season generated 5,509 daily jobs across the event value chain, benefiting youth, women-led kitchens, artisans, micro-enterprises, and the informal sector. Visitors came from across India, including 1,762 from Maharashtra and 224 from Odisha, while 18,000-plus tourists arrived by air, contributing Rs 16.80 crores in aviation revenue and Rs 5.38 crores in cab services.

With the Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 set to transform the heart of Shillong into a car-free celebration zone, Meghalaya is not only offering world-class entertainment but also promoting sustainability and inclusive growth.

Also Read: MRSSA is not a substitute or adjunct to ILP: Paul Lyngdoh

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