Officials say there probably won't be any cherry blossoms visible for the festival when it starts on Friday because of the unusually cold temperatures this winter.

Bibb County's cooperative extension agent, Karol Kelly, says the blossoms don't come out until it's been consistently warm during the day. Other trees are starting to bloom, but not Macon's Yoshino cherry trees.

Still, festival founder Carolyn Crayton is certain the trees will be blooming by the end of the festival March 28.

Macon calls itself the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World" because of its 300,000 flowering Yoshino cherry trees.