Pink and white cherry blossoms explode every spring, bringing breathtaking beauty to the Schuylkill riverbanks and Philadelphia’s public parkland. For the 16th year, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia proudly presents the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia from April 1 through April 26, 2013, celebrating the season when thousands of cherry trees burst into bloom in historic Fairmount Park. This canopy of delicate flowers, first planted in 1926 as a gift to nation by the people of Japan, is an annual inspiration to photographers and a “must see” natural wonder calling everyone outdoors. The events of the Festival celebrate Philadelphia’s rich cultural connections with the art, music, food, natural beauty and industry of Japan.
Residents and guests to the Delaware Valley can experience the wonders of Japan in a calendar packed with superior international performances and time-honored arts and craft. The 2013 lineup presents exciting cultural events beginning April 1, with attractions — many of them free — from Center City to the Main Line, Old City to Fairmount Park, that appeal to all of the senses.
You can even begin your hometown Japanese experience early with the presentation of KODO Taiko Drumming at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, a preview event on Monday evening March 25.
Festival events officially begin on April 1, including performances of traditional Japanese dance, music and percussion, interactive experiences with the arts of origami and flower arrangement, physical displays in the forms of a 5K run and martial arts, and irresistible features of Japanese pop culture. The central inspiration is the fragile beauty of the sakura, the Japanese name for the ornamental cherry blossoms which inspire all of this cultural activity. Sakura Sunday on April 14 at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center is the centerpiece event of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, offering a full day of food, live music and dance performances, athletics, a 5K run, crafts and activities for all ages.
Additional events throughout April include art exhibitions and film, Japanese food tastings, an amateur sushi-making class and competition, and Japanese storytelling at area libraries. A complete listing of events is available online and event information is available by calling 215-790-3810.
Founded in 1994, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia is an association of individuals, corporations and organizations devoted to fostering relationships between Americans and Japanese by promoting and encouraging better understanding of the business, cultural, social, educational, and political practices and customs of Japan and the United States.
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