Photo Credit: Irinia Bak

What’s noisy, delicious, dramatic, playful, inspiring, thought provoking, and pink and white all over? It’s Philadelphia’s own Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrating its fifteenth year this spring, from March 23 to April 21. The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia presents events for all ages, many of them free, throughout the region — from Center City to the Main Line, King of Prussia to Fairmount Park.

As the nation celebrates the centennial of Japan’s gift of cherry blossom trees blooming on the Mall in Washington D.C., here in Philadelphia attendees can:

  • Kick off the Festival by attending the sparkling Blossom Bash at the Hyatt at the Bellevue.
  • Be inspired by the transcendence of dance and the power of Taiko drumming.
  • Taste the varied flavors of Japan during Dine Out Japan.
  • Experience the drama of Kabuki dance and the antics of Kyogen comedy.
  • Run under a canopy of flowering trees at the Cherry Blossom 5K.
  • Introduce the whole family to everything from Japanese music and crafts, to fashion, food and martial arts at Sakura Sunday in Fairmount Park.

To View a complete brochure of the 2012 Festivities, please click HERE

Photo courtesy of JapanPhilly.org

The Blossom Bash, March 23 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, promises to be a colorful night out, featuring a Japanese fusion menu, live music, and an array of traditional and contemporary Japanese entertainments. The silent auction boasts Asian art and jewelry, Trans-Pacific airfare, and experiential packages mixing a Japanese flavor into Philly’s finest attractions.

Japanese Culture Week returns to Liberty Place from Monday, April 9, through Friday, April 13, with free lunchtime events featuring origami, kimono dressing, calligraphy, ikebana (flower arranging), and a display of singular fashions inspired by Tokyo’s eccentric Harajuku district.

Photo Credit: Bob Fina

 

Truly one of the highlights of the Festival, the Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Ensemble returns this year for a week of exhilarating performances at area colleges and the Painted Bride Arts Center, April 1–6. Thundering drums, intricate dance, color-drenched costumes, and tremendous energy combine to create awe-inspiring entertainment suitable for all ages.

Celebrate spring on Sunday, April 15, by running or walking in the Cherry Blossom 5K on a route that starts at the Horticultural Center in Fairmount Park and wends its way beneath a blooming canopy of cherry blossom trees.

The high point of the Festival follows the 5K on April 15th with Sakura Sunday, a full-on celebration of spring in the Japanese tradition of revelry beneath the blossoming cherry trees. As the centerpiece event of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura Sunday will offer food of all kinds; live music and dance performances; martial-arts demonstrations; crafts and activities for all ages, such as calligraphy and origami; and much, much more.

The Prettiest Pet in Pink Contest for dogs and cats returns for its third installment, along with the 2nd annual Harajuku Fashion Show, with one-of-a-kind designs from local students inspired by Tokyo’s colorful Harajuku district. Fairmount Park’s beloved Shofuso Japanese House and Garden will also be open for tours throughout the day and for Kamishibai Story time.

Other Festival events include art exhibitions and film, Japanese food tastings, a sushi-making class and competition, Japanese storytelling with the Cherry Blossom Queen at area libraries, and discounts at area Japanese restaurants during Dine Out Japan, April 15–19.

 

 


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