The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is set to brighten up San Francisco's Japantown again, promising locals and visitors a vibrant display of Japanese and Japanese American culture over two weekends in April. As detailed by NBC Bay Area, the festival, celebrating its 58th year, will unfold on April 12-13 and April 19-20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Home to one of the three remaining Japantowns in the country, the festival's audience has soared over its 58-year history, typically hosting more than 220,000 guests. According to a KRON4 announcement, festivalgoers can expect an array of local artisans, nonprofit food booths, and performances. This year's festivities will branch out onto Sutter Street during its first weekend due to the current renovations at Japantown Peace Plaza.
As reported by NBC Bay Area, attractions include a Sapporo Beer Garden for those 21 and over, yukata-dressing experiences, and a Children's Cherry Blossom Village. Cultural performances, exhibits, and the ever-anticipated Grand Parade, which will pay tribute to Hibakusha survivors and their descendants on April 20, are among the fest's highlights. The parade is set to embark from the Civic Center Plaza, winding up Polk to Post Street and culminating in the heart of Japantown.
Moreover, the festival hosts a raffle with proceeds earmarked for future cultural programming. Up for grabs is a round-trip ticket to Japan, courtesy of Japan Airlines. Raffle tickets, noted by KRON4, are available at the info booth in KOHO, 2nd Floor of Japan Center East Mall, priced at $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets. Participants may be enticed by the chance to support cultural continuity while potentially landing a free trip to Japan.
