LA Cherry Blossom Festival

If variety is what you’re looking for this Spring, consider the endless activities of the LA Cherry Blossom Festival .  You can sip some sake with friends, wander throughout a pavilion viewing the artwork of Japanese creatives, and take in the beauty of the cherry blossoms.  It’s all happening at the Cherry Blossom Festival, held in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles.  This volunteer run event offers so many things to do that you may want to plan to go both days.

Japanese Crafts & Clothing

Lots of booths offering cute little Japanese handmade crafts like jewelry, Japanese animation inspired plushes and clay miniatures.   You can also find Asian-made clothes for kids and adults, including beautiful vintage kimonos.

Food

Along with Hawaiian smoothies (Hawaii has a large Japanese population), Japon Bistro will be at the festival.  Voted as having the “Best Sushi Platter” by Pasadena Magazine, Japan Bistro is sure to be a popular food booth.  There will also be the typical small snack foods like kettle corn and chocolate covered fruit.

Live Entertainment

On the agenda:  Traditional Ondo Dancing in the street, Main Stage of performances and ceremonies including a Kimono Fashion Show, Martial Arts demonstrations, J-POP Stage of Japanese musicians, Hawaiian Village of native dancing, as well as a Kids Craft and Fun Zone of fun inflatables.

Japanese American Cultural Pavilion

The pavilion will present several Japanese historical and contemporary exhibitions of traditional textile art. Also, organizations like Troop 379 Prewar Scouts and Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai will be recognized for their efforts in their community.

Cherry Blossom festivals have been “springing” up all over the country for various reasons. For one, they occur when cherry blossom trees are starting to bloom, which have been honored by the Japanese for centuries. Another goal for the festival is to bring awareness to the community of Japanese and Japanese American culture’s arts and history. Lastly, this “family friendly” event brings together the community as well as helps sustains it economically.

• Date & Time: April 10-11, 2010; Saturday 10:30am-6pm, Sunday 10:30am-5pm
• Location: 1^st Street between San Pedro and Central

Photo courtesy of sxc.hu