Cherry Blossom Festival 2021

Our annual Cherry Blossom Festival (sakura matsuri) is held in March each year at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We have a variety of performances, food, and Japanese cultural activities to add to your hanami (flower viewing) experience! Cherry Blossoms, or sakura, only bloom for a few weeks each year. In Japanese culture, sakura represent mortality and remind viewers of the beauty and transience of life. Thousands of people flock to parks in Japan to see the blossoms. This year, we're hosting some of our favorite guests virtually!

Join us for YouTube Live performances, special interviews, and messages from your favorite Cherry Blossom Festival Guests and performers! Visit our website Cherry Blossom Festival page on March 27th for a full day of Japanese culture through video.

We are lucky to have cherry trees all over Alabama that bloom each Spring. We encourage everyone to venture outside this month to appreciate the cherry blossoms! Note: Please respect social distancing guidelines and your area's COVID-19 precautions when attending any public gardens and parks. Visit Alabama Department of Public Health for more information on how to stay safe.

See below for a list of participants and stay tuned for a full schedule for the day! We'll be updating our event with content throughout the month of March so you can appreciate Japanese culture throughout Cherry Blossom Season.

Featuring...

A.C.T. Defense Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Public Library's Miss Iwate

Birmingham Shinkendo Federation

Ikebana - Japanese Flower Arranging

Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan

Origami - Japanese Paper Crafts

Paperworkers Local Moku Hanga

...and more!