Arts & Entertainment

Patch Is At The Cherry Blossom Festival

If it's Japanese, you'll find it here. Meet Patch Editor L.A. Chung and spend a day or two sampling Japanese culture, food and arts, a legacy of Cupertino's enduring sister city relationship with Toyokawa.

 

Cupertino will hold its 30th annual Cherry Blossom Festival this weekend, April 27-28, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, Stevens Creek Boulevard and Mary Avenue. 

Patch will have a booth, so come on by as you enjoy the day and meet Patch staff. New Cupertino Patch Editor L.A. Chung will be on hand Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon and between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to answer questions, take suggestions and offer you some Patch swag.

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The event honors Cupertino’s sister city relationship with Toyokawa, Japan. Admission is free to attend the family-friendly festival that features a plethora of Japanese food and beverages, entertainment, demonstrations, cultural exhibits, art, crafts and clothing for sale.

A special children’s section will feature activities, hands-on arts and crafts, and a petting zoo.

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Experience classical Japanese culture. During the festival, a series of indoor cultural displays and demonstrations will be featured in the Quinlan Community Center. Other cultural exhibits and demonstrations include Bonsai (miniature trees/plants), various Japanese dolls and doll making demonstrations, ikebana (flower arranging), Suiseki (Japanese rocks), origami (paper-folding), shodo (calligraphy), Japanese swords, and sumi-e (brushpainting).

Bring the kids. Outdoor displays near the Quinlan center will include a “Kidz Zone” with games, a petting zoo, koi fish, and Akita and Shiba Inu dogs will beshown on the lawn behind the food court.

Be ready to be entertained. All-day outdoor entertainment takes place in the park amphitheater. Among the scheduled events are Taiko drum groups, Japanese dancers, martial arts, and children and adult musical performances. You can check out the event schedule on the Cherry Blossom Festival website.

Come hungry. Food and drink offerings will include gyoza (meat in Japanese pastry), chicken salad, tempura, yakisoba, mochi, teriyaki hot dogs, fruit-on-a-stick, teriyaki chicken with rice in a bowl, shave ice, coffee, smoothies, beer, sake, plum wine, sodas, bottled water and lemonade.

Purchase Japanese crafts. Craft booths throughout the park will offer a wide variety of items for sale, including cards, paper sculptures, pottery, jewelry, washi eggs and dolls, Japanese antiques, clothing, paintings, candles, photos, wood work and T-shirts.

The festival benefits the nonprofit Cupertino Sister City Committee, which promotes friendship and conducts an annual student exchange program with Toyokawa, Japan.

Local nonprofit organizations that support services for disadvantaged, youth sports, student service groups, music and language programs will have booths with a variety of activities.

Parking is available at nearby De Anza College.

For further information about the Cherry Blossom Festival, call festival coordinator, Asif Kausar 408-940-5287 or visit www.cupertinotoyokawa.org.


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