Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival

The elegant beauty of the cherry blossom attracts tourists every year to cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and brings broad smiles to those who call Philly home. In 1926, Japan donated 2,000 of these famed trees, prized and significant in its culture, to Philadelphia in honor of America's sesquicentennial. Today, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) honors the beauty of blooming Philadelphia and Japanese culture simultaneously with the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, also known as Sakura Matsuri. Proceeds from this week's events go back into the festival and support other JASGP programs -- like planting more cherry trees for the beautification of the city.

JASGP assistant director Greta Hale says that the Cherry Blossom Festival "celebrates the arrival of spring in Philadelphia and also celebrates the art, culture and cuisine of Japan." The festival began April 4 but continues with three Japanese story hours with an origami class for children. Dancers from Tamagawa University in Tokyo will perform, as well as accompanying taiko drummers on several occasions over the weekend. On Saturday, there will be a show of Hina emperor and empress dolls, tours of Fairmount Park’s Japanese House and a Japanese Garden Elements tour. That evening, the festival will close in style at the gala and silent auction at the Ritz-Carlton.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, through Sat., April 10. For full schedule, visit www.jasgp.org/sakura/ or call 215-790-3810.

—Liz Harris

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