Spring is in full bloom in Monterey Park as the city announces the 24th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on April 27-28.
The free two-day event is once again expected to draw thousands of visitors to Barnes Park to experience Japanese and Asian Pacific Islander culture. Highlights will include music and dance performances on two stages, a food court with a delicious spread of Japanese and Asian food, a children’s craft booth, and a full line-up of vendors selling unique crafts and merchandise. This year, for the first time in its history, the Cherry Blossom Festival will also feature an anime and cosplay exhibition—complete with a costume contest. There is truly something for everyone!
On the main stage, this year’s performances will range from classical Japanese dance and vibrant taiko drumming, to raucous sets from local music legends Kokoro, Ronin Stones and many more. Visitors can also watch exhilarating exhibitions of kendo (traditional Japanese fencing) and Polynesian dance, and enjoy the stylings of the Mark Keppel High School Pep Band. Inside the Barnes Park Gym, cultural exhibitions will feature Japanese calligraphy, traditional tea ceremony, and a presentation by the Veteran's Memorial Court Alliance honoring Japanese American veterans.
The Cherry Blossom Festival Marketplace will feature a host of vendors selling merchandise with unique Asian Pacific Islander flair. Community organizations will also be available to offer information and support on a variety of health, social, education and consumer issues impacting the community. Families will also have a blast at the children’s craft area making Japanese fox masks.
No festival would be complete without delicious food. This year’s food court offerings will include perennial favorites like chicken teriyaki, spam musubi, and festive mochi desserts from Little Tokyo’s Fugetsudo.
The City will be offering free shuttles from Langley Senior Center, and Ynez and Repetto Elementary Schools. The Cherry Blossom Festival is free to the public and made possible with the crucial contributions of community volunteers and financial sponsors. Please visit www.MontereyPark.ca.gov/CherryBlossom for a list of sponsors, or to find out how you can contribute to this annual event.
Barnes Park is located at 350 S. McPherrin Avenue in Monterey Park. For more Cherry Blossom Festival information on hours, programming and parking, please visit www.MontereyPark.ca.gov/CherryBlossom or contact Memo Chavez at gchavez@montereypark.ca.gov.
Media Contact
Memo Chavez, Recreation Supervisor
gchavez@montereypark.ca.gov
626-307-1223
www.montereypark.ca.gov
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