Sakura Weekend, the centerpiece program of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, is a two-day event held each year at the Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.
Celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture under the cherry blossom trees during this free and public, family-friendly event, featuring live music, dance performances, arts and crafts, a vendor fair, food trucks, a beer garden, and much more.
Sakura Weekend – Saturday
Saturday, April 13, 2024
10:00am–5:00pm
Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia / Google Maps >>
Admission to Sakura Weekend is not ticketed and is free and open to the public.
Vehicles are not permitted to park at the Horticulture Center, but paid parking is available nearby on the grounds of The Mann Center. For more information, please check out the Festival FAQ >>
Sakura Weekend – Map and Schedule
A list of participating vendors, artists, and sponsors and the 2024 Sakura Weekend map and program schedule is now available to download.
Download Festival Map and Schedule >>
Sakura Weekend – Saturday Program
Featured Performances
- 11:00am — Cornelius Boots
Shakuhachi performance / Sponsored by Dr. Felice Fischer and Black Earth Shakuhachi School - 11:50am — Cancelled due to weather conditions
Ebihara Rogen calligraphy performance / Sponsored by Dennis Morikawa - 12:15pm — Hoh Daiko
Taiko performance / Sponsored by Bradley Edmister - 1:10pm — Penn Shotokan Club
Karate demonstrations - 1:50pm — Badd Kitti
Philadelphia’s Queen of Funk / Sponsored by Ren Egawa - 2:40pm — Cosplay Fashion Show
Organized by Zenkaikon — Sign up by midnight, Friday, April 12, to participate. Sign Up >>
For cosplay dress code and policies, please refer to the Festival FAQ >>
For more information contact Zenkaikon on Facebook >> - 3:20pm — Casual Fifth
Taiko and dance ensemble / Sponsored by Jorge Leon
Featured Activities
- Scheduled tea ceremony sittings with Urasenke Philadelphia / More Info >>
- Ikebana workshops and demonstrations / More Info >>
- Kamishibai storytelling (1:00pm)
- Pop-up beer garden with Philadelphia’s Triple Bottom Brewery
- Karaoke with a live DJ (2:00–7:00pm)
- Vendor Fair with Japanese food and wares
- And many more activities for the entire family, including:
- Origami demonstrations
- Sakura face-painting
- Calligraphy station
- Scavenger hunt
- Japanese table games
- Kimono / Yukata dressings
Sakura Sunday
For even more Sakura Weekend activities, check out the Sunday program schedule!
Sakura Weekend – Sunday Program >>
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