Page 10 - Indulge April/May 2016
P. 10
kenders Head south to the nation’s capital for a celebration
of Japanese culture and cherry trees at the
National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The annual festival, which runs through April 17 this
year, commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry
trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of
Washington, D.C. and has grown over the years to be a
major celebration of spring.
The trees currently grow in three locations: around the
Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park
(Hains Point) and on the Washington Monument grounds.
Judging from what the National Park Service predicted
as the peak bloom time this year — when 70 percent of
the blossoms are open — there’s a good chance there’ll
be plenty of flowers left for viewing. The peak time should
have been from March 18 to March 23 and can last as
long as 14 days unless weather shortens it.
By Linda Doell If you are planning to head down to the nation’s
capital, there are some big events at the end of the
10 | indulge • april/may 2016 festival, including:
• National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, 10 a.m. to
noon, April 16, along Constitution Avenue from Seventh
to 17th streets NW. Grandstand seating tickets start at
$20; standing along the parade route between Ninth and
15th streets is free.
• The Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival, the
largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the
country. The festival is from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. April
16 on M Street and New Jersey Avenue, SE in the Capitol
Riverfront neighborhood. Performances will be on four
stages and the event features more than 80 cultural
groups, arts vendors and food booths. Tickets cost $8 in
advance for adults; children under 12 get in free.
• Cherry Blast, from 6 p.m. April 16 to 2 a.m. April 17 at
Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, 801 K St. NW, is
an ode to Japanese pop culture. Tickets run from $20 to
$125 and feature anime, cosplay, gaming, club scene and
Tokyo street food.
of Japanese culture and cherry trees at the
National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The annual festival, which runs through April 17 this
year, commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry
trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of
Washington, D.C. and has grown over the years to be a
major celebration of spring.
The trees currently grow in three locations: around the
Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park
(Hains Point) and on the Washington Monument grounds.
Judging from what the National Park Service predicted
as the peak bloom time this year — when 70 percent of
the blossoms are open — there’s a good chance there’ll
be plenty of flowers left for viewing. The peak time should
have been from March 18 to March 23 and can last as
long as 14 days unless weather shortens it.
By Linda Doell If you are planning to head down to the nation’s
capital, there are some big events at the end of the
10 | indulge • april/may 2016 festival, including:
• National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, 10 a.m. to
noon, April 16, along Constitution Avenue from Seventh
to 17th streets NW. Grandstand seating tickets start at
$20; standing along the parade route between Ninth and
15th streets is free.
• The Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival, the
largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the
country. The festival is from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. April
16 on M Street and New Jersey Avenue, SE in the Capitol
Riverfront neighborhood. Performances will be on four
stages and the event features more than 80 cultural
groups, arts vendors and food booths. Tickets cost $8 in
advance for adults; children under 12 get in free.
• Cherry Blast, from 6 p.m. April 16 to 2 a.m. April 17 at
Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, 801 K St. NW, is
an ode to Japanese pop culture. Tickets run from $20 to
$125 and feature anime, cosplay, gaming, club scene and
Tokyo street food.
