Come out and be part of the community at Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival on April 11-13 at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Cost: Free.

The festival promotes cross-cultural exchanges and a deeper understanding about Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage in both traditional and contemporary ways. Enjoy an array of cultural stage presentations including Koto music, Taiko drumming, traditional dance performances and martial arts demonstrations, and appreciate the fine art of Shodo calligraphy and ikebana displays in the Armory Lofts. Family-friendly activities and workshops include children’s kite making, kimono dressing, and tea ceremonies. Delicious culinary treats will be served all three days, so get in line before the food runs out! As a special 50th anniversary expansion, the festival will also host a Sumo Tournament in the Exhibition Hall, and will feature a new arts exhibit by local visual artists.

The Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival was first held in Seward Park to celebrate the gift of 1,000 cherry trees to Seattle by Japan’s former Prime Minister, Takeo Miki. This gift was in commemoration of America’s bicentennial and the long friendship between the people of Japan and Washington state. In 1979, the festival moved to Seattle Center and has now grown into a three-day celebration enjoyed by thousands of people each year.

Seattle Cherry Blossom &Japanese Cultural Festival is part of Seattle Center Festál, a year-round series of 25 free cultural festivals. Learn more here:
https://seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/seattle-cherry-blossom-festival