Large crowds will gather to see the blooming cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this weekend (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
900 Washington Ave. at Eastern Parkway
Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, $20-$25 (children under twelve free), 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
718-623-7200
www.bbg.org
In her book The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration, author Ann McClellan writes, “The breathtaking sight of the cherry trees blooming in Japan has inspired princes, poets, artists, and ordinary people for over 1000 years.” However, just as every rose has its thorn, “The sublime beauty of the flowers and their brief life at the beginning of each spring symbolize the essence of a human’s short life well-lived.” This weekend, the beauty, delicateness, and symbolic nature of the cherry blossom will be honored as more than a hundred cherry trees are expected to bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. On Saturday and Sunday, the annual Sakura Matsuri will include live music and dance, parades, workshops, demonstrations, martial arts, fashion shows, and much more. The festival will feature Ikebana flower arranging, a bonsai exhibit, Shogi chess, a manga mural, a wall scroll show, rice shaker and origami workshops, garden tours, shopping, a bookstore, Japanese food, and more, taking place all day long. Below are just some of the highlights of other special, more time-specific events.
Saturday
Children’s Suzuki Recital, with Brooklyn College Preparatory Center, auditorium, 11:00 am
The Battersby Show, with special guest Misako Rocks, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 12:30
Ikebana Flower Arranging Demonstration, with Sogetsu expert Fumiko Allinder, auditorium, 12:30
Dancejapan with Sachiyo Ito, Cherry Esplanade, 1:00
IchiP Dance Party, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 1:15
BBG Parasol Society Fashion Show, featuring J-pop singer Hitomi Himekawa of Rainbow Bubble, Cherry Esplanade, 2:00
Hanagasa Odori Parade, with Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 2:00
Urasenke Tea Ceremony, auditorium, 3:00 & 4:30
Samurai Sword Soul, Cherry Esplanade, 4:00
The Battersby Show, with special guest Jed Henry, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 4:15
Sunday
Soh Daiko, Cherry Esplanade, 12 noon
“The Art of Bonsai” Lecture, with Julian Velasco, auditorium, 12 noon
Awa Odori Parade, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 1:00 & 4:30
Ukiyo-e Illustration Demonstration with Artist Jed Henry, J-Lounge Art Alley at Osborne Garden, 1:30 & 3:00
Dancejapan with Sachiyo Ito, Cherry Esplanade, 2:00
Sohenryu-Style Tea Ceremony, with Soumi Shimizu and Sōkyo Shimizu, auditorium, 2:30 & 4:00
Magician Rich Kameda, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 2:00 & 4:00
Hitomi Himekawa and the Rainbow Bubble Girls, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 3:00
Ryukyu Chimdon Band, Cherry Esplanade, 4:00
Cosplay Fashion Show, Cherry Esplanade, 5:15