Cupertino 42nd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Cupertino’s 42nd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival opened Saturday, April 25, across Memorial Park, the Quinlan Community Center and the Senior Center. (cupertino.gov) (caljapansistercities.org) The two-day festival runs Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free admission and free parking at De Anza College and Flint Center. (caljapansistercities.org) (deanza.edu) The event is organized around Japanese arts, culture and traditions tied to Cupertino’s sister-city relationship with Toyokawa, Japan. Demonstrations and booths include ikebana, bonsai, tea ceremonies, origami and calligraphy. (caljapansistercities.org) Live entertainment is spread across the park and indoor venues, with music, dance and martial arts groups on the program. The amphitheater stage is scheduled for performances from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on both days. (caljapansistercities.org) (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org) The park remains the main festival ground, with shopping, food and entertainment booths clustered around Memorial Park. Organizers placed the information booth and volunteer center at the gazebo. (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org) The Quinlan Community Center hosts indoor exhibits, demonstrations, activities and a photo booth. The festival’s selfie room and Japanese-themed backdrops are set up there, along with free-use kimono and yukata for families. (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org 1) (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org 2) The Senior Center is renamed the Japanese Pavilion for the weekend and serves as another indoor venue connected to the park grounds. Its front entrance faces Stevens Creek Boulevard, with festival access from the back entrance facing the park. (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org) Families are a major part of the setup. Organizers advertised KidZone games run by student-led groups, along with a petting zoo and pony rides. (cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org) (caljapansistercities.org) The festival closes Sunday evening after two days built around a sister-city tradition that Cupertino-Toyokawa organizers say returns each year on the last weekend in April. (cupertinotoyokawa.org)