2016 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
The 2016 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrating its 49th year, is said to be the second largest festival outside of Washington, D.C.. Each year, over 200,000 people attend this dazzling display celebrating the blooming of cherry blossoms at one of three remaining Japantowns in the United States.
The Grand Parade will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2016, beginning at City Hall at 1 pm up Polk Street, down Post Street and concluding in Japantown. [View Parade Map]
49th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
– April 9-10, 2016 | 10 am to 5 pm
– April 16-17, 2016 | 10 am to 5 pm
– Parade – Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 1 pm
Japantown (Post and Buchanan Streets), San Francisco
FREEAll are welcome to join in the festivities as San Francisco’s Japantown celebrates Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The festival will be held on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets.
There will be food booths, cultural performances, J-Pop, cosplay, taiko drumming, martial arts, live bands, DJs, Japanese games, a Lolita fashion show, Japanese doll displays, the annual Queen Program (held at the Kabuki Theater on April 9, 2016 at 6 pm) and much more.
Hello Kitty Treat Truck
April 9, April 10 and April 16 | 10 am to 5 pm
It’s baaack! The truck will be selling Hello Kitty cakes, donuts, macarons and other sweets, and of course Hello Kitty swag like water bottles. The truck attracted huge crowds last year, so here’s your next chance to go ga-ga for Hello Kitty. For the kiddos, there are special games, crafts and prizes featuring Hello Kitty and friends at the Sanrio Kids Corner along Post Street next to the Kinokuniya Building.2016 Sakura Classic Kendama Championships
April 9-10 | 11 am to 7 pm
Come watch the top pros demonstrate the high level skills of freestyle kendama play and learn how to play yourself with multiple free workshops throughout the festival.
