By Barbara Arnstein
“When you come to the festival, you’ll want to take plenty of photos of the star of the weekend; the cherry blossoms.”, said Paula Hinz, Co-Founder of the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. “You can eat at food trucks and visit the vendors. Since the Japanese Garden is nestled in a classic Buffalo neighborhood, parking is on the city streets, so wear your sneakers and relish the beautiful homes on your walk to the garden. At the festival, you can take a pink boat ride, dance to the live music, learn how to fold origami or speak Japanese, and buy a raffle ticket. On Sunday, wear your pink dress, hat or shoes and join in the Parade at 3pm to officially close the 13th annual Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival.” Visitors can enjoy activities inside the Buffalo History Museum as well as in the Japanese Garden. Those with accessibility needs should speak to the security guard in the museum’s parking lot regarding parking.
“In order to preserve our beautiful blossoms for the future, take photos, not blossoms, branches or buds. Buds will not grow back. Also, do not step on the roots”, she continued. “The Japanese Garden is a beautiful pink cloud in spring, but we encourage people to return in summer for a walk, in fall for the foliage and in winter for the contrast of white snow and red twig dogwood. It’s a four-season garden and beautiful all year round.”
The family-friendly annual event began in 2014, to support the upkeep of the cherry grove in Delaware Park, and now supports cherry tree plantings in Buffalo, too. On both Saturday, April 25th, and Sunday, April 26th, live music will be performed on the Portico Stage, the Garden Stage and in the Auditorium.
Several nonprofit organizations will be represented there, including the Japan Culture Center and the Buffalo Sister Cities Coalition. The eleven food trucks at the festival will include: Cereal Spot, Cheesy Chicks, Fat Bob’s, Hibachi Fried Rice, Mad Iron’s, Sammies’n’Sweets, Sun Cuisine, Tiny Thai, the Udder Brothers ice cream bicycle, Yakisoba’s Noodle & Teriyaki, and World of Desserts. The vendors will include: Minerally Obsessed, Clay by Jaclyn, Sundry Pottery, Willa’s Woolies, and fifteen more.
Before parking for free on the surrounding streets, check the street signs to confirm a spot’s legality, and be sure not to block any driveways. Free parking is also available during the festival at Lot R-14 on the Buffalo State Campus. The lot is off Rockwell Drive, past the entrance for the Richard Olmsted Complex. For more information, go to: buffalocherryblossomfestival.org/events.