Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival in Sakura Park

Saturday, April 14, 2012      11:00 am until 6:00 pm

(The concert will start at 12:00 pm and end at 4:00 pm)

On Saturday April 14th, there will be a Sakura Park Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees to New York.

A century ago, on March 27th, 1912, the Committee of Japanese Residents of New York presented a gift of flowering cherry trees to the people of the City of New York as a physical symbol of natural beauty and international peace and friendship. The dedication and planting ceremony of the trees took place in Claremont Park, in Harlem, now known as Sakura Park (meaning cherry tree in Japanese). The park, which is located at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive, was donated to the city by the Rockefeller family.

The Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival will include a formal ceremony at 11 AM in Sakura Park, followed by a musical concert from 12 Noon to 4 PM in U.S.Grant Memorial Park, directly across from Sakura Park.

The concert will include performances with Japanese and American artists;

Yuichiro Oda

Yuko Darjeeling

T. S. Monk, Jr.

Tokiko Kato

Harlem Youth Marine Color Guard

The National Park Service Ranger Color Guard

Masayho Ishigure

Takako Asahina

Seiji Endo & Kanako Ise featuring Akiha Misaki Band

Zuiho Taiko

Soh Daiko Drummers of New York

Jazzmobile All Star Band

Manhattan School of Music Student Quartet

IMPACT Repertory Theatre

Tiffany Obi – Winner, Apollo Theatre Stars of Tomorrow

Matthew Whitaker – Winner, Apollo Theatre Stars of Tomorrow

Don Eaton & Equinox

The New York African Chorus Ensemble

The United Nations Singers

The Harlem Japanese Choir