Cherry Blossom Festival
Join us March 29 – April 5 at Red Wing Park for a delightful fusion of cultural celebration and the natural beauty of blooming cherry blossoms.
Together with our sister city, Miyazaki, Japan, we celebrate the blossom season with a variety of programs that promote the rich culture and beauty of Japanese music and art. This week-long celebration includes Japanese Garden Tours, cultural performances, martial arts demos, custom shirts, children’s activities, and more!
Visit us on the weekends of March 29-30 & April 5, to experience various cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, activities, and food trucks!
NEW! On Sunday, March 30, we will be hosting our first Vendor Market! You will find vendors from education to selling merchandise, artwork, snacks, and crafts that reflect Asian culture and cherry blossom themes.
The weekdays will consist of Japanese garden tours, Kid’s Paint Nite, Virtual Koto, Self-Defense, and Japanese Martial Arts Workshops.
Registration opens on March 1st, 2025, at 9 a.m.
Event Schedule
Martial Arts Demonstrations (Karatedo)
11 – 11:20 a.m.
Okinawa Sanshin of Virginia
11:40 Aa.m. to noon
NEW Radio Taiso Exercise
Audience participation
12:20 p.m.
Martial Arts Demonstrations (Kobudo)
1-1:20 p.m.
Okinawa Sanshin of Virginia
2-2:20 p.m.
Martial Arts Demonstrations (Iaido)
2:40 – 3 p.m.
Interactive Activities
- Coloring station
- Create your own Bookmark
- Haniwa Display
- NEW Japanese Riichi Mahjong (Japanese board game)
- Origami station
- Tea serving in the Japanese Garden
- Yellow Postbox Mail Station
*Activities are while supplies last.
NEW Vendor Market
Ocean Lakes High School
Bon Odori (traditional Japanese dance)
11 – 11:20 a.m.
NEW Radio Taiso Exercise
Audience participation
12:20 p.m.
Martial Arts Demonstrations (Aikido)
1 – 1:20 p.m.
Interactive Activities
- Create your own button
- Haniwa Display
- NEW Japanese Riichi Mahjong (Japanese board game)
- Tea serving in the Japanese Garden
- Virginia Beach Public Libraries Book Mobile
- Yellow Postbox Mail Station
*Activities are while supplies last
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
11 a.m.
Red Wing Park
Self-Defense Workshop for Beginners (Goshinjutsu)
(registration required)
4 – 5 p.m.
Great Neck Indoor Pavilion
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
6 p.m.
Red Wing Park
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
11 a.m.
Red Wing Park
Kids Paint Nite
(registration required)
5 – 6:30 p.m.
Red Wing Park
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
11 a.m.
Red Wing Park
NEW Intro to Classic Japanese Martial Arts Workshop
(registration required)
6 – 7 p.m.
Great Neck Indoor Pavilion
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
6 p.m.
Red Wing Park
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
11 a.m.
Red Wing Park
Kids Paint Nite
(registration required)
5 – 6:30 p.m.
Red Wing Park
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
11 a.m.
Red Wing Park
Koto Hybrid Workshop
(registration required)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Central Library
Japanese Garden Tour
(registration required)
6 p.m.
Red Wing Park
Self-Defense Workshop for Beginners (Goshinjutsu)
(registration required)
6 – 7 p.m.
Great Neck Indoor Pavilion
Hula Studio Kahanuola
11 – 11:20 a.m.
NEW Triangle Taiko
12 – 12:30 p.m.
NEW Radio Taiso
Exercise
Audience participation
12:45 p.m.
Hula Studio Kahanuola
1 – 1:20 p.m.
NEW Triangle Taiko
2 – 2:30 p.m.
Martial Arts Demonstrations (Judo)
2:40 – 3 p.m.
Interactive Activities
- Coloring Station
- Create Your Own Bookmark
- Haniwa Display
- NEW Japanese Riichi Mahjong (Japanese board game)
- Tea serving in the Japanese Garden
- Yellow Postbox Mail Station
Know before you go:
- Expect traffic delays near the area during the festival.
- Free Admission
- Free Parking – Grass Field opens at 10 a.m. (Weekends ONLY)
- Limited Accessible Parking Available
- Japanese Garden Parking will be closed.
- Basketball courts will be closed.
- Dog park entrances will be modified.
- Seating is limited, guests are encouraged to bring their own chair.
- Food and drinks available for purchase.
- Due to high traffic in the event area, please use crosswalks when crossing the roads.
- Guests can expect loud noises at the performance stage.
Parking Instructions
Parking will be available in the park’s grass lot during Cherry Blossom events. Please follow signs, designated parking directors, and traffic flow during your visit.
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Grass Field: General parking and additional accessible parking.
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Park Office/Dog Park Lot: Reserved for handicap-accessible parking only.
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Japanese Garden Lot: This lot will be closed during the event.
Virginia Beach Cherry Blossom Festival
Vivaldi Spring
A birds-eye view of 150 Yoshino cherry trees in peak bloom at Virginia Beach’s Red Wing Park, a gift from International Sister City Miyazaki City, Japan, in 2005. Vivaldi’s “Spring” is performed by "Symphonicity,” an all-volunteer orchestra in Hampton Roads, Va., featuring violinist Megan Van Gomple.
Fashion with a Conscience
Celebrate spring and the cherry blossoms in style by purchasing a custom-designed Red Wing Park t-shirt, tank top, or sweatshirt to benefit the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation. The shirts will be on sale ONLINE only. They are available in youth and adult sizes in a variety of styles and colors.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors
Cherry Blossom Festival
