The 20th Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will be staged on Feb. 2, and remember its past with an anniversary exhibit, entertainment by some of the festival’s first performers and a commemoration of its founders.
The 20th Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will be staged on Feb. 2, and remember its past with an anniversary exhibit, entertainment by some of the festival’s first performers and a commemoration of its founders.
For two decades, the free community festival has showcased the 60-year-old cherry trees planted at Church Row Park and the Japanese tradition of viewing them — hanami.
The event, held annually on the first Saturday of February, includes a variety of activities from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at venues throughout Waimea. Look for pink banners identifying site locations.
Activities will stretch from the Parker Ranch Historic Homes on Mamalahoa Highway 190, on the Kona end of town, to the Hawaiian Homesteads Farmers Market on Highway 19, on the Hilo side of Waimea.
Spend the day, to experience the impressive lineup of Japanese and multi-cultural performing arts, plus hands-on demonstrations of bonsai, origami, traditional tea ceremony, fun mochi pounding and a host of colorful craft fairs. Enjoy free shuttle transportation among most venues. For more information, please call 961-8706.