Celebrate Spring with the 9th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival returns. (Photo courtesy of the Buffalo History Museum)

Mon April 25, 2022 5:45 PM

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival returns in person for its ninth year, April 28-May 1. The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo History Museum, Friends of the Japanese Garden and Music is Art will once again partner to host a celebration of spring and cherry blossoms in the Japanese Garden at Delaware Park.

Organizers said, “The festival features exhibits and events that celebrate Buffalo’s longstanding ties to its sister city, Kanazawa, Japan, which has helped maintain the city’s Japanese garden over the decades. Dozens of cherry blossom trees bloom directly behind the Buffalo History Museum in the Japanese Garden, creating one of Western New York’s most iconic scenic views and the perfect backdrop for a spring festival.

Melissa Brown, Executive Director of the Buffalo Museum of History, added, “Nothing says spring in Western New York like the return of the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival and the beautiful blooms behind our museum. This celebration of Japanese history, culture and the natural beauty of our region is a staple of our festival season.

Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, said, “Being back in person for the ninth annual Cherry Blossom Festival just adds to the exciting extra year we have ahead of us celebrating the 200th anniversary. of Olmsted. In fact, the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park is also celebrating its 60th anniversary of affiliation with Kanazawa in Japan. The festival supports this special landscape, and the Buffalo History Museum and Friends of the Japanese Garden have always been essential partners in developing this thriving experience with expanded education and culture.

Paula Hinz of Friends of the Japanese Garden said, “Year after year, the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival brings visitors to the Japanese Garden to stroll along the flowering trees and enjoy the gift of spring after a long cold winter. These delicate flowers only last a short time and remind us of the fleeting nature of life.

This year’s events are:

• Fundraising for the festival

Thursday April 28 | 6-8 p.m.

The Buffalo History Museum | A museum courtyard

Ticket price: $40 a pair | $25 per person (day of event $50 per pair | $30 per person)

This year’s fundraiser for the Japanese Garden is taking place at the Buffalo History Museum and includes a flower basket raffle, local bites, wine drawn and live music by cellist and multi-genre musician Leah Rankin and the indie rock duo on Tuesday night. This event is organized by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Friends of the Japanese Garden, Music is Art and the Buffalo History Museum. For tickets or more information, visit https://one.bidpal.net/blossoms22/welcome.

• Party weekend

Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Japanese Garden in Delaware Park and Buffalo History Museum

Celebrate inside the Buffalo History Museum and outside in the Japanese Garden with exhibits and cultural activities. Learn about bonsai, origami, folk dolls, and Kanazawa (Buffalo’s sister city in Japan) at the Buffalo History Museum’s activity tables. Enjoy Music is the three live music stages of Art in the Japanese Garden. Stroll through the garden, admire the flowers and take a ride on the pink boats of Mirror Lake. Grab a bite to eat from Cheesy Chick, Fat Bob’s, and Tiny Thai food trucks, and enjoy a pop-up tea ceremony on the museum’s upper portico.

For a full program visit: https://www.buffalocherryblossomfestival.org/.

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the nation’s first nonprofit organization to manage and operate a comprehensive urban parks system comprised of more than 850 acres of uniquely designed historic parks, parkways and circles. The Conservancy is an independent, non-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to promote, preserve, restore, enhance and maintain parks and parkways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the Greater Buffalo area for present and future generations. Visit www.bfloparks.org.

The Buffalo History Museum has been one of Western New York’s premier historical organizations since 1862.

The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society (doing business as the Buffalo History Museum) is a private, nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Learn more at www.buffalohistory.org.

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival is held in conjunction with Friends of the Japanese Garden, a voluntary organization that supports Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s goal of caring for the park’s Japanese Garden in Delaware. All net profits generated by the festival are used to preserve and enhance the special nature of this garden.

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