Celebrate Japanese-American culture, food, music, crafts and dance at Denver’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Saturday & Sunday, June 22 & 23. FREE performances start each day at 11 a.m. and include martial arts, folk dancing, Japanese drumming, Japanese Enka (traditional) songs, and lots more.
The gymnasium in the Temple is home to a variety of food and drink, including the popular teriyaki chicken plate lunch, Asian chicken salad, sushi and delicious Japanese sweets called manju.
Volunteers will be pouring complimentary hot green tea, but if that’s too much heat on a warm summer day, head outside for a cold glass of craft beer and a tasty teriyaki burger. For a real Japanese experience, try the sake – Kampai (“Cheers”)!
Visit “Arts & Eats Underground”, located underneath the Temple to cool off. Just enter the Temple gates on Lawrence Street, turn right and go down the stairs. There you will find refreshing chilled somen (thin wheat flour noodles) and other snacks. Watch live Japanese-inspired art demonstrations by local artists.
Or browse through jewelry, anime, pottery, fine art, apparel and more. The marketplace will include informational booths representing Japanese and Japanese American organizations. The festival is staged between Lawrence & Larimer and 19th & 20th Streets in Downtown Denver.
