Kristen Fiore
Audio By Carbonatix
Temperatures climbed to 100 degrees on Saturday, but thousands still made their way to the 51st Cherry Blossom Festival at Denver’s Sakura Square for a day of shopping, food and performances celebrating Japanese culture.
People found air-conditioned relief (and groceries) at Pacific Mercantile, bought cold bottles of ramune from a kiddie pool filled with the popular carbonated drinks, and stood in line for snow cones that came in a dozen flavors. The festival closed a portion of Lawrence Street for a lineup of vendors and entertainment, including Enka singers, taiko drumming, dances, martial arts and more.
Droves of people browsed artisan booths selling everything from dog bandanas and purses to crystals and incense, and takoyaki, gyoza, Spam musubi, teriyaki chicken and more were served up in the gym of the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.
Behind the scenes, volunteers grilled 3,100 pounds of chicken and made rice in 77 rice cookers to satisfy the crowd’s appetite for the food at the temple.
The Cherry Blossom Festival, also known as Sakura Matsuri, brings in an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people, according to organizers. The festival is held at Sakura Square, a commercial development and a cultural hub for Denver’s Japanese-American community that began moving into this part of downtown after World War II, opening small businesses in the area.
The festival officially began in 1974 as a simple food bazaar to raise money for the temple before blossoming into today’s large-scale event organized by the temple and the Sakura Foundation. It was originally held in May, right after the trees bloomed along Cherry Creek, but was moved to June when it was combined for a period of time with Obon, a festival celebrating ancestors that typically takes place in July or August. The joint event no longer exists, but the June date stuck.
The 51st Cherry Blossom Festival will be back for another day on Sunday, June 22. Entertainment starts at 11 a.m. and goes until around 4 p.m.
In the meantime, check out these photos from Saturday, June 21, the first day of the event:
A dance idol group performs at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Gil Asakawa
Around 3,100 pounds of chicken was grilled for the event.
Gil Asakawa
People stand by “The Seeds We Sow” mural at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Snow cones at the Sakura Matsuri.
Kristen Fiore
Bonsai trees for sale in the Lily’s Florist & Gifts booth.
Kristen Fiore
Enka singer Lizzie Hildebrandt performs “Tokyo Banka” at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Crystals and trinkets for sale at one of the booths.
Kristen Fiore
Spam musubi being prepared at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Gil Asakawa
Taiko drummers at the 51st Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
People sit near the stage to catch the entertainment at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Spam musubi is a popular food option at the Denver Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Enka singer Yumino Kimura performs “Jinsei Yume Daiko,” a song about a drum festival, at the 51st Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Incense for sale at the Sakura Matsuri.
Kristen Fiore
A kiddie pool full of bottles of ramune at the 51st Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
My Neighbor Totoro keychains at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kristen Fiore
Meals and snacks were served inside the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple’s gym during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival is the temple’s main fundraiser for the year.
Kristen Fiore
Hina dolls for sale at Nikkei Treasures.
Kristen Fiore
The 51st Cherry Blossom Festival is back for another day on Sunday, June 22, at Sakura Square, 1950 Larimer Street. Admission is free; learn more at cherryblossomdenver.org.
