Results tagged “cherryblossomfestival”

We always manage to miss the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival—maybe because it's only held one weekend, as opposed to D.C.'s festival, which lasts a month. Inevitably, after the festival, somebody will post videos like this one that make us swear that next year, we really will make it. Really.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

We all know Philly is a sports town, so much so that sports couldn't even be left out of our celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival (3/25-4/10). "But what sport has anything to do with cherry blossoms?" you ask. Well, you've probably already guessed from the picture over there, but...it's the ancient Japanese sport of sumo wrestling, of course! Phillyist has always been fascinated by this ritualized competition of large men trying to push each other out of a ring, so we were excited to hear about the Festival event at the International House, wherein the United States Sumo Federation will explain the sport, give a demonstration, and then invite audience members to come up and try it themselves! The event description says "sumo wrestling isn't just for huge men with good hairstyles and massive thighs and bellies," so we suppose even lightweights, females, and people having a bad hair day can give it a try. Awesome.

The festival begins this weekend with a black-tie Gala at the Union League on Saturday, then continues at venues around the city with events including: taiko drumming, sake tasting, story hours, tea ceremonies and a visit from the Cherry Blossom Queen herself. Cherry Blossom fans can also visit the trees in Fairmont Park, or help to sponsor The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia's Cherry Tree Planting Project.