MEDIA ADVISORY
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY
Numerous Photo and Interview Opportunities Throughout the Week
Contact: Paula Hinz
Festival Co-Chair
(716) 986-2840
paula_hinz@yahoo.com
Click here to view a PDF of this media advisory.
This year’s festival kicks off on May 2, and runs through May 6. It features activities for all ages, from a Music Day to a Family Day.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mentholatum, and to the following generous supporters for making this festival possible (in alphabetical order): Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, Lockhouse Distillery, Music is Art, North Park Theatre and The Buffalo History Museum.
All of the net proceeds that are raised from the Cherry Blossom Festival benefit the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy in the care and maintenance of the Japanese Garden.
Please see below for the upcoming festival schedule:
May 2 – May 6, 2018
All events take place at the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park or The Buffalo History Museum (TBHM) 1 Museum Court, off Elmwood Avenue, unless noted.
Wednesday, May 2, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30pm: Festival Opening
Booze and Brews, Buffalo’s Blossoming Craft lndustry
Tasting at 5pm, Panel Discussion at 6pm*
Sample seasonal drinks and learn about the developing brewing and distilling industry that is growing locally.
21+ event at TBHM Auditorium.
Saturday, May 5, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Music Day by Music is Art
11:00 a.m. Taiko Drum Circle on Grass
12::00 p.m. Japanese Group of Buffalo Chorus
12:20 p.m. Oodori No Kai – Japanese Folk Dancers
12:40 p.m. Mom Said No
1:10 p.m. DJ Sashimi / Robby Takac
1:40 p.m. “Shibuki” Niagara Taiko Drum Group
2:10 p.m. The Molice (Japan)
2:50 p.m. The Molice w/ Taiko Group
Live art featuring Chris Main, Vinny Alejandro, Thomas Webb, Kelly Kresconko, and Mark Adamusik.
Live DJ sets featuring DJ Bud Redding, Brandon Curry, and Josh Santoro.
Food trucks and Pink boat rides.
Sunday, May 6, 11:00 a.m. – ‘Cherry Blossom Challenge’ Orienteering
Navigate your way on a 2.5 km course that starts and ends at the Japanese Garden and Delaware Park. (www.buffalo-orienteering.org)
Sunday, May 6, Noon – 3:00pm – Family Day
Celebrate the festival inside the museum and outside in the Garden including puppet shows, origami and crafts for children. Participate in a pink parade, dance the May Pole or visit the Instrument Zoo provided by Music is Art. Food trucks and Pink boat rides.
12:30 p.m.: ‘The Bamboo Princess’ a Japanese fairytale Puppet Show
2:00 p.m.: Traditional Japanese Folk Puppetry demonstration; featuring Kuruma Ningyo puppetry
3:00 p.m.: Pink Parade to end the 5th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
Pop-Up Japanese Tea Ceremony, During Full-Bloom, Date to be determined!
Join us on the Portico for an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony. Date during full-bloom will be announced with a 48-hour notice. Check our Website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the pop-up event date.
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About the Friends of the Japanese Garden
The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, which is maintained by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC). Its cherry tree orchard is situated in a picturesque location; the Statue of President Lincoln, which sits atop the portico of The Buffalo History Museum, gazes out into the orchard with Mirror Lake providing a frame for this colorful, yet peaceful garden. Learn more at: http://www.buffalocherryblossomfestival.org
The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival is organized by The Friends of the Japanese Garden, a volunteer organization that supports Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s goal of caring for the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park. All net proceeds raised from the Festival are used to preserve and enhance the special nature of this garden.
About the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the first nonprofit organization in the nation to manage and operate an entire urban park system that consists of over 850 acres of beautifully designed parks, parkways and circles. The park system was designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, 150 years ago and today, more than 2.5 million people use Buffalo’s historic, award-winning Olmsted Park System annually for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. Since 2004, necessary maintenance of the parks has been greatly improved since the groundbreaking public/private agreement between the City of Buffalo, Erie County and The Buffalo Park Conservancy. The Conservancy is a membership-based, community organization whose mission is to promote, preserve, restore, enhance and maintain the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed landscape in the Greater Buffalo area. Learn more: bfloparks.wpengine.com.
The Buffalo Olmsted Park System includes:
Six parks: Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo, Delaware Park in Delaware/Parkside District, Front Park at the Peace Bridge, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Fillmore Avenue, Riverside Park at Niagara and Tonawanda Street, and South Park at McKinley Parkway
Seven parkways: Bidwell, Chapin, Lincoln, McKinley, Porter, Red Jacket, and Richmond
Eight landscaped traffic circles: Agassiz, Colonial, Ferry, Gates, McClellan, McKinley, Soldiers, and Symphony.
