Tuscaloosa’s 40th Annual Sakura Festival
The theme of this year’s Sakura Festival is a promise to carry on the 40 year connection that was built between the community of Tuscaloosa and Japan for many more precious decades to come.
The spring celebration of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, reminds us of the value of each moment, while the return of spring awakens us to fresh possibilities in life. This year’s theme reminds us to cherish and carry on the connection that was built between the community of Tuscaloosa and our sister-city, Narashino, in Japan.
Activities include:
| 11:00 am | Welcome message and UA Arboretum cherry tree announcement |
| 11:10 am | Japanese Class: learn a few basic phrases in Japanese with Kobayashi sensei of the University of Alabama. |
| 11:30 am | Traditional Japanese drum music by Nozomi Daiko: Laurie Arizumi from the Critical Languages Center and UA Students |
| 12:00 pm | Break for activities |
| 12:45 pm | Judo demonstration by Misfit Martial Arts instructor Bryan Smith. |
| 1:00 pm | UA JLCS and Sister Cities High School Delegates perform traditional Japanese folk dances. |
| 1:30 pm | Cosplay Contest entries and winners are announced. *Contestants must be present to win. |
| 2:00 pm | Haiku Contest winning entries will be announced before closing remarks. |
When:
Saturday, March 28, 2026
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where:
Snow Hinton Park Pavilion
1000 Hargrove Rd E
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
For additional information:
Visit the Sakura Festival or their Facebook page.
