HOT SPRINGS -- Guests entered the fourth Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on March 21 through a torii gate at the Hot Springs Convention Center surrounded by branches of tissue-paper cherry blossoms and to the sound of a taiko drummer.
Hosted by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Program, the Journey Through Japan featured screens projecting images of the four seasons of Japan and a large screen with images of cherry blossoms. There was a large display of kimonos and obis, cultural exhibits and a chance for festivalgoers to make origami, practice calligraphy and write haiku. An exhibit commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and another exhibit featured items from Hot Springs' sister city, Hanamaki.
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4th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
The 4th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival was held March 21 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. It was hosted by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Program.
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Due to covid, guests were required to sign up for the free event and arrive at different intervals; a silent auction was held online.
Money raised from the silent auction goes for a scholarship fund for Garland County students to travel to Hanamaki as part of a yearly delegation.
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins