3rd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival This Weekend

The 3rd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival takes place Sunday, May 31 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library (900 Library Plaza). The event is free to the public, though donations are accepted. The Opening Ceremony will take place at noon in the Great Hall of the ACPL, and will include music, dance and the City Proclamation by Mayor Tom Henry.

Activities will take place throughout the day, including music and dance, a Japanese Tea Ceremony, martial arts and other demonstrations as well as a variety of contests. Authentic Japanese food will be available for purchase.

Musician Yoko Reikano Kimura will be featured as part of the Festival for the second time. She is internationally known for her musicianship with the Koto (Japanese 13-string harp) and the Shamisen (Japanese "banjo"), as well as for singing.

Yoko Reikano Kimura will also be featured in an additional solo concert on Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Meeting House. Hikaru Tamaki, Principal Cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, will be her guest artist.

For more information contact Dorothy Kittaka at (260) 704-3985 or Dkkittaka@verizon.net.