CONTACT:
Wendy Fujihara Anderson - [email protected]
Office: 626-683-8243  

If you are interested in being on a mailing list, vendor space, sponsorship, and participation - please go to
http://www.cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/activities.html or CLICK ACTIVITIES and fill out the form.  We will send updates and information.

About Us

The Cherry Blossom Festival SoCal first started in April of 2002 in Pasadena, CA.  It was held at the Pasadena Convention Center, Victory Park and the Rose Bowl.  We then moved the festival to the Little Tokyo District of Los Angeles for the next 5 years.  The festival was free to attendees and is held in April.
 
We are now looking to re-design and produce the Cherry Blossom Festival SoCal back in Pasadena, CA in 2019. 
 
The Festival promotes the culture of Americans of Japanese heritage especially focused on the ongoing history of World War II and the internment of Americans of Japanese Ancestry.
 
Pasadena – 2002 – 2006
  • 2002 – Pasadena Convention Center with parade around Paseo Colorado
  • 2003 & 2004 – Victory Park with parade inside the park
  • 2005 & 2006 – Rose Bowl.  2005 held parade on the streets or Rose Bowl
  • We left Pasadena in 2006 with attendance of over 10,000 in the Rose Bowl.
  • Major issue with Rose Bowl – no public transportation
  • DONATED 500 Cherry Trees to the City of Pasadena
 
Los Angeles, Little Tokyo District – 2007 – 2011
  • Held at various street and lot locations in the Little Tokyo District of Los Angeles.
  • LAPD loved our festival so much that we never had any costs with police.  LAPD recruited off-duty police officers to work our event In uniform each year.
  • Closed CBFSoCal in 2011 with 60,000 attendees.
 
FESTIVAL INCLUDED:
  • Main Stage
  • Hawaiian Village & Stage
  • Martial Arts Stage
  • J-Pop Stage
  • Sake & Beer Garden
  • 200 Vendors
  • Food Court
  • JA Pavilion – enclosed culture & history
  • CBFSoCal Camp Stories Award Show (held at Santa Anita Park)
  • George Kiriyama Teachers of Excellence Awards
  • Senator Daniel Inouye Leadership Awards
  • Most Photogenic Dog Contest (voting on-line and at festival)
  • CBFSoCal Fashion Show
  • Kids Craft & Storytelling