Events
2026 Spring Upcoming Events
2026 Spring Upcoming Events
Bloomfest
When: Sunday, April 19th, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Prudential Concert Grove, Branch Brook Park, NJ
Celebrate the culminating event of the 50th Anniversary of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival with a full day of family-friendly fun in New Jersey’s pinkest park. Enjoy a vibrant lineup of activities including Japanese cultural demonstrations, children’s programming, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, delicious food vendors, and more—all set among the iconic cherry blossom trees.
Hanami Nights
When: Saturday, May 9th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: along Central Park West, 81st-69th Street, New York City
Find a spot on Cherry Esplanade to enjoy the cherry blossoms, lit up for maximum effect, and savor the spring vibe with family and friends. Stroll in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and along Cherry Walk, try your hand at origami and other Japanese crafts, view a curated display of bonsai, and enjoy live performances and specialty food and drinks. Bring a blanket and picnic under the cherry blossoms!
Japan Parade 2026
When: Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:30 pm ~ 8:15 pm
Where: Cherry Esplanade, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, NY
2026 Odori-zome (New Year Dance)
Join us for the annual New Year Dance, Odori-zome, by Sachiyo Ito & Company Dance School on January 25th at the Gibney Center in Manhattan. This vibrant celebration brings together a multicultural and intergenerational ensemble of Japanese dance students alongside distinguished guest artists including singers Beth Griffith, Yoko Yamashita, New York Taiko Aiko-kai (NYTAK), Chinese Opera performer Junqing Tao.
A book signing for Sachiyo Ito’s Memoir will follow the performance.