SF’s 2024 Cherry Blossom Festival & Parade

We will meet there at 12noon, just in time for lunch. It's usually till sundown but the Mikoshi is usually around 3-4pm. You can come anytime as long as you text me the time you think you'll arrive. Ideally, between 12-3pm so you'll see most of the festivities. We can be there till 5pm or even later if we decide to grab dinner and drinks after.

Since 1968, the festival serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the vibrant colors and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community in the festivities as San Francisco’s Japantown celebrates Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The celebration coincides with the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Note that the area doesn't have a lot of cherry trees, so don't expect to see a lot of cherry blossoms.

This is the last and culminating day of the festival that runs for 2 consecutive weekends. This is also the parade day and will have the possibility to see the Mikoshi, see YouTube below. It's a sight to behold! 😃 

https://youtu.be/4c0Zl1wlDgU?si=sE0AA8RlggfQlL1P

Another highlight is the taiko drums performance. 

https://youtu.be/W6T4aaas6-U?si=JW62uWWb6CSS39Y7

Yes, it can be crowded. But it's not that crowded that we won't have our own little space.

Did I mention all the Japanese delights we’ll gulf down?? Sushi, ramen, curry, takoyaki, gyoza, matcha ice cream, Japanese beer, sake and so many more! We will walk around SF's Japantown and can even do grocery shopping at the Japanese grocery.

RSVP here or text (Rich Villanueva 628-468-7925) if you are coming. For those who need, or even just want to have the possibility, of a host in SF for the night, lemme know and we'll coordinate with other folks attending. So you won't feel the need to rush and get your last bus or train home or drive home with a few beers in you. ;) If you need a carpool, lemme know and I'll create a link.