Japanese Friendship Garden’s Cherry Blossom Festival

One of the main draws of the Cherry Blossom Festival is the performance lineup, which will run from 11:00am to 6:00pm every day of the festival. I can say that I was thoroughly impressed last year with the variety and number of performers.

Stage Performances at the Cherry Blossom Festival

Who is Performing in 2026?

The Japanese Friendship Garden will host four full days of performances at the Inamori Pavilion. These performances highlight different aspects of Japanese culture, from dancing and singing to martial arts.

Highlights include:

• Alex Guillen
• Jerry William
• Asayake Taiko
• San Diego Budokan
• Buddhist Temple of San Diego Ondo Dancers

You can also expect to see taiko drummers, a Geisha opera singer, bands inspired by anime and video games, kendo demonstrations, and various additional dance groups.

I have to tell you from personal experience that these performers are truly out of this world! They are quality professionals who are masters of their art. The complete schedule of 2026 performers for each day's events can be found on the event site.

In between performances, stop by the vendor stalls to do some shopping and grab a bite to eat.

Delicious Food at the Cherry Blossom Festival

Merchant Stalls

All merchant stalls in the upper garden will be open daily from 10:00am until 6:00pm.

Some of the items you can expect to see include:

• Art prints
• Cherry blossom themed designs
• Resin works
• Jewelry
• Ceramics
• Clothing
• Various other handmade goods

The full lineup of 2026 merchants is available on the event's official website.

Lots of Food Booths at the Cherry Blossom Festival

Food at the Festival

I suggest that you take a walk to the lower garden any day of the festival from 10:00 am to 6:00pm and sample some tasty treats. Food vendors will offer a selection of Asian meals, snacks, and drinks. These will include sushi, mochi, dumplings, rice balls, Thai burgers, and sweets like kettle corn and shaved ice.

The mochi dumplings are among my favorites, so I suggest you try one if you attend. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

New in 2026

I'm told there will be new attractions this year. A wall of lanterns and community art exhibit will now be part of the festival. There also always seems to be unannounced surprises so we'll have to discover those together!

If these attractions are anything like what is already included, I know you'll be in for a treat.

Kids Face Paint Area at the Cherry Blossom Festival

Children's Area

Face painting, temporary tattoos, and a sticker bar will be available at the Children's Garden all four festival dates from 11:00 am until 4:00pm. A parent or guardian has to be with the child at all times.

I always notice families getting their faces painted and kids diving into hands-on activities. This is definitely a popular part of the festival.

Yukata Dressing

I don't remember this event being part of the festival last year, so I would definitely try it out! For a $20 fee, you can get dressed in a traditional yukata and take pictures among the cherry blossoms for an unforgettable experience.

This very special event will take place from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Day 2, Friday, March 13th.