Celebrate spring and experience the beauty of Japanese culture at the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival in Hot Springs. This free, family-friendly event brings together live performances, cultural demonstrations, hands-on activities, and opportunities to learn more about the traditions that connect Hot Springs with our sister city, Hanamaki, Japan.
From dynamic stage performances to interactive cultural experiences throughout the day, the festival is designed for all ages—whether you’re attending for the first time or returning as a long-time supporter.
Featured Guest: Yoshi Amao
We’re excited to welcome Yoshi Amao to the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival. Known for his engaging storytelling and Japanese cultural programs, Yoshi brings a unique blend of humor, history, and tradition to audiences across the U.S. His appearances are consistently a crowd favorite—don’t miss the chance to see him as part of this year’s festival lineup.
Be watching for upcoming updates
More details will be released soon, including registration links, deadlines, and schedules. Please check back often for information on:
- Workshop Registration – A full list of workshops and instructions on how to register will be posted as details are finalized.
- Vendor Registration – Information for artists, food vendors, and cultural exhibitors interested in participating will be available soon.
- Volunteer Sign-Up – Volunteer opportunities and sign-up details will be posted for those who would like to help make the festival a success.
- Additional festival details – More announcements are coming, including performances, activities, vendors, and special experiences throughout the day.
Stay connected
For the latest updates, check back on this page regularly and follow us on social media. We look forward to sharing more details soon and welcoming you to the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival.
Haiku Competition
The Annual Haiku Competition is a featured literary tradition of the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival and returns in partnership with the Arkansas Haiku Society and sponsored by its president, Howard Lee Kilby.
Open to Arkansas residents of all ages, with adult and youth (18 & under) categories, the competition celebrates haiku—three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables that capture a moment in time. Selected by a published haiku poet, top entries will be read, published, and displayed at the festival on April 4, 2026, with cash prizes awarded.
Deadline: March 19, 2026
Limit: Two haiku per person
Origami Competition
The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival is pleased to introduce the Origami Competition, proudly sponsored by Aitoh Specialty Paper. Open to artists of all ages, the competition celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the traditional Japanese art of paper folding.
Interested in being a part of the festival?
We invite vendors to join us for this vibrant, family-friendly celebration of Japanese culture, community, and creativity in Hot Springs. Vendor spaces are available for artists, makers, nonprofits, and businesses whose work aligns with the spirit of the festival. Please complete the vendor application using the link below to be considered. If you have questions or need additional information, email us at director@hotspringssistercity.org.
We couldn’t do it without our Sponsors
Sponsorship of the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival helps make this free, family-friendly celebration of Japanese culture possible. With more than 4,000 attendees each year, the festival offers sponsors meaningful visibility while supporting cultural exchange, arts education, and tourism in Hot Springs. Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels, and all support—large or small—plays an important role in bringing this vibrant community event to life.
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
View sponsorship opportunities below or contact us to learn more.