Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival

Mark your calendar for the 2025 Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival – April 12!

Sakura, Sumo, and Sake return April 11 – 12, 2025

The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival returns on April 11-12, 2025, in Hot Springs, offering a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture. Sponsored by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, this free, family-friendly event invites attendees to immerse themselves in the beauty and traditions of Japan through cultural displays, interactive games, and demonstrations.

This year, we’re excited to partner with the Sake Brewers Association of North America to bring SakeFest to Hot Springs on Saturday, April 12 after the Cherry Blossom Festival ends. Additionally, sumo wrestling, another popular attraction, will make a thrilling return, offering an up-close look at this iconic sport as six sumo champions go head to head on Friday, April 11 to kick off the incredible weekend.

Join us for a weekend of cultural exploration and celebration, as we continue to build on the strong ties between Arkansas and Japan. Don’t miss the chance to experience Japan right here in Arkansas!

For more information email director@hotspringssistercity.org.

The fourth Annual Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Competition is currently accepting submissions. Top entries will be invited to read their winning haikus at the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival on April 12, 2025, and will be published and displayed at the event.

A haiku is a traditional Japanese poem made of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. Haiku often feature an image, or a pair of images, and capture the essence of a specific moment in time or a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper. These short poems aim to leave the reader with a strong feeling or impression. The competition is open to all Arkansas residents and there are separate categories for adults and youth. Entries are due March 30!

Interested in being a part of the festival?

The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival is a free, family-friendly event celebrating Japanese culture. This event provides an immersive experience into the beauty and customs of Japan through cultural displays, interactive games, and demonstrations. All booths and vendors must have either a connection to Japan, a Japanese theme, or in some way be connected with Japanese culture.  

If you are interested in having a booth at the festival as a school, university, civic group, organization, or vendor, please take a few minutes to complete an information form.

Workshops & Lectures

The Festival will include several cultural workshops and experiences, in addition to a wide range of performances, exhibits and even an opportunity to shop for Japanese items. Workshops are being planned and will include some of the following:

  • Kintsungi
  • What is Manga?
  • Yukata Experience
  • The Zen of Cherry Blossoms
  • Tea Ceremony
  • Ikebana

A huge thanks to everyone who made the 2024 Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival such a huge success!!!

Below are some highlights from previous festivals!!!