• Date: Sunday, May 6th, 2012, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: Roger T. Sermon Center
• Admission: $2.00
• Event flyer

A wonderful way to get acquainted with the Japanese Sister City is to attend the annual Spring Cherry Blossom festival on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Sermon Center, located on the corner of Noland & Truman.

In 1983 the Japanese Sister City Commission initiated a one day festival featuring Japanese arts, crafts and food. The event is held annually at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center. It takes place in the spring of each year.

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Independence is about the shared relationship between Independence and Higashimurayama. The activities and displays assist the public in awareness of Japan as well as a way to get to know the students who are participating in the exchange program or the Alumni who have participated in the program in the past. It also encourages students in learning about the exchange program. All proceeds of the festival go to the exchange student program. It is also a great time for old friends to get together and new people to meet the Japanese Sister City Committee (JSCC).

Activities can include:

• Raku Pottery onsite glazing and firing
• Picture Sharing room
• Higashimurayama gift display
• Ikebana Flower arrangements display and sales area
• Japanese bazaar
• Yoshiko Yamanaka and the Japan Club of Kansas City
• Teriyaki chicken, fried rice, salad, drinks and desserts
• Performances from Glendale Elementary School Theater Group
• Japanese martial arts demonstrations
• Japanese Dance

• Bento Box lunch
• Hand made jewelry
• Cherry desserts and drinks
• 2nd floor Memory Sharing Room
• 1st annual Cherry Blossom Queen Carolyn Weeks
• Design Living
• Game Café and Yu-Gi-Oh mini-tournament
• Daft Crafts
• Japanese cooking demonstration

For more information about the Cherry Blossom Festival, contact Commission Chair John Seeley.