Watch: Cupertino mayor invites public to Cherry Blossom festival

Photo of the 2017 edition of the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival. Courtesy of Cupertino Toyokawa Sister Cities California.Photo of the 2017 edition of the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival. Courtesy of Cupertino Toyokawa Sister Cities California.

In a promotional video published to YouTube last week, Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul invited the community to attend the 35th Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival on April 28 and 29.

The award-winning, family-friendly festival helps support an ongoing 40-year-long sister city relationship between Cupertino and Toyokawa, Japan, that includes both youth and adult exchanges.

The festival is held throughout Cupertino’s Memorial Park, in the Quinlan Community Center and in the Cupertino Senior Center, Paul said. The festival includes arts and crafts, Japanese arts and cultural displays, Japanese food, children’s activities, free hands-on projects, live entertainment on two stages and cultural demonstrations.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy,” Paul said.

Admission and entertainment is free, and parking in lots A and B at De Anza College is also free.

“Proceeds from the festival allow the [sister city partnership between Cupertino and Toyokawa] to conduct an annual student exchange program and an adult exchange every 5 years,” Paul said.

This coming November, Paul will lead a delegation to Toyokawa. The city will also host 43 visitors from Toyakawa in July.