The 38th Annual Sakura Festival will be at the Warner Transportation Museum on Saturday, March 23rd from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The Annual Sakura Haiku contest is open to entries online, here! The last day to enter is March 15th. Winners of the Haiku Contest will be announced at the festival and certificates will be mailed out at a later date.
The theme of this year’s Sakura Festival is “Uketsugu” or “Preserve.”
The spring celebration of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, reminds us of the value of each moment, while the return of spring awakens us to fresh possibilities in life. This year’s theme reminds us to cherish and carry on the connection that was built between the community of Tuscaloosa and our sister-city, Narashino, in Japan.
Tuscaloosa’s Annual Sakura Festival provides an opportunity to experience Japanese culture through educational demonstrations, performances, and fun activities for all ages!
The theme of the 2024’s Sakura Festival is “uketsugu/受け継ぐ” or “preserve.”The spring celebration of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, reminds us of the value of each moment, while the return of spring awakens us to fresh possibilities in life. This year’s theme reminds us to cherish and carry on the connection that was built between the community of Tuscaloosa and our sister-city, Narashino, in Japan.
Activities subject to change.
- Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
- Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International
- UA Book Arts Traditional Japanese Papermaking
- Cosplay Contest
- Origami Tree and Face Painting
- Traditional Japanese Festival Activities
- Dress-up and Photo Op
The cosplay contest is back for a second year! Show up dressed as your favorite character or idol and enter to win a prize from Japan. Entrants must register at the Kami-Con/Bama SOS Brigade table upon arrival and no later than 1:00 pm. The only rule is to please keep it “PG” as this is a family event!
The 38th festival brings back last year’s hit Alabama Book Arts’ Japanese papermaking demonstration and fan favorites, fishing for water balloon yo-yo’s and bouncy balls.
Schedule is subject to change.
| 11:00 am | Welcome messages |
| 11:30 am | Traditional Japanese drum music by Nozomi Daiko: Laurie Arizumi from the Critical Languages Center and UA Students |
| 12:00 pm | Radio Taiso: a part of Japanese culture that began as an American insurance company’s health campaign |
| 12:30 pm | Stage break |
| 1:00 pm | Soran Bushi: Japanese traditional fisherman’s song and dance |
| 1:30 pm | Cosplay Contest Results (Contestants must be present no later than 1pm.)* |
| 2:00 pm | Ending remarks |
Street Address
1901 Jack Warner Parkway
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 248-4931
Directions
From Birmingham: Take Interstate 20/59 S to AL-69 N/Lurleen Wallace Blvd. N. Turn right onto University Blvd. Turn left onto Greensboro Ave. (first cross street). Turn right onto Jack Warner Parkway. Turn right onto Queen City Ave. The museum is on your right.
From Montgomery: Take Hwy 82 W to Tuscaloosa. Exit right onto Jack Warner Parkway. Turn right onto Queen City Ave. The museum is on your right.
Parking
There is ample, free parking on the museum grounds.
Public Transportation
The Tuscaloosa Trolley’s Holt Route runs from the city parking deck in downtown Tuscaloosa to the Tuscaloosa Public Library, which is just across Queen City Ave. from the transportation museum.
Visit the Tuscaloosa Transit Authority website to find the downtown deck and a map of the trolley’s Holt Route.