Cherry Trees Celebration
2025 Events
We hope to see you all next week at Como Park for the 13th Annual Celebration of the Gift of the Cherry Trees at Como Park!
Come to our grove of cherry trees near the Mannheimer Memorial (search: "Butterfly Parking Lot" on Maps), to join SPNSCC, Harison Taiko, Sansei Yonsei Kai, for:
Dances by Sansei Yonsei Kai
Drumming by Taikollaborative
Cherry Blossom Crafts
Japanese Games
Awards presented to our "When will the Cherry Trees Bloom?" winners
Free, family-friendly, and open to the public!
When: Saturday, May 3th, 9:00AM - 11:30AM
Where: Cherry Tree Grove, near the Mannheimer Memorial, Como Park, 1237-1231 Kaufman Dr, St Paul, MN 55103
The annual celebration of the gift of cherry trees from the Japanese government in 2012 will take place from 9 to 11:30 am on Saturday, May 3rd. Taikollaborative will start us off with a BANG at 9 am near the Mannheimer Memorial, Sansei Yonsei Kai will perform traditional Sakura dances and also invite the audience to participate. We have two special guests this year. Edo Bayashi will perform a traditional Lion Dance and former Nagasaki mayor Tomihisa Taue will be in attendance! Crafts will include origami, newspaper samurai hats, water colors, making cherry blossom branches, festival headbands, and uchiwa fans. Activities will be spread throughout the Mannheimer area (Butterfly parking lot) and people can also walk the Global Harmony Labyrinth on the far side of the lily pond. Contact JoAnn through our website if you can volunteer!
History
In 2012, the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees to Washington, DC, the Japanese government generously donated groups of twenty cherry trees to thirty-six American cities. St. Paul was chosen in large part because of the almost 60 year history of being sister city with Nagasaki. Bill Pesek, SPNSCC board member and landscape architect with the Parks and Recreation Department, arranged for them to be planted near the Mannheimer Memorial in Como Park, beginning to tie the Global Harmony Labyrinth, the restored lily pond, and the Charlotte Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden together. The trees were planted and dedicated on June 9, 2012. Honored guests included Ichiro Sawada, Deputy Consul from Chicago, Representative Betty McCollum, plus city council members, former Mayor George Latimer, and Mayor Coleman. Sansei Yonsei Kai performed two sakura dances. Leo Hansen performed the shakuhachi flute at the ceremony and guests greeted at the Japanese Garden by western flute player Ryusuke Jono.