Akron's Sakura Festival celebrates spring and Japanese culture

Akron will celebrate spring with the Sakura Festival on April 5. The event will take place downtown from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This festival is a nod to Japanese culture and marks the seasonal bloom of cherry blossom trees. "Sakura" means flowering cherry tree in Japanese. The city has 472 cherry blossom trees planted along the Towpath Trail starting in 2011 and 2012. The festival is designed to coincide with their bloom, though the peak may vary. This year, a special event called Light the Locks will follow the festival. It starts at 8 p.m. at Lock 2. This celebration honors Akron's 200th anniversary. Community members are invited to light a lantern to remember loved ones and promote unity. The festival will feature various activities across multiple sites, including Lock 1, Lock 2, and Lock 3. Attendees can enjoy live performances, food vendors, sake tasting, and crafts. A pre-festival guided bike ride is also planned. Additionally, a photography contest will run from March 23 to April 18. Community members can take photos of the cherry blossom trees for a chance to win gift cards. The festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of spring and community spirit.