Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens

Every year in late August and early September, sakura [桜] (cherry blossoms) are in bloom. And that means it’s time for Auburn Botanic Gardens‘ annual Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival.

The festival runs from Friday 18th until Sunday 27th August, during which attendees can enjoy the cherry blossoms in all their pink and white glory. And while the gorgeous blooms are draw enough on their own, the festival is also a celebration of Japanese culture, with food, movies, music and performances on offer throughout.

The festival kicks off tonight with the nighttime flower viewing and screening of Your Name (2016), Japan’s most successful international Japanese animated film of all time. Sadly, tickets for the events on both Friday 18th & 25th are already sold out. But there are still tickets available for the daytime events.

Hanami [華見]: Flower viewing at Auburn Botanic Gardens

The main drawcard of the festival is, of course, the opportunity to frolic among the cherry blossoms. Hanami means ‘flower viewing’ in Japanese, so be sure to follow the cherry blossom trail around the Auburn Botanic Gardens to discover all the best sites to see the blooms, including The Cherry Arbour, The Hanami Lawn Cherries, The Cherry Alley and The Lakeside Cherries.

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Hanami also traditionally involves celebrating with friends, food and drinks. So round up some mates and head to the festival on the weekend (the 19th & 20th or 26th & 27th August), where you’ll find food trucks galore, laden with tempting Japanese treats. This year is also the first to include the Izakaya bar, offering Asahi beer, premium imported sake and Japan’s best plum wine.

On stage at the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival

On the 19th and 20th, Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese cuisine in Australia, Masterchef winner Adam Liaw, will be hosting Japanese food demonstrations, including how to use leftovers to create Japanese dishes. Find him at the ‘Love your leftovers’ stage from 12 – 2pm. The following weekend, be sure to dress in your cosplay best and join the fun at the silent disco from 1pm. Japanese DJ Legend Teddy Loid will be spinning J-pop tunes through headsets for the Smash! Presents Hush! Cosplay Day Jam.

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And on both weekends, there will also be origami workshops, a sumo wrestling stage, traditional Japanese entertainment on the Kyoto Stage including Taiko, Koto, and Shakuhachi performances and the opportunity to make your own Spring Parade costume as part of the Bayanihan Philippine Art Project.

Serenity day: Avoid the crowds

If you can go during the week, be sure to pick one of the festival’s Serenity days – the 21st, 23rd & 25th August – and explore the gardens at your own pace. On these days, visitors can avoid the crowds that flood the festival on the weekends. And for photography enthusiasts and professionals after the perfect cherry blossom pic, Serenity day is your day.

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Gardening enthusiasts should head along on the 22nd, when they’ll find Better Homes and Gardens star Graham Ross on the Garden stage. There will be a bonsai workshop, ikebana demonstrations and horticulturists from the Auburn Botanic Gardens will lead guided tours through the Japanese gardens.

And the 24th is Seniors Day, on which attendees can take part in a Japanese tea ceremony. There will also be music performances and origami workshops on the day.