Cherry Blossom Fest to amaze

Sydney’s most Instagrammable flower festival is gearing up with a line-up of live entertainment, food and fun activities from August 17-25.
Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake said the iconic event showcased Japanese culture and the local attractions in one of Cumberland’s hidden gems, the Auburn Botanic Gardens.
“The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration of Japanese culture, traditions and food to mark the cherry blossom trees coming into bloom. We’re looking forward to bringing a ‘Slice of Japan’ to Western Sydney,” she said.
“Our program and vendors are really engaged with Japanese culture. As we head into spring, it’s a wonderful time of year to get out and experience the natural beauty and attractions at the Auburn Botanic Gardens.”
The beautiful cherry blossoms will be in full bloom for only two weeks of the year, with thousands of visitors set to wander through the Cherry Trail.
This year’s festival will include the return of Hello Kitty who will be celebrating her 50th birthday with performances and meet and greets each day of the festival.
Headlining performers George and Noriko will also be returning with their blend of blues and traditional Japanese music, plus there’ll be a range of cultural performances including Japanese Taiko drums, Origami workshops, hula hoopers, traditional Japanese dancing, laser tag, Ikebana demonstrations (flower arranging), Hello Kitty craft activities, Bonsai horticultural talks and demonstrations and Japanese comic (Manga) workshops.
Discover the Japanese Food Village dishing up exclusive cherry blossom themed dishes and a huge selection of Japanese fusion foods as well as the Cherry Blossom Bar, which will be serving a range of Japanese inspired drinks.
To make the experience effortless for visitors, the council will be running a series of free bus transfers from Auburn Train Station to the gardens.
Tickets: cumberland.nsw.gov.au.