Torrance, one of Southern California’s hidden gems, gears up for a big event. Next month’s Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival will bring out the city’s natural beauty and Japanese heritage for an epic celebration of nature and culture that is perfect for family travelers.
© Christine Chen
Cherry Blossom festivals, common throughout Japan in spring, are a way of welcoming spring and celebrating the beauty of nature and the rejuvenation of life. While these festivals are found in other parts of the world (Washington, D.C. is quite famous for its blossoms), finding one is a real treat, and Torrance’s annual festival is not only a great way to share in the celebration, but also an opportunity to discover the personality of the city.
Torrance’s strong connection to Japan goes far beyond its multitude of beautiful cherry trees. The city is home to a large Japanese population and has direct ties with Japan through its sister city, Kashiwa in the Chiba Prefecture. Throughout the city you can find plenty of Japanese influence, like great Japanese restaurants and even a drive-through ramen restaurant — it isn’t the self-proclaimed Ramen Capital of California for nothing!
© Christine Chen
While the city celebrates its Japanese influence daily, this annual event began in 2012 as part of the city’s centennial celebration and has remained a staple each spring ever since. During the festival, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the city’s Huntington Park, visitors not only get to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom trees in all their glory, but also experience a celebration of Japanese culture through live performances, unique crafts and food from a variety of local vendors.
The festival is free to attend, and free parking and shuttle service will be available to get you to the festival grounds on the day of the event. Simply visit here for parking locations and instructions and prepare for a fun day of food, activities, entertainment and culture.
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