National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day

We joined in the festivities of the official opening of the 2008 Cherry Blossom season. This year marks the 96th celebration of the gift of 3000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the city of Washington DC. The festivities were held in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum, where it was Family Day. We watched a children’s group perform a traditional Japanese dance, and a very entertaining martial arts team show off their skills.
Kevin and Justin did several hands-on activities in which they learned about Japanese arts and crafts (Brian napped the whole time). This event was very impressive with all the family activities that were planned, that we will definitely be putting this on our to-do list for next year.

A martial arts team delights the audience with their skills Kevin and Justin design and make Japanese scrolls Kevin and Justin make cherry trees with construction paper, a brown paper bag, different colored tissue paper, and glue Kevin makes an origami swan, while Justin colors and wears a samurai mask











Justin makes a picture of cherry blossom trees using a stamp, paint bottles and paint The finished product We parked across the street from the National Building Museum, where the boys 'posed' for a picture Back at home, Kevin and Brian take turns being Bello, the clown