40th annual Cherry Blossom Festival blooms with free entertainment at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre April 22-23
From a press release:
The city of Wilkes-Barre will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its annual Cherry Blossom Festival at Kirby Park on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 with food and craft vendors, amusement rides and games, and live entertainment, including music and dancing.
The free festival will run from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. both days at Kirby Park (160 Market St., Wilkes-Barre). It is family friendly, though pets are not permitted in Kirby Park during special events.
On Saturday, the 11th annual Pirouettes in the Park will celebrate the art of dance and provide an opportunity for dancers of all ages to perform in a fun, supportive environment from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. In honor of Earth Day, the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will also host a t-shirt tie dye activity on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Giants Despair Hillclimb Association will showcase their race cars all day. Additionally, the Cherry Blossom Festival will host its first pageant from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with all proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network. See the Facebook event page for details on the competition.
Wilkes-Barre’s beautiful 52-acre Kirby Park is one of the region’s most valued recreational resources. Given to the city by the Kirby family, the park welcomes hundreds of thousands each year as the setting for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, held during the last weekend of April, the city’s Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration, and countless other community events. It features tennis courts, a fitness trail, a pond, walking paths, a running track, softball fields, volleyball courts, pavilions, a parking area, and more.
Cherry Blossom Festival entertainment schedule:
Saturday, April 22
11:30 a.m.-11:50 a.m.: Dance Theatre of Wilkes-Barre
11:55 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Turi Studio of Dance
12:20 p.m.-12:40 p.m.: Fusia Dance Company
12:45 p.m.-1:05 p.m.: Rebekah’s School of Dance
1:10 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Symmetry Dance Company
1:35 p.m.-1:55 p.m.: The Conservatory of Dance
2 p.m.-2:20 p.m.: David Blight School of Dance
2:25 p.m.-2:45 p.m.: Emerald Isle Step Dancers
2:50 p.m.-3:10 p.m.: Take the Stage Center for the Performing Arts
3:15 p.m.-3:35 p.m.: Scranton Dance Center
3:40 p.m.-4 p.m.: NEPA Academy
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Dallas High School Jazz Band
Sunday, April 23
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Cherry Blossom Festival Pageant
1 p.m.-2 p.m.: “The Followers” Christian band with Stephen L. Perillo, director of Making a Difference Ministries
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Eddy Mann, national Christian recording artist from Philadelphia
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Jeanne Zano Duo
5 p.m.-6 p.m.: Strawberry Jam Duo
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Broken Road Duo
