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    Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese connections
    • April 16, 2023

    The crew at Kanto Filipino Street Food cook meat on the grill for the long line of customers waiting at their food booth at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    A drummer with Taikomotion performs on stage as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    A funnel cake with strawberries, ice cream and chocolate from the Inglorious Funnels food booth is piled on a plate at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Rosie Sundstedt, right, and her daughter Tati, 11, of Laguna Hills take a selfie by a colorful mountain as they attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Kodama Taiko performs on stage as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    A young festival goer gets a good view of the stage while Kodama Taiko performs as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Girls dressed as characters from the video game Genshin Impact pose for photographs as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Hundreds sit on the lawn and eat or wait in line at food booths at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Children’s artwork is hung up to dry at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Drummers with Kodama Taiko perform on stage as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Some of the many pins available for sale at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Festival goers check out some of the many booths at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Festival goers sit on the lawn in the shade and eat at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Hundreds sit on the lawn and eat or wait in line at food booths at the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held in Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Festival goers watch a performance on stage as thousands attend the OC Cherry Blossom Festival held in Huntington Beach Central Park in Huntington Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The annual spring event is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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    This weekend’s Orange County Cherry Blossom Festival is Huntington Beach’s celebration of culture not just with its sister city in Japan, Anjo, but with the area’s Japanese American community.

    The Huntington Beach Sister City Association hosts the annual celebration, which helps fund a student exchange program with Anjo.

    Cultural performances continue throughout the day Sunday, April 16, involving music and dance. At 10:30 there will be a planting ceremony.

    The festival also offers a look at Japanese arts and crafts, other entertainment and, of course, food.

    The festival is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Huntington Beach’s Central Park, 7111 Talbert Ave.  Information: occbfest.com

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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