The Cherry Blossom Festival has returned to San Diego’s Balboa Park, celebrating the Japanese tradition of hanami.
Despite the gloomy weather and rain, the festival kicked off with a variety of daily performances and activities for the whole family, including shopping, a tea garden, and a sake and beer garden.
The Japanese friendship garden is the venue for the festival, and visitors can witness the beauty of cherry blossoms in full bloom, with some trees already displaying a “pink snow” effect.
Nina Nguyen, who drove three hours from Irvine, California, said that the Kendo demonstration was her favorite part of the festival, along with taking photos with the cherry blossoms in the rain.
Despite the rain, around 7,000 people are expected to attend the festival each day.
