For Immediate Release: March 5, 2010
Media Contacts: Emma Filar, Marketing & Communications Associate
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2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day and Opening Ceremony
2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off with Family Day & Opening Ceremony
Presented by the National Building Museum and the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday, March 27, 2010 / 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Washington, D.C.: The National Cherry Blossom Festival comes alive to much fanfare on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the National Building Museum for the fifth annual Family Day. The free interactive Family Day runs from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. The Opening Ceremony is from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Opening Day marks the beginning of the 16-day celebration of the cherry blossoms and the commencement of spring in Washington, DC, and thousands of families from around the region and nation are anticipated to attend.
“Family Day captures the spirit of the Festival with free entertainment for kids of all ages and their families,” said Diana Mayhew, President of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. “Today kicks off an incredible lineup of festivities, and the impressive performances during the Opening Ceremony exemplify the cross-cultural exchange the Festival promotes.”
Children and parents can participate in a range of activities like constructing a miniature Japanese-style bridge, building a Kyogen stage, face painting, decorating biodegradable pots and plant seedlings. The Washington Examiner sponsors eco-vases, a craft project where guests decoupage recyclable plastic bottles with newspaper. With guidance from The Textile Museum, Family Day artists make hanging koi (goldfish) from paper and fabric to suspend from ceilings at home. Performers entertain on two stages throughout the day, including Nen Daiko, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Teen Arts Performers, Washington Toho Koto Society, Levine School Suzuki Strings, Culture Shock and Future Shock dance teams, Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, Bach to Rock Music School and The Washington Ballet School of Ballet. The Outdoor Pavilion features E.W. Stokes Steel Drum, East of the River Steel Drum and the Washington Showstopper Community bands.
“It is a great honor for the National Building Museum to host the National Cherry Blossom Festival® Family Day and Opening Ceremony for our 5th consecutive year. We are proud to once again partner with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate Japanese arts and design and international exchange through a hands-on family day. We are planning another spectacular event for visitors of all ages to our nation’s capital,” said Chase Rynd, President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum.
The Opening Ceremony follows Family Day from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, with first-come, first-served seating. For the second year, audiences will be entertained by The Washington Ballet. Celebrated 30-year-old composer and solo pianist Tempei Nakamura – known as Tempei – performs multi-genre pieces including intricate classical and rock-influenced numbers. The Shigeyama Family, famous Kyogen players with a history of 400 years, performs “Sambaso,” the most sacred and celebratory of all plays in the Noh and Kyogen repertoire. “Sambaso” dances celebrate fertility and good harvests.
Family Day and the Opening Ceremony are supported by The Washington Examiner, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and Westwood College. The Festival extends special thanks to Linder & Associates for event production services.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington, DC's and the nation's greatest springtime celebration. The 2010 Festival, March 27 – April 11, includes three spectacular weekends and daily events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. The 2010 Festival commemorates the 98th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between United States and Japan. For more information on Family Day and the Opening Ceremony, visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org, www.nbm.org, or call the Festival hotline at (877) 44BLOOM.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
