HUNTINGTON BEACH — The OC Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Huntington Central Park, 7111 Talbert Ave. in Huntington Beach, on March 15-17 for an annual celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture in Southern California.

This free event is expanding to three days in 2019 —?Friday from 5 to 9 p .m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a fun-filled weekend of music, dancing, contests, live entertainment, 50+ vendors, 25+ performances and much more. Plus, the Sakura Night Market will kick off on Friday and Saturday evening, when the whole park will be lit up with excitement, food, drink, and entertainment.

Since its inception, the festival has been inspired by and helped to fund an international student exchange program between Huntington Beach and its Japanese sister city, Anjo, Aichi Prefecture.

Entertainment schedule:

Friday, March 15

5 p.m.: Kickoff

6 p.m.: Miru Daru

6:30 p.m.: Marube Band

7 p.m.: Maid Academy Café

7:15 p.m.: Yuna & Tida

7:45 p.m.: Miyuki Geta Dance

8:15 p.m.: SunEye Radio presents Tokyo City Nights

Saturday, March 16

10:30 a.m.: Sunny Seki’s “Tale of the Lucky Cat”

11 a.m.: Senryu Taiko

11:30 a.m.: Yuna & Tida

12 p.m.: Minyo Station

1 p.m.: The Wagaku Collective

1:30 p.m.: Nautica Idols

2 p.m.: Hanabi Taiko

3 p.m.: Yuki Yasuda and L.A. Koto Ensemble

3:30 p.m.: Cribabi Japan

4 p.m.: MVP Elite

4:30 p.m.: Kyoko-Jinjabrew

5:30 p.m.: Lolita Dark

6:30 p.m.: Little Tokyo Dance Club and Ryujin Taiko

7:15 p.m.: Masumi

7:45 p.m.: Stephanie Yanez

8:15 p.m.: SunEye Radio presents Tokyo City Nights

Sunday, March 17

10 a.m.: Kokoro Taiko

10:30 a.m.: Planting ceremony

11 a.m.: Matsutoyo Kai

11:30 a.m.: Japanese classical dance

12 p.m.: Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate

12:30 p.m.: Yuna & Tida

1 p.m.: St. Wilfred’s Preschool

1:30 p.m.: Little Tokyo Dance Club and Ryujin Taiko

2 p.m.: Na Wa O Keawe Ukulele Ensemble

2:30 p.m.: Driving Recklessly with Seatbelts

For more information, visit www.occbfest.com.

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