Release Date: March 24,2022
Sakura Celebration Planned on the Towpath in Downtown
March 24, 2022, Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) announced the Second Annual Sakura Cherry Blossom Celebration coming to downtown Akron along the Towpath Trail from Ohio and Erie Canal Park to Lock 3 on Saturday, April 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. The celebration will include more than 1,000 luminaries, music, a festive story walk, and a sake tasting in Lock 3. For a frequently-updated schedule of the celebration, check the DAP website: https://bit.ly/
DAP will join the Japanese Association of Northeast Ohio (JANO) in following the blossoms as they emerge, and will use social media to invite visitors to view their splendor throughout the brief bloom. Follow DAP on social media at @downtownakron or check the organization’s website in the coming days for updates on the blossoms.
DAP President and CEO Suzie Graham says, “Every spring for a few fleeting days, the Towpath Trail running through downtown transforms from a beautiful place to a magical one. We thank the City of Akron and JANO for adorning the trail with over 400 cherry trees. It’s a pleasure to welcome the entire community to see and celebrate them.”
In addition to the other attractions, Lock 3 will offer firepit and igloo rentals. The DORA includes the area of the towpath from Lock 3 to Lock 2, so visitors can enjoy alcoholic beverages during the event.
Put on a jacket, enjoy dinner at a downtown restaurant (for a guide to downtown food, check the DAP website) and come out to the Towpath, from Lock 3 to Ohio and Erie Canal Park, to celebrate the cross-cultural exchange that made this unique downtown treasure possible.
The 2021 Sakura celebration drew more than 1,000 people. DAP worked in partnership to put on the celebration with JANO, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., Akron Civic Commons, and the City of Akron, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. With the help of numerous volunteers, DAP placed thousands of luminaries along the path, planted solar-powered landscape lights to illuminate many of the trees and placed wind chimes in their branches, adding to the festive atmosphere of the celebration.
Between 2011 and 2012, the City of Akron, with support from JANO, planted more than 400 cherry trees along the Towpath Trail. Every spring, for a handful of days, the trees emerge with beautiful blooms, heralding the coming of spring to downtown, and commemorating the invaluable contributions our Japanese American friends and neighbors have made to the community.
Parking and points of entry
Parking is available behind Spaghetti Warehouse, and the Towpath is accessible directly behind the parking lot.
Parking is also available in the State St. parking deck. The Towpath is accessible from Lock 3 or from the State St. trailhead entry (behind Canal Park Stadium).
The 2022 Sakura celebration has been made possible by the Japanese Association of Northeast Ohio - JANO, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, the City of Akron, Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., Akron Civic Commons, with support from the Knight Foundation and Ohio Arts Council.
Find out more about Downtown Akron Partnership. Follow us at www.downtownakron.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagra