The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Sakura Matsuri festival can be magic even if you don’t catch magician Rich Kameda performing his act. Here are just a few highlights of this year’s festival.
Comedy import
Tokyo comedian Kaori is traveling halfway across the world to perform her bilingual stand-up routine at the festival.
April 25 at 11 am.
Hip-hop tea
Musician and dancer Akim Funk Buddha is known for fusing western hip-hop and break-dancing with eastern influences, such as throat-singing and martial arts. He will perform alongside a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
April 25 at 5 pm.
Fashion weekend
Lovers of elaborate, Japanese-influenced costumes will strut their stuff at the annual Sakura Matsuri Cosplay Fashion Show — a highlight every year.
April 26 at 5:15 pm.
In bloom
Forget bonsai (though you can see that, too) — check out a demonstration of Sogetsu Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.
April 25 at 1 pm.
Basket case
The festival’s marketplace features vendors slinging artwork, handmade crafts, vintage kimonos and fabrics, as well as Japanese chocolates and confections.
April 25 and 26 at 10 am–5 pm.
Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden [990 Washington Ave. between President and Carroll streets in Prospect Heights, (718) 623–7200, www.bbg.org]. April 26 and 27 at 10 am–6 pm. $25 ($20 students and seniors, free for kids under 12).
