Bethlehem is in bloom! Spring is definitely in the air, and many folks celebrated by enjoying the 2025 Bethlehem Cherry Blossom Festival, presented by the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission April 5 at the Garden of Serenity.

Clouds and chilly temperatures did not diminish the crowd that enjoyed the afternoon at Payrow Plaza.

“I’m grateful the weather worked with us,” said John Rivera, newly appointed chair of the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission, alluding to the lack of forecasted rain. “It’s cold but there is plenty to do to keep everyone warm.”

Guests could participate in a tea ceremony, try their hand at the ancient art of calligraphy, create Japanese origami, sample some great Japanese food, pound rice into a sweet treat with a giant wooden mallet, have their picture taken in a kimono or yukata and more.

Members of Shumei America’s taiko drumming group from the Shumei Center in Lyons Station demonstrated the thundering Japanese drums and offered guests the chance to take a whirl at playing the drums themselves.

“It’s great the cherry blossoms are in great health and in full bloom,” Rivera said.

Rivera traveled to Japan as an exchange student in 2008 through the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission, and after that experience continued to work as a member of the commission.

“I loved the program. I had a relative in Japan, so growing up that culture was my culture,” Rivera said. “It’s great being back in Pennsylvania to carry on the legacy of that culture.”

Brenda Santana had a blast trying on a yukata and had a great time soaking in the culture at the festival with her daughter.

“It’s so beautiful to bring culture and nature and community together, and really delve into that culture,” Santana said.

The Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission was established in 1964, and the Cherry Blossom Festival first bloomed in 2012.

According to the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission website, in 1997 the city of Tondabayashi gifted the city of Bethlehem 60 cherry trees. Import restrictions, however, forbade transporting trees directly from Japan to the United States

In order to solve this problem, Bethlehem landscape designer Dee Kruschwitz used American-bred cherry trees directly descended from previously imported Japanese sakura.

Placed around the Garden of Serenity and the entire perimeter of Payrow Plaza, home of City Hall and the Public Library, are 10 Snow Fountains (which resemble weeping willows with their dangling branches), 20 Yoshinos (with bright white blossoms) and 30 Higan trees (with subtle pink petals). The Higan trees deserve particular mention because they bloom not only during the spring (usually early to mid-April), but again at the end of fall.

The commission is looking for families to host exchange students from Bethlehem’s Japanese sister city in August 2025.

For more information on the commission visit bethlehemsistercity.org/.