BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The cherry blossoms are in full bloom for the 12th year over in Bethlehem.

The 12th annual Cherry Blossom Festival takes place Saturday, March 28 from noon to 4 p.m.

And while the festival tends to mark spring, organizers say Pennsylvania’s colder weather has delayed the flowers’ blooming.

“The weather’s unpredictable, and it tends to have a cold snap,” Miki Sankary, a volunteer for the event, said.

Sankary founded and chairs Lehigh Valley – JAJAJA, which stands for Japanese in America, Japanese Americans, Japanese Aficionados.

The festival celebrates the culture of Bethlehem’s Japanese sister city, Tondabayashi, and it’s put on each year by the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission Chair.

Organizers tell 69 News this tale of two cities goes back more than six decades, and the tea house and trees were all donated by Tondabayashi.

While Bethlehem’s cherry blossoms are still blooming, the festival is springing up this Saturday, signifying new beginnings.

“The cherry blossom festival is a time of reflection,” John Rivera, chair of the Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission Chair and Tea Master, said. “Who I was during the wintertime, and who I’m looking to be in the future.”

“Really celebrate the new season and the renewal of life and coming out of the winter,” Sankary said.

And while the flowers still have room to bloom, the festival is “petal”-ing plenty of activities to enjoy.

The event boasts a tea ceremony, kids games and cultural exchange.

“When people come to cherry blossom festivals,” they do this thing called hanami,” Rivera said, “which is like cherry blossom viewings and it’s a kind of celebration period.”

Folks can learn calligraphy and origami.

“Traditional and more modern takes on it,” Rivera said. “Those are usually pretty wonderful for children and adults.”

Japanese taiko drumming will also brighten the festival.

“Taiko has a way of lifting people’s spirits,” Rivera said. “They have a presence you can’t really replace.”

The festival is free. Some snacks and tea cost just $1 each.

“This is us giving back to the community,” Rivera said, “and honestly, if you do bring five dollars, you get a whole world’s worth of experiences.”

The festival is in full bloom this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more, head here: https://www.bethlehemsistercity.org/cherry-blossom-festival