LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – The Lima Sister Cities Association is inviting the public to attend its annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday at the Japanese Garden in downtown Lima.

The event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., will feature live music, games and activities for all ages. Attendees will also have the chance to purchase raffle tickets to win one of two Japanese quilts being given away.

The festival is a longstanding Lima tradition that celebrates the city’s relationship with its sister city, Harima-cho, Japan.

Cherry Blossom Festival returns to celebrate Lima’s Sister City ties

The festival is a longstanding Lima tradition that celebrates the city’s relationship with its sister city, Harima-cho, Japan.

“Cherry trees were planted over 20 years ago. They were a gift from our sister city in Japan, Harima-Cho. So, we planted nine beautiful flowering cherry trees, and they've grown to tremendous height and are very large. And it depends on the weather, whether we have a good blossoming, but it looks like this year, the branches are filled with buds. All we need is a warm day or two and they're going to pop,” says Sandra Liechty of the Lima Sister Cities Association.

LSCA Cherry Blossom Festival

Saturday, April 12th

Japanese Garden, 202 W. Eureka St., Lima

1 to 4 p.m.

Live music, games and activities

Tickets available for Japanese quilt raffle

www.limasistercities.com

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