The Phoenix Japanese Friendship Garden will host a free Children’s Day and Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Margaret T. Hance Park.
The festival will feature cosplay, a shortened term for “costume play,” where people dress up as characters from the comics, cartoons and science fiction. There will be two martial arts stage demonstrations – Swordmanship and Chanbarra. And new this year, children and adults will have the opportunity to attend an abbreviated tea ceremony, tour the garden and visit the “Dress Up” booth where children can get dressed up in kimono or martial arts costume and have their picture taken.
Kites will be flying all day. They can be brought from home, bought at the Festival or made on site. Kids of all ages will marvel as Kite Master Tom Manson will be there with his stunt kites.
There will be Japanese food and drink, live music and dance performances for all to enjoy.
The Japanese Friendship Garden will also be open for regular visits as well.
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s Margaret T. Hance Park is located at 1125 N. Third Ave. (over Deck Park Tunnel). For additional information call 602-256-3204.
