Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
🌸 Cherry Blossom Festival 2025: Japan (via Auburn) Is Calling
Nine days of food, flowers and family-friendly fun — no passport required.
If you’ve ever dreamt of picnicking under a canopy of blush-pink cherry blossoms with a matcha soft serve in one hand and a gyoza skewer in the other — good news: Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 is back at Auburn Botanic Gardens from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 August, and it’s blooming with colour, culture and calm.
Presented by Cumberland City Council, this award-winning festival transforms the gardens into a Japanese wonderland. Expect nine dreamy days of floral walks, food markets, kimono moments and chilled-out Zen vibes — plus hands-on activities and live performances to keep kids (and grown-ups) entertained.
🌸 Here’s what not to miss at the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
🧭 The Cherry Blossom Trail
Take a slow stroll (or a toddler-paced shuffle) through the Japanese Garden and follow the curated Cherry Blossom Trail — a self-guided route designed to show off the festival’s most spectacular blooms. Snap selfies under the pink canopy, let the kids count koi fish in the pond, and soak up that peaceful, fairytale-meets-Sydney vibe. Different sections of the garden are in bloom at different times, so you’ll catch something special no matter when you go.
More info: The Cherry Blossom Trail
🍜 Eat & Drink
The food offering here is next level. From Japanese classics like takoyaki, ramen and yakitori to creative twists like sushi burritos, cherry blossom cupcakes and matcha everything – you’ll want to arrive hungry. Kids will love the soft serve and mochi, while grown-ups can hunt down craft sodas, bento boxes, and Japanese-fusion street eats from some of Sydney’s best pop-ups. Picnic on the lawn or snack as you wander – your call.
More info: Eat & Drink
🎎 The Sakura Stage
This is where the festival really comes to life. Expect taiko drumming, traditional Japanese dance, martial arts demos, and contemporary acts bringing Tokyo street culture to the Inner West. Performances rotate daily, so check the schedule if you’re coming for something specific. Bonus: there’s often room to sit, snack and soak up the vibe while the kids wiggle to the beat.
More info: The Sakura Stage
🎨 Takumi Pavilion
A hit for families with curious little hands and creative big imaginations. The Takumi Pavilion is all about making, learning, and immersing. Think origami folding, brush calligraphy, manga sketching and DIY crafts inspired by Japanese design. It’s hands-on fun that keeps the kids busy (and quietly educational — don’t tell them). Grown-ups are welcome to join in too, of course.
More info: Takumi Pavilion
🧘 The Zen Zone
A festival within a festival. Tucked away from the buzz and bustle, this calm oasis is perfect for pram breaks, snack stops or a five-minute mum meditation. With chill-out spaces, tranquil music, and shady seating, it’s designed for reflection and a much-needed breather — especially after you’ve chased a toddler across the food court. BYO serenity (but they’ve got backup if you forget).
More info: The Zen Zone
🍶 Izakaya Amore (18+)
Need a moment just for you? Head to Izakaya Amore — the festival’s grown-up-only zone — where Japanese soul meets Italian flair. Think sake cocktails, shochu spritzes, exclusive brews (hello, Cherry Festival Lager) and retro lounge vibes. The soundtrack? Live jazz, Japanese rock ensembles, and City Pop DJs spinning Tokyo’s smoothest 80s disco tracks. It’s adults-only, a little bit fancy, and a lot of fun. Go on — you’ve earned it.
📸 Kimono Photo Experience
It’s more than a photo op — it’s a main character moment. Dress up in a beautifully detailed kimono (there are options for adults and kids), then strike a pose under the towering Mt Fuji Torii Gate surrounded by cherry blossoms. The backdrop is pure postcard — pink petals, traditional red gates, and Mt Fuji rising in the distance. Whether it’s for your socials, the family album, or just to make the grandparents melt, this is a must-do memory in the making.
🎟️ Important stuff:
- When? Saturday 16 – Sunday 24 August | 9am–4:45pm daily
- Where? Auburn Botanic Gardens, Chiswick Road, Auburn
- Tickets? Must be booked online in advance – no tickets = no entry.
- Cumberland residents? Free, but still need to pre-book your spot.
- Big group? Book in batches of 10 or complete the group booking form. School groups welcome.
👉 Get your tickets + all more info here
💡 Inner West Mums’ tip:
Get there early to beat the crowds, bring a picnic mat for blossom-side snacks, and plan your bar stop while the kids hit the pavilion. There’s plenty of parking, but trains + a short walk are easy too.
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