World Square's Cherry Blossom Festival

Overview

You might not have wrangled a trip to Japan for its famed cherry blossom season this year — or can't make to Auburn's Cherry Blossom Festival — but you can find some blossom magic unfolding right in the middle of the city. World Square is embracing some serious flower power for its annual Cherry Blossom Festival, serving up a program of free events up until Sunday, September 1.

You'll be transported from Sydney to Japan thanks to the festival's augmented reality experience, which will allow you to join a Taiko drumming circle and even get up close and personal with some virtual Nara Park deer.

Elsewhere in the program, you can learn to craft an origami bookmark, take an expert-led calligraphy workshop, catch a traditional dance performance and even discover the secrets of anime illustration. Meanwhile, there will be $10 Cherrytini cocktails, a Hokkaido Pafu pop-up serving up cheese tarts with special toppings, and limited-edition sakura soft serve ice creams from Oh Matcha. That's all among a blizzard of real and faux blossoms, of course.

The festivities will run from 8am until 10pm each day.