Join us at Sakura Taiko Fest 2027!
We are excited to invite your group to apply to perform as part of Washington DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival!
The Mark H Rooney Taiko School and Miyako Taiko have been hosting Sakura Taiko Fest since 2013. For the past several years, we have partnered with the National Cherry Blossom festival and brought community and collegiate taiko groups to perform under the famous cherry blossoms of Washington DC. It’s an awesome day of family-friendly drumming!
One of our goals for the event is to strengthen our ties with friends from the broader taiko community, and we welcome applications from groups across the U.S. and beyond!
Are you a community or collegiate group that would like to be a part of Sakura Taiko Fest 2027, work together to build community, and bring some amazing taiko sounds to the most famous cherry blossom festival in the country?
Show Details
Date:
Saturday, March 27, 2027 (Rain date: Sunday, March 28, 2027)
Time:
9 am – 6 pm, followed by an after-party
Location:
Sylvan Theater, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW , Washington, DC, 20024
SEt:
Each participating group will be asked to perform a 25-minute set, plus some inter-group fun jamming and dancing!
Application Deadline: OCTOBER 13, 2026
Questions?
Contact us at sakurataikofest@gmail.com
Please Note:
- One applicant per group please, representing your group as a whole.
- Community (non-professional) and collegiate groups only, please.
- We cannot offer honoraria for this event, but we can help find housing for groups who want to spend the weekend.
- To ensure that new groups are able to participate each year, we will prioritize applications from groups who have not participated in the Sakura Taiko Fest for the past two consecutive years (with the exception of DC-based groups who assist in coordinating the show).
- The Mark H Taiko School will provide drums for groups to use, with the exception of specialty drums/stands/instruments. Feel free to reach out to inquire about what drums we can provide.
- As this event is meant to strengthen ties and connect with others within the taiko community, we are seeking groups that are willing to attend the entirety of the event to watch, support, and connect with your fellow taiko players.
- Please note that this event is highly public! A full video recording of the event will be posted to the Mark H Taiko YouTube channel to be available to the public, and photos will be posted to the Mark H Taiko website and elsewhere.
