Origami? Absolutely! Enter your Origami in the Cherry Blossom Festival Competition.
The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival continues to celebrate Japanese culture through hands-on creativity, pairing a festival favorite—the Annual Haiku Competition—with an exciting new addition: the Origami Competition.
New this year, the Origami Competition is sponsored by Aitoh Specialty Paper. Open to Arkansas residents of all ages, the competition invites artists to explore the art of paper folding through original works. Entries will be exhibited at the festival, creating a vibrant display that highlights imagination, craftsmanship, and creative expression. First, second, and third place prizes will be presented to outstanding submissions in Youth, Youth Class or Club, and Adult categories.
A longtime highlight of the festival, the Annual Haiku Competition returns with sponsorship from the Arkansas Haiku Society and its president, Howard Lee Kilby. The competition honors the traditional haiku form—three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables—capturing a moment in time through simple imagery and careful observation. Selected haiku will be published, displayed, and read aloud at the festival, with awards presented to top entries.
Together, the Origami and Haiku Competitions offer meaningful ways for participants of all ages to engage with Japanese artistic traditions while sharing their creativity with the community.
The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival takes place April 4. Entry deadlines and submission details for both competitions are available at hotspringssistercity.org/arkansas-cherry-blossom-festival-2.
