SR 423: Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival; commend

Senate Resolution 423

By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th and Mangham of the 55th

A RESOLUTION

Commending and congratulating the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival for its outstanding efforts to foster a long and steady friendship between the City of Conyers and country of Japan; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the 44th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, presented by Robins Financial Credit Union, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, 2025, at the Georgia International Horse Park; the 2025 theme of "Spring it on!" encourages festival-goers to embrace the fun and excitement of the international festival that heralds the start of spring; and

WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival unites thousands of participants from the region to encourage better understanding of Japanese culture and other diverse nations and to celebrate 44 years of cultural history through international music, dance, arts, crafts, food, games, and family entertainment; and

WHEREAS, the history of the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival stems from the gifting of several Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees that were planted throughout the City of Conyers, signifying an alliance; and

WHEREAS, these cherished gifts, also known as Sakura, came from Hideo Ogino, former President of Maxell Corporation of America, to represent the friendship between nations, the renewal of spring, and the ephemeral nature of life; and

WHEREAS, in 1982, Maxell and the Chamber of Commerce held the first Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, scheduled during the blossoming of the beautiful Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees, the subject of nationwide adoration since the Heian period in Japan, more than 1,000 years ago; and

WHEREAS, traditionally, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival featured cooking classes, silk flower arranging, Oriental doll exhibits, Origami demonstrations, Kabuki theater, bonsai tree exhibits, karate demonstrations and a Haiku contest; the festival still incorporates many of these cultural connections; and

WHEREAS, its growth in attendance and exhibitors made it necessary to relocate the festival from the grounds of Maxell to the Georgia International Horse Park; the City of Conyers and the Georgia International Horse Park now oversee and present the annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival; and

WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival continues to carry on the tradition of this important community event; the festival has become one of the largest and most successful events in the Southeast; and

WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival is faithful to family and to the community and prides itself on giving back through year-long student art projects, pageantry, and auxiliary events, including mosaic and canvas art classes at The Sketching Pad as well as Frog Habitat and Stepping into Nature projects that contribute to the conservation and beautification of the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center; and

WHEREAS, since 2016, the Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts and Rockdale County Public Schools have teamed up to present the annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Student Photography Contest; winning photographs were on display at the Conyers City Hall and were recognized at a public reception, at the City Council meeting, and later at the festival; and

WHEREAS, recreational partners such as the Georgia Quarter Horse Association have partnered with the Georgia International Horse Park to offer Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Speed Classes to their showbill during the weekend's festivities; and

WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, with the support of the City of Conyers, its participants, and all of their partnering sponsors from the community, has the distinctive honor of being named a Multi-Award-Winning event; it has achieved top honors in multiple categories of the Kaleidoscope Awards, recognized by the Southeast Festival and Events Association (SFEA), including Best Event, Best Marketing Campaign, Best Event within an Event, Best Mascot, Best Video and Best Photograph. The festival has also been recognized as a Signature Event in the Southeast awarded by Southeast Tourism Society for consecutive years.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the City of Conyers and Georgia International Horse Park for their dedication to the community and state through the festival; congratulate the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival on the remarkable occasion of its 44th Anniversary; and extend their sincerest best wishes for the festival's continued successes to strengthen the unity and embracement of all cultures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival.