ALPHX 2018 Gala Ideas Japanese Cherry Blossom - Sakura

A model wearing a skirt of pink champagne flutes welcomed guests to the Pink Tie Party on Thursday.

Linder & Associates worked with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to create an outdoor lawn party atmosphere surrounding the stage and centrally located Penny Pitch bar in the atrium.

The Penny Pitch bar had guests toss tokens into one of four glasses in a pyramid at the center of circular bar. The glass—a martini, highball, champagne, or wine glass—determined the guest’s cocktail and served as a souvenir from the party.

Projection Presentation Technology projected the festival's signature cherry blossom designs onto the ceiling of the Ronald Reagan Building's atrium.

Macy's sponsored the classic balloon dartboard as one of its midway games.

Another midway game had guests attempting to toss a ping-pong ball into a table topped with empty fish bowls and wine glasses. All players walked away with a Kirin Ichiban-engraved bottle opener.

Catering from the venue's staff included lobster mac 'n' cheese served in mini copper pots.

Grass-covered high-top tables, white lounge chairs, and a gazebo bar created an indoor garden to one side of the atrium.

Additional lounge groupings of white and Lucite sofas, chairs, and ottomans provided seating for top sponsors.

Tysons Corner Center sponsored the social wall showcasing the tweets and Instagram posts using the #PinkTieParty hashtag.

Tysons Galleria sponsored the step-and-repeat in the Capitol File Experience lounge. V.I.P. ticket holders could play model and pose for a commemorative photo with the professionals. The images then remained on loop on a nearby television throughout the night.

Japanese tango singer Anna Saeki performed during the opening ceremony on Saturday.

The Howard University Step Team, a nod to the Step Into Spring promotions for the festival, kicked off the night's performances for the opening ceremony.

The winners of the Sing Into Spring competition were named during a live event hosted by American Idol alum Justin Guarini on January 27 at the Hard Rock Café. The singers were chosen from 20 finalists from a pool of 200 YouTube audition submissions, and the winning five groups will perform together at the parade on April 12.

Violinist Nanae Iwata, winner of the Juilliard concerto competition, and pianist Mariko Furusawa were among the Japanese performers at the opening ceremonies along with singer Rina Haruki, pop stars Junko Yagam and Senri Oe, jazz group the Chihiro Yamanaka Trio, and American recording artist Andy Grammar.

Paris McMillan and the Urban Nation Hip-Hop Choir followed Rina Haruki's performance of the Japanese national anthem with their rendition of the U.S. national anthem.

The Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, along with a variety of other youth-oriented groups, performed on the main stage at the National Building Museum during Family Days last weekend. The two-day event included educational and family-focused activities about Japanese and American culture as well as the history of their relationship through the cherry blossoms.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom suspended oversize cutouts of cherry blossom blooms and Japanese paper fans from the ceiling of the museum.

Heldin the New Hampshire ballroom at the Renaissance M Street, the gala raised $15,000 from ticket sales alone.

The festival logo was projected in the stairwell that connected the upper registration floor with the lower event floor.

Dignitaries from the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Embassy of Japan, and Comcast (the event’s sponsor) gave remarks before dinner.

The silent auction offered items from more than 95 donors.

Amaryllis Inc. provided the centerpieces of pink roses and burgundy tea leaves.

Program manager Lillian Iverson doled out cherry-filled chocolates as parting gifts.

During dinner, a kimono-clad musician from the Washington Toho Koto Society played the stringed koto, a 17th-century Japanese instrument with origins in China.

A paper cherry blossom tree served as the focal point of the entryway.

Miniature cherry blossom and illuminated pink trees decorated the bars.

Pink lighting filled the grand ballroom of the hotel.

Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes and TLC's Ace of Cakes created a cake decorated with cherry blossoms and Washington memorials specifically for the event.

Traditional Japanese Taiko drummers performed early in the evening.

Sponsor Macy's created an origami-inspired paper dress for a mannequin.

This year 35 restaurants, five more than in 2011, served up small plates inspired by the cherry blossoms.

White lounge furniture with pink and silver pillows provided seating on the grand ballroom's second-floor balcony, which went unused last year.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom created a wall of grass, pink, and white tufted squares to serve as the backdrop of the balcony bar.

Local chefs Roy Yamaguchi and José Andrés served as the night's honorary hosts.

Performers on stilts from Cirque-tacular Entertainment wandered throughout the party.

Stiltwalkers added a whimsical aspect to the party.

Each guest received a key upon entering the Lincoln Lounge. They took turns attempting to start the engine of a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and win dinner for 10 at Ris.

DJ Menan kept the energy high at the after-party until 11 p.m.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Amaryllis created a mini Japanese garden inside the ballroom complete with a pond, wooden bridge, live plants, and a cherry-blossom tree.

Japanese geishas performed fan and water dances on the bridge of the mini garden throughout the night.

The ballroom's foyer featured hanging cherry blossoms, red lanterns, and pink drapes. A costumed geisha greeted guests and posed for pictures.