Each year, hula hoop guru Melissa Campbell sets out to invigorate the city’s hula hipness through a mass hooping session known as The Hoopathon. This year Melissa has chosen to host her hip swinging event at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival (Japanese Garden – Delaware Park).
This is the perfect marriage between the two dissimilar events, due to one common bond that both groups share – celebrating Buffalo’s delightful outdoor landscapes as a community. The Japanese Garden of Buffalo is not merely for people who appreciate the cultural significance of the site and the plantings. The garden is for everyone to enjoy – whether it’s sitting under a cherry tree reading a book, or hula hooping among the twirling blossoms.
This year participants of The Hoopathon will be glad to know that the profits from the entry fee ($10) will be earmarked for the stewardship of the cherry trees (Friends of the Japanese Garden). The contest has three categories (adult, young adult and child), and provides grand prizes to the winners and trophies to the those who place.
Hula hooping is great exercise and a lot of fun. It’s an activity that can be performed just about anywhere – have hoop will travel. Buffalo is so lucky to have Melissa Campbell organizing these types of hoop events in the city… they are a blast to participate in, and always inspirational to watch.
May the best hoopist win, and may the festival be a grand success in 2015.
The Hoopathon
Sunday May 3rd 12pm
Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Gardens
Family Day at the Buffalo History Museum
Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival has fun games, crafts, an instrument zoo, dance workshop and other fun activities for the whole family as part of Family Day at the The Buffalo History Museum. The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival runs from May 2nd to May 9th. Get the full schedule at Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival.
PRIZES:
Adult ages 18+ – NOCO card ($300)
Young adults ages 13-17 – Elmwood Village Shopping Spree including Second Chic and more TBA ($300)
Kids age 5-12 – The Ultra Birthday Party from Ultra Hoops ($500)