During the 8th annual Irmo Cherry Blossom Festival, the Yoshino cherry trees were in full bloom.

Hundreds of people attended the festival which was held in the Irmo Town Park. The event featured cultural displays, skilled artisans, crafts, food vendors and a car show with vintage Japanese cars.

Cosplayers were welcomed and they celebrated anime and manga.

Later in the afternoon, a Kimono Stroll took place with people dressed in their kimonos. Yuko Kimura sang Japanese and jazz songs.

"The blossoms however are short-lived and usually fall within a week. Indeed, 'sakura,' as the cherry tree is known in Japanese, is a recognized symbol of impermanence in Japan and beyond," according to the Department of World Languages and Cultures website at the University of Tennessee. "The first cherry blossom viewing was held by Emperor Saga in 812 C.E. and soon became a regular event at the imperial court often accompanied by music, food and writing poetry."

The plants were a gift from Japan in 1909 according to National Geographic.