NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Money raised at this weekend's Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival will go directly towards relief efforts in Japan.
Mayor Karl Dean made the announcement Monday afternoon with Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Sato, following the mayor's return from Japan.
The annual festival is usually a free event, but there will now be tent set up by the Japan-American Society of Tennessee.
100 percent of donations made will go towards relief organizations in Japan, like the Red Cross.
The new plan formulated after Dean's trip to Japan. He'd scheduled the tour long before the earthquake hit, and continued with the trip to discuss mass transit options, and check in with companies that are invested in Tennessee.
Mayor Dean said he has no regrets about making his trip at such a critical time.
"It was a useful, productive trip and I certainly will remember it all my life. The special honor I had to be able to convey the concern of people all over this country but particularly Nashville for what happened in Japan," said Mayor Karl Dean.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at downtown's Public Square.
For more information, go to Cherry Blossom Festival For Japan Relief.
