We look forward to Matsuri every year. We arrived around 2 pm on a Sat and it was quite packed. Especially when heading down on 7th St from the I-10. But once we passed Heritage Square, the traffic freed up and I was able to score a free street parking....yeah!
This year's event seemed to have gotten bigger: more food vendors, shopping booths & performers. New this year was the Asahi beer garden, Kendama contest (a traditional Japanese game of scooping up a wooden ball and catching it in a cup) & Yomatsuri (after party night festival) with karoke, dancing). There were 3 stages you can watch all sorts of performances from taiko, karate and even a Japanese anime costume contest. The kiddies got to make paper koi nobori (fish streamers) and color koi on plastic films. This is event is free but a donations are nice.
Overall the prices were reasonable but the food lines were a little backed up. Just hope next year's event won't occur during a incoming storm.