San Diego Don Odori 2016 at Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. (Photo by Andy Katayama)

August 4, 5 / Fri, Sat
Obon Festival hosted by Buddhist Temple of San Diego and San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden

Balboa Park, San Diego   www.niwa.org
Fri / Open: 12:00PM
Sat / Open: 10:00AM, Orodi: 6:30PM, Close: 9:00PM

Toro Nagashi: August 4, 7:00 pm at Japanese Friendship Garden Lower Garden

Bon Odori: August 5, 6:30 pm at Organ Pavilion

Obon Festival Japanese Friendship Garden Hours
August 4, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm (Vendors open noon)
August 5, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm (Vendors open at 11:00 am, Lower Garden closes at 4:00 pm)

Organ Pavilion Hours
August 5, 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Japanese Friendship Garden Admission
General admission ... $10
Students, military, seniors (65+) ... $8
Explorer or Go passes; children 6 y/o and under ... FREE

Forwarded for the Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego

Join us this summer as the Japanese Friendship Garden and Buddhist Temple of San Diego host the annual Obon Festival! We are proud to continue the tradition of celebrating the circle of life together, as done each summer in Japan for generations, and welcome everyone to join our celebration!

For two days, you will be able enjoy a variety of merchants, engage in family friendly activities, treat yourselves to Japanese festival foods, a beer garden, a tea & dessert garden, and experience cultural performances throughout each day!

Each festival day will also be highlighted with traditional Obon practices. On August 4th, you'll be able to make your own toro nagashi to either take home or send down the stream at the Japanese Friendship Garden. Lantern floating is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM at the lower garden.

On August 5th, the festival extends out to the Organ Pavilion at 4:00 PM where everyone will be invited to participate in the Bon Odori dance. The Organ Pavilion will be decorated with paper lanterns, Japanese folk tunes and taiko will fill the air, and dance leaders in traditional kimono will guide participants into a large dance circle! See below for the program schedule. Please note that Japanese Friendship Garden's lower garden will be closed during this time.

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August 5 / Sat
Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha

Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Open: 10:00AM, Odori: 12:45PM, Close: 4:00PM

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August 12, 13 / Sat, Sun
Gardena Buddhist Church

1517 West 166th Street, Gardena, CA 90247
Sat / Open: 3:00PM, Odori:6:00PM, Close: 10:00PM
Sun / Open: 3:00PM, Odori: 6:00PM, Close: 9:00PM