The Press Release forwarded for the Orange County Buddhist Church

ANAHEIM, CA - Celebrate summer at the Orange County Buddhist Church’s (OCBC) annual Obon Festival taking place the weekend of July 20-21, 2024.

Obon Festival 2024
Saturday, July 20, 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Sunday, July 21, 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Taiko @4:00PM & 6:00PM
Bon Odori Dancing @6:30 PM

Obon (Gathering of Joy) is an opportunity to commemorate our deceased and reflect on the Dharma. The two-day event will feature food, games, shopping, and taiko drum performances at 4 PM and 6 PM.

We close out each evening of the festival at 6:30 PM with Bon Odori Dancing held to celebrate Obon in gratitude to those who have gone before us.

All are invited to participate. As a special treat on Saturday, OCBC is excited that the Asian American collaborative, Bonbu Stories, will have a live performance of their beautiful Lantern Song commissioned for the Buddhist Churches of America’s 125th Anniversary.

Enjoy fresh corn, teriyaki beef and chicken, grilled ika, wontons, Okinawa dango, spam musubi, imagawayaki, dango dogs, shave ice, boba teas, somen, and baked goods!

Play games and win awesome prizes. Shop at the boutique to find one-of-a-kind hand-crafted items. In addition, OCBC offers Obon Dance Practice Sessions in the OCBC parking lot on the following dates from 7 to 8 PM: July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, & 17, 2024.

Obon Festival Location: OCBC, 909 S. Dale Avenue, Anaheim, 92804
Dates: Saturday, July 20, 2024, 2 PM to 8:30 PM Sunday, July 21, 2024, 2 PM to 8 PM

Admission to the festival is FREE with ample parking at Magnolia High School on 2450 W. Ball Road in Anaheim. Shuttle service to and from OCBC will be running throughout the festival.

For more information, please refer to our website: https://www.orangecountybuddhist.org/obon.

Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) is a religious institution located in Orange County, California.

OCBC holds regular religious services, meditation sessions, festivals, and ceremonies. Established in 1946, OCBC aims to foster a sense of community and spiritual growth among its members.

The temple's teachings emphasize the significance of mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude in achieving spiritual awakening and living a meaningful life.

Daion Taiko, formed in 1978, is one of the oldest Japanese-American Buddhist Taiko groups in the United States. Daion in Japanese means Great Sound of Enlightenment.

The 75-member group ranges in age from 10 to adult. Many of its songs have been written by group members, blending traditional Japanese rhythms with contemporary western music to form its unique sound.

Bonbu Stories: Bonbu Stories is an Asian American arts collaborative dedicated to using music as a medium for raw storytelling and building connections. https://bonbustories.art/