2013 Lantern Festival

Inspired by Obon, Japan’s traditional three-day holiday honoring ancestors and thanking them for the quality of life enjoyed by the living, The Morikami celebrates the Lantern Festival in one fun-filled evening. Entertainment includes taiko drumming, traditional Japanese folk dancing, ghost stories, and a street fair with games and shop stalls. The highlight of the evening transforms Morikami Pond into a sea of lanterns which, in accordance with Japanese custom, guide the departure of ancestors’ souls who have come for a brief visit among the living. A special fireworks display caps the enchanting evening. This year’s event will be held on October 19, 2013. For more information, visit www.morikami.org/lanternfest.