2012 Seabrook Buddhist Temple 67th Obon Festival - Seabrook Buddhist Temple NEW

The Seabrook Buddhist Temple will host its 67th Annual Obon Memorial Folk Dance Festival, a summer tradition since 1945, in the farmlands of Southern New Jersey. Traditional Japanese folk dancing and taiko drumming will be featured during the Annual Obon Festival. In addition to Bon odori dancing and drumming, hand-made crafts and food will be available.

Admission and parking at the temple is free.

SCHEDULE (subject to change)
5:00 pm: Food stalls and craft tables open,  Meditation Garden open until 7pm
5:15 pm: Woodruff Elementary School chorus performance
5:30 pm: Soh Daiko taiko drum performance
6:00 pm: Buddhist Dharma talk and Q & A in temple hondo
6:45 pm: Kansho ringing of Temple Bell
6:55 pm: Processional of Flags and Dancers
7:00 pm: Opening Meditation, National Anthem and Message from Consulate General of Japan in New York
7:10 pm: Bon dances Round 1 led by Seabrook Minyo Dancers and Tachibana Dance Group (New York)
7:45 pm: Hoh Daiko (Seabrook) and Soh Daiko performances
8:30 pm: Bon dance Round 2 - community invited to participate
9:00 pm: Closing meditation

The Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center Museum, located two minutes away from the festival, will be open special hours, 2-4pm on Saturday, July 14. Location: 1325 Highway 77, Seabrook, NJ 08302.  856-451-8393.  The museum chronicles a historic period in Japanese American history.  Starting in 1944, Seabrook Farms, a frozen vegetable produce plant in rural southern New Jersey provided work and housing for Japanese Americans released from  the US concentration camps of World War II.  A remarkable Japanese American community of 2,500 joined a multicultural labor force so unique it was featured in LIFE Magazine.

Web Site
http://www.seabrookeducation.org

Article on the 2012 Seabrook Obon
Seabrook Buddhist Temple to hold 67th Annual Obon Memorial Folk Dance Festival
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2012/07/seabrook_buddhist_temple_to_ho_4.html