2023 - 91st Annual Seattle Buddhist Temple Summer Obon Festival Event (Bon Odori, Japanese Food, Beer Garden, Games, Live Entertainment..) (2 Days) NEW

After three years of virtual Bon Odori, we are excited to announce we are returning to an in-person event! For our first year back, we've made some small changes we want to update you on:

• This year we are going cashless! We will accept credit cards and tap-to-pay
• Event hours are 2:00-8:00pm, both days (Saturday & Sunday).
• We will only hold one dance practice on Saturday, July 1 from 12-2pm (more details below)

Bon Odori Dancing Schedule
Dancing Begins

Saturday: 4 pm
Sunday: 5 pm 

About Seattle Obon
Seattle Buddhist Temple Obon Festival Event that features a variety of American and Japanese foods for sale, games, live entertainment, cultural displays, dancing, beer garden, live music.

Bon Odori is a traditional summer festival event in which we honor our ancestors who have passed on, remember and appreciate all they have done for us, and celebrate their ongoing presence in the lives we enjoy today.

Also known as Obon, the festival event is an official Seafair event held at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. The main event is traditional music and dancing in the street in a giant oval. Many festival goers dress in Japanese kimono, yukata or happi coats. The event also features Japanese food booths and refreshment, taiko and martial arts performances, and craft exhibits and demonstrations.

Seattle Obon Poster

Seattle Obon Poster (Japanese)


Obon Festival Event Scheduled
Beer Garden with live jazz on Saturday, Ikebana display, Martial Arts demonstrations, Seattle Matsuri Taiko performances and Audience participation demonstrations

Seattle Obon Festival Event Dates
July 15 - 16, 2023 - Weekend

Obon Festival Times
Sat and Sun: 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bon Odori Dance Time
(Check back Previous years at 5pm)

Obon Dance Practice Event Dates
This year we will only have 1 dance practice, on Saturday, July 1 from 12:00-2:00pm in the Temple back parking lot (outdoors).

Can't attend? No worries! We will have video recordings of the entire dance lineup for this year.

Seattle Obon & Practice Dates

Obon Festivals & Practices

All Obon Festivals  All Obon Practices Map

See Japanese Event Festivals 

All Japanese Festivals Events Map

Celebrate the Japanese Culture food, performances and dancing.
(Please always confirm date & times, the schedule could change)

Obon Festival Event Location
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, 1427 South Main Street, Seattle , WA 98144

Obon Festival Event Title
Annual Seattle Buddhist Temple Summer Obon Festival Event - Japanese Foods, Beer Garden, Games, Live Entertainment.. (2 Days) (Different Times)