2024 - 78th Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar Event (Japanese Food) Buddhist Church of SacramentoNEW

For over 75 years, our beloved Bazaar has always been something to look forward to and to reminisce. For a weekend August, visitors and Sangha members alike enjoy a vast array of Japanese food, cultural events, music, and games.

The words “Thank You” are not enough to express our gratitude to the Greater Sacramento community for their patronage over the decades. It is through the continued support of our families, friends and visitors, as well as hundreds of dedicated volunteers, that enable us to keep this longstanding tradition alive as a highlight of the summer!

Festival Date
August 10, 2024, Saturday

Event Time
11:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Music
• East Wind Band performing Old School vibes

Food Favorites
• Teriyaki Chicken (now served in a bowl over rice)
• Teriyaki Beef Sandwiches
• California Roll, Inari Sushi, Spam Musubi, and Tuna Poke Bowls
• Curry, Gyoza, Ebi Fry, Chicken Karaage
• Noodles - Somen, Udon and Yakisoba
• Traditional Japanese sweets like Manju and Mochi

Beloved-Traditions
• Games for kids and adults
• Beer Garden
• Gunther’s Freezes
• Commemorative Bazaar tee shirts and aprons for sale plus special 125th Anniversary merchandise
• Warm summer temperatures (wouldn’t be tradition without the heat!)

Facts and Figures of Festival
• One-and-a-half tons or 5,500 lbs. of short-grained rice are used. About 1,500 lbs. are cleaned, cooked and consumed in traditional Japanese cuisine, and the balance is used for game prizes.
•  3-3/4 tons or 7,500+ pounds of chicken seasoned and barbecued for chicken teriyaki.
• 1 ton or 2,000 pounds of charcoal used to cook teriyaki chicken.
• Two tons or 4,000 pounds of beef prepared for world famous teriyaki beef sandwiches and other dishes.
• 1,600 pounds of sugar and 100 pounds of salt used in preparation of various seasonings.
• 6 tons or 12,000 lbs. of ice used to keep fish sushi fresh, make refreshing snow cones and to cool drinks.
• 500 pounds of shrimp cooked for tempura.
• 500 pounds of noodles prepared for hot udon and cold somen dishes.
• 100 gallons of soy sauce used to create authentic marinades and other seasonings.
• We purchase over 15,000 canned and bottled beverages, including soda, water, beer, sake, tea, coffee and fruit drinks.
• More than 750 church members and friends volunteer to make the Bazaar run as smooth as a well-oiled machine.
• Estimated attendance for the two-day event is 25,000 to 35,000 people.

Festival Parking
Parking available at city lot underneath Highway 50 at 8th and X Street for a flat rate. Courtesy shuttle available or short 10 minute walk.

Background of Festival
1947 marked the beginning of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Bazaar, as the Japanese rebuilt their community following their forced evacuation from the West Coast by Executive Order during World War II. The Bazaar was primarily a social festival where church members and the local Sacramento Japanese and Japanese-American community shared good food, great memories and lasting friendships. In later years, the Bazaar was expanded to include Japanese cultural exhibits and demonstrations such as flower arranging (Ikebana), classical dancing (Odori), calligraphy, concerts, Taiko drum performances and more.

Hundreds of volunteers, ages 7 - 90, invest thousands of hours to bring the Bazaar to life. We are humbled that the Bazaar’s popularity has turned it into a major Sacramento community event. We gratefully welcome back annual attendees, and are thrilled to see brand new visitors, traveling from miles around, to join in the festivities each year. Proceeds from our Annual Bazaar support the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, as well as our affiliated organizations, such as Dharma School, Sakura Gakuen (language & cultural school), Adult & Youth Buddhist Associations, Sports Program, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, the Betsuin Choir, and programs for seniors and families.

Sacramento Obon, Bazaar & Practices

Bazaar Festival Event Location
Buddhist Church of Sacramento Obon Odori Festival, 2401 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, CA 9581

Bazaar Festival Event Title
Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar - Buddhist Church of Sacramento (2 Day Festival)

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PREVIOUS YEAR

Obon Bon Odori is in July (Always second Saturday)
July 8, 2023 - Saturday at 7:30 pm - Bon Odori Dance Details
July 9, 2023 - Sunday at 9:30 am - Obon/Hatsubon Service

Note: The Obon is on a separate day from the 2-day Bazaar. 

Obon Practices: June. Time is usually 7:00-8:00 pm; practice on the last night runs a little longer.


Sacramento Bazaar Video