Note: Attendance will be limited at this years Obon festival. We highly recommend pre-ordering ticket(s) for guaranteed admission to this fun community event held at Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax Station, Virginia on Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Children 2 and under are free.

Purchase Obon Ticket Link

***

Ekoji Buddhist Temple Annual Summer Obon Festival Event, please come join us for the ONLY Obon Festival in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for over 40 years! 

Families love to get together in the summer. In Japan, a traditional summer celebration called Obon is a time to express gratitude to loved ones who have passed on before us and to reflect on the influences they have had on our lives.

At the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax Station, Virginia, we welcome families from every background to experience the festive traditions of Japanese folk dancing, Japanese drumming or taiko, and lighting a commemorative candle in our meditative garden to honor your ancestors. This year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Obon Festival held at Ekoji.

Obon is a cultural experience, featuring experiences such as Japanese folk dancing, and taiko performances by three groups this year, Nen Daiko (taiko ensemble of Ekoji Buddhist Temple), Dounen Daiko (Ekoji’s youth taiko ensemble).

Festivities continue great Japanese inspired food, specialty vendors and local artists, temple tours, festival games for all ages (to include this year, a nature-inspired mini-golf course), and kids’ activities. Our evening ends with a candlelight memorial, in our Japanese garden, honoring our memories of one’s ancestors. Everyone is welcome to light a candle. It’s a perfect summer evening filled with unforgettable moments.

There are plenty of great tastes to sample including grilled chicken, teriyaki vegetable stir fry, spam musubi, sweet butter mochi, specialty tea drinks, and shave ice. And for dessert, don’t forget to stop by our International Desserts Hall for a sampling of sweets from all over the world, a celebration of Ekoji’s diverse sangha.

The festival is from 5:00-9:00 p.m. rain or shine, at the Ekoji Buddhist Temple at 6500 Lakehaven Lane in Fairfax Station, VA (near the corner of Burke Lake Road and Fairfax County Parkway). 

For more information, please call (703) 239-0500.

Obon at Ekoji Buddhist Temple
The Obon at Ekoji Buddhist Temple is the only Obon in the Washington DC region.

Obon combines joyous activities such as dancing, drumming and great food with solemn aspects such as lighting a candle in memory of one’s ancestors.

Everyone is welcome to light a candle and have a quiet moment in the peaceful garden. It’s a perfect summer evening filled with unforgettable moments.

Obon Festival Scheduled
Games 
Japanese Folk Dancing
Great Food
Japanese Garden
Temple Tours
Candle Illumination

Obon Festival Event Date
July 9, 2022 - Saturday

Obon Festival Times
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Bon Odori Dance Schedule
Obon dance practices are on Sunday, June 26, and Sunday, July 3, at 1:00 pm

Obon Service
11:00 am - Sunday

Festival Obon Schedule
Candle illumination
Temple Tours
Japanese Garden
Children Games
Japanese Folk Dancing
Great food..

*** 

See Obon Festival & Dance Practice

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: of dance practices Ekoji Buddhist Temple

*** 

Ekoji Obon Festival Dates
All Ekoji Obon & Practices Dates

Obon Festivals & Practices
All Obon Festivals  All Obon Practices

See Japanese Event Festivals 
All Japanese Festivals Events 

Map of Japanese Festivals 
See Map Japanese Festivals 

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

*** 

Obon Festival Event Location
Ekoji Buddhist Temple, 6500 Lake Haven Lane, Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Obon Festival Event Title
2022  Annual Ekoji Buddhist Temple Annual Summer Obon Festival Event (Saturday Only) Games, Japanese Dancing, Food, Taiko, Folk Dancing..l