2024 Ekoji Summer Obon Festival Event (Bon Odori Dancing, Food, Live Taiko, Vendors, Games..) Ekoji Buddhist (Saturday)NEW

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). 

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 13, 2024, Saturday

Obon Festival Times
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Admission is $5 per person

Admission Ticket   

* Pre-order your tickets today for the fastest admission to our Obon Festival.
* Gates will open at 5 pm ET and the event will be held rain or shine.
* Your e-receipt is your ticket so proceed to the pre-order ticket line when you arrive.
* Children 2 and under are free.


Bon Odori Dance Schedule (Check Website)
Obon dance practices are on Sunday: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: of dance practices Ekoji Buddhist Temple

Festival Obon Schedule: Saturday, July 13, 2024
5:15 pm: Opening Ceremony
5:30 pm: Chanting and Ritual Demo (Temple)
5:45 pm: Aloha Boys
6:30 pm: Bon Odori (Festival Dancing led by Kikuyuki no Kai)
7:35 pm: Taiko Performance (Nen Daiko, Dounen Daiko)
8:20 pm: Bon Odori (Festival Dancing led by Kikuyuki no Kai)
8:40 pm: Candlelight Service
9:00 pm: Obon Ends

In between events, enjoy the children and teen game and activities, temple tours and presentations, specialty food, desserts, beverages, vendor and artisan booths.


Ekoji Obon/Practice Dates

Obon Service
11:00 am - Sunday

Public Parking
Parking is free but first-come, first-serve, as spots are limited to neighborhood streets and at the Accotink Unitarian Church, which is a short walk to the event. We encourage attendees to carpool when possible. Volunteers will be on hand to direct traffic; please follow their instructions.

Directions
Ekoji is located at 6500 Lakehaven Lane in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Take Fairfax County Parkway to Burke Lake Road.

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

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

#EkojiObonFestival #WashingtonDCObon #JapaneseCultural #Obon #Taiko