2024 - Japanese Summer Festival: A Celebration of Traditional Japanese Arts at Anderson Gardens (Features Exhibits, Demos, Performances..) 2 DaysNEW

July: A Celebration of Traditional Japanese Arts at Beautiful Anderson Gardens. 
The Annual Japanese Summer Festival Event features exhibits, demonstrations and unique performances that appeal to all age groups and foster a better understanding of the Japanese culture.

Festival activities are included with Garden Admission, advanced registration and additional fee required for tea ceremony participation.

Festival Event Dates
July 27 - 28, 2024 (Weekend)

Summer Festival Map

Tea Ceremonies
Tea ceremonies are hosted by Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Arts & Culture in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Anderson Japanese Gardens Tea Study Group. Gunji Sensei is also the retired director of Japan House at the University. Advanced Registration for all ceremonies is required and space is limited at each tea ceremony.

There are three designated tea ceremony locations, each offering a different experience. At the Guest House, tea will be presented in the Misonodana table style, allowing guests to enjoy the ceremony sitting on the tatami mats indoors with an air-conditioned view of the karesansui garden. At our traditional and cozy Tea House, guests may sit seiza or cross-legged as the host prepares tea Irekodate style using a special stand to display the equipment. At the Gazebo, guests will enjoy the sounds of nature and the nearby waterfall, sitting comfortably on shaded bench seats as their tea host shares the portable tea box ceremony of Chabako Wakei.

Tea Ceremony Registration includes admission to the Garden for the date of your Tea Ceremony

Participants are asked to check in at the registration cart in the Guest House Circle (Location 2) 20 minutes before their tea ceremony time.

Regular Tea Ceremonies
$30.00 for Garden members | $35.00 for non-members
Special Tea Ceremony with Professor Gunji
$35.00 for Garden members | $40.00 for non-members

Parking (Check website)
Off-Site Parking is offered at the College of Medicine on Parkview
Free shuttle service is provided to & from off-site parking. 

Festival Event Location
Anderson Japanese Gardens (12-Acre Japanese Garden), 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, IL 61107

Festival Event Title
A Celebration of Traditional Japanese Arts at Anderson Gardens - Exhibits, Demos & Performances: Bonsai, Pottery, Origami, Taiko.. (2 Days)

Festival Performance Schedule by Day
There are three designated performance locations, Pavilion Stage (Location A), Under the Pavilion (Location B) & Pavilion Lawn (Location C)

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(PREVIOUS YEAR)

Saturday - Times
10:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
10:30 Koto Performance by the Chicago Koto Group Location B
11:00 Candy Man Location C
11:30 Shodo (Large Brush Calligraphy with Hekuin Oda) Location B
12:00 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C
12:30 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
1:00 Candy Man Location C
1:30 Akido (the Art of Peace) Location C
2:00 Candy Man Location C
2:30 Koto Performance by the Chicago Koto Group Location B
3:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A

Sunday - Times
10:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
10:30 Candy Man Location C
11:00 Awa Odori Chicago Location B
11:30 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C
12:00 Candy Man Location C
12:30 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
1:00 Iaido (Swordsmanship) Location B
1:30 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C
2:00 Awa Odori Chicago Location B
2:30 Candy Man Location C
3:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A

Tea Ceremonies
Tea ceremonies are hosted by Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Arts & Culture in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Anderson Japanese Gardens Tea Study Group. Sensei Gunji is also the retired director of Japan House at the University. Advanced Registration for all ceremonies is required and space is limited at each tea ceremony.

There are three designated tea ceremony locations, The Guest House, Tea House, and Gazebo

Participants are asked to check-in at the registration cart in the Guest House Circle (Location 2) 20 minutes before their tea ceremony time.

$30.00 for Garden members | $35.00 for non-members

Activity Stations
There will be activity stations set up all throughout the Gardens. Please refer to the map for assistance. Activity stations provided thanks to our friends at the Japanese Culture Center.

There are four designated activity locations, Conversation Garden (1), Guest House Circle (2), Pebble Beach (3) & The Horticulture Shop (4).

Saturday - Time
12:00pm -  4:00pm Japanese Paper Making Location 1
12:00pm -  4:00pm Japanese Calligraphy & Gold Leaf Sprinkle Location 1
1:00pm - 3:00pm Origami Station Location 4
2:00pm - 3:00pm Haiku Station Location 3
10:00am - 3:00pm Kintsugi - Beauty for Brokenness Location 2

Sunday  - Time
12:00pm - 4:00pm Japanese Paper Making Location 1
12:00pm - 4:00pm Japanese Calligraphy & Gold Leaf Sprinkle Location 1
1:00pm - 3:00pm Origami Station Location 4
2:00pm - 3:00pm Haiku Station Location 3