2019 - 30th Annual Obon and Taiko Festival, Eugene Oregon - Alton Baker Park (Saturday) Newly Listed

The Japanese American Association of Lane County will host their annual Obon and Taiko Festival to share the music and folk dancing traditional to Japanese culture and now observed by Japanese communities around the world. The main feature of the Obon Festival is the Bon Odori, a community folk dance. Dance movements are simple so dancers of all ages can participate regardless of skill. Taiko drummers will perform traditional music as dancers, some in tradtional dress, form a dance circle. This event is informal and families are welcome to bring picnics and sit on the grass while observing and participating in community dancing. Source: eugenecascadescoast.org

History
On July 28, 1990, the Asian Council sponsored the community’s first Obon and Taiko Festival at Skinner’s Butte Park. Volunteers taught 6 dancers, generously given to the community by Matsukai of Salem, to brave members. Eugene Taiko played one piece - their entire repertoire! Volunteers built a yagura or central tower. Mayor Shinmura, then Mayor of Kakegawa City, Eugene’s sister city, attended the festival with 20 members. Per a request from a community member, Mayor Shinmura donated 250 “chochin” (paper lanterns).

In 1995, the Japanese-American community became the first organized community group, created by the Asian Council, when it obtained recognition from the Internal Revenue Service and the Oregon Corporation Commission as a 501 (c) (3) social membership organization known as the Japanese-American Association (JAA) of Lane County.

In 2008, recognizing that JAA stages the Obon and Taiko Festival as a gift to the community and members have performed cultural sharing in schools and events statewide, directors decided to pursue non-profit public benefit status from the IRS. In July 2009, the JAA application for recognition as a 501 (c) (3) Charitable Non-Profit Corporation was approved by the IRS. With receipt of this designation, monetary and other donations to JAA are tax-exempt. Also, in order to insure sustainability of the Japanese-American community, JAA will award scholarships to outstanding youth and future leaders of the community.

Obon Festival Date
July 27, 2019

Obon Festival Time
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Costs
Free

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Bon Odori Dance Practices
Obon Dance practices will be held at the UO Longhouse 6:30
Dates: June 19, 20, 26, 27 - 2019

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Other Upcoming Oregon Obon Festivals

1) July 20th, 2019, Sat: Japan Nite Obon Festival by Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple

2) July 27, 2019, Sat: Eugene Oregon: Annual Obon & Taiko Festival at Alton Park

3) August 3, 2019, Sat: ObonFest! By Oregon Buddhist Temple

4) August 15-18, 2019: Portland Japanese Garden, O-Bon, the Spirit Festival  

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Oregon Obon Festival Dates
All Oregon 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)

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Obon Festival Location
Alton Baker Park, 100 Day Island Rd, Eugene, OR 97401

Obon Festival Title 
2019 - 30th Annual Obon and Taiko Festival, Eugene Oregon - Alton Baker Park (Saturday) 

Sponsors
Sponsored by the Japanese American Association of Lane County, the City of Eugene, and the Asian American Foundation of Oregon