2023 Annual Tanabata Star Festival Event (Live Taiko, Wishing Station, Crafts, Puppet Show - based on day) July 6 - 8 (3 Days)NEW

Annual Tanabata Star Festival Event.  Join us for the annual Japanese star festival! Tanabata 七夕 at the garden is a family-friendly event that we celebrate with magnificent colors, craft making, and a tradition of writing wishes. This year, we’re celebrating for 3 days!

Are you making a wish upon the stars on Tanabata this year? We are, here at the Seattle Japanese Garden! Enjoy the Tanabata story and other activities below, and write your wish on a tanzaku.

Tanabata (七夕)
The story of Tanabata comes from the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, star crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way. Each year on the evening of July 7th, Orihime and Hikoboshi are allowed to reunite for one night only. In Japan, Tanabata is celebrated by decorating bamboo branches with origami ornaments and tanzaku, poems or wishes written on small strips of paper.

Event Date
July 6-7-8, 2023 (3 Days)

Event Time (Check Website)
3:00 pm

Admission to the garden will be FREE all day for everyone on Thursday 7/7 for Free First Thursday, and for youth 12 and under from 10am-2pm on Saturday 7/9. Final entry to the garden is 45 minutes before closing.

Event Schedule
(All event schedule and activities are subject to change)

Visitors hanging their wishes on bamboo.

Thursday 7/6/2023
3:00pm - 6:30 pm Tanzaku Wishing Station
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Opening reception and lecture by Taka Ishii from Awonoyoh
*Last entry to the Garden is 45 minutes before closing at 6:15pm.

Friday 7/7/2023
3:00 pm - 6:30 pm Tanzaku Wishing Station
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Minowashi Paper Art and Crafts by Mariko Burnham
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Shakuhachi Play by Hanz Araki

Saturday 7/8/2023
10:00am - 6:30 pm Tanzaku Wishing Station
11:00 am - 11:45 am Puppet Show by Thistle Theatre
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm Taiko Drumming by Dekoboko Taiko

Admission to the garden will be FREE all day for everyone on Thursday 7/7 for Free First Thursday, and for youth 12 and under from 10am-2pm on Saturday 7/9. Final entry to the garden is 45 minutes before closing.

See All Tanabata Festivals

Event Title
2023 Annual Tanabata Star Festival Event (Tanabata is Celebrated by Decorating Bamboo Branches with Origami Ornaments & Tanzaku) July 6 - 8) (3 Days)

Location
Seattle Japanese Garden - Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112