On Saturday, we went to Ekoji Buddhist Temple’s annual Obon Festival in Fairfax Station. They had a variety of Japanese summer festival activities and games for kids, arts and crafts for sale, as well as a lot of Japanese food for sale — everything from somen, gyudon, mabodufu, chicken teriyaki, spam musubi, shaved ice, mochi, and other desserts! The area was decorated in traditional matsuri style with lanterns strung around and outdoor tables and stations for the various vendors.

Obon Festival
Arriving at Ekoji Buddhist Temple’s Obon festival.

 

When we got there, the festival was already bustling with tons of people!
When we got there, the festival was already bustling with tons of people!

 

Mio and I making our way over to the shaved ice stand for a cool refreshment.
Mio and I making our way over to the shaved ice stand for a cool refreshment.

 

Daddy says "open wide!" for the kakigori.
Daddy says “open wide!” for the kakigori.

 

Enjoying some melon-flavored kakigori (shaved ice).
Enjoying some melon-flavored kakigori (shaved ice).

 

There were lots of games for children.
There were lots of games for children.

 

Instead of the traditional game of scooping live goldfish, they had kids scoop plastic toys and rubber duckies.
Instead of the traditional game of scooping live goldfish, they had kids scoop plastic toys and rubber duckies that they could take home with them.

 

During the ring toss, Mio didn't understand why everyone was purposely making it hard for themselves by throwing the rings. She kept going over and placing the rings on the sticks.
During the ring toss, Mio didn’t understand why everyone was purposely making it hard for themselves by throwing the rings. She kept going over and carefully placing the rings on the sticks.

 

She still won some bubbles and a whistle as prizes!
She still won some bubbles and a whistle as prizes!

 

A lot of people were dressed in yukatas and jinbeis, the Japanese festival garb.
A lot of people were dressed in yukatas and jinbeis, the Japanese festival garb.

 

Mio of course sported her own jinbei and got a lot of smiles and compliments from strangers!
Mio of course sported her own jinbei and got a lot of smiles and compliments from strangers!

 

We ran into Mimi at the festival. Thanks for taking this picture of us, Mimi!
We ran into our friend Mimi at the festival. Thanks for taking this picture of us, Mimi!

 

ヨーヨー釣り at Obon Festival
There was also Yo-yo tsuri (fishing for water balloons).

 

Later in the evening, there was bon-odori, and a lot of people joined in the dancing.
Later in the evening, there was bon-odori, and a lot of people joined in the dancing.

 

Some video of the bon-odori dancing:

 

Nen Daiko also gave an awesome taiko performance!
Nen Daiko also gave an awesome taiko performance!

 

Here is Nen Daiko performing “Satori no Michi.” Mio started yelling along with the drummers towards the end, much to our dismay…

 

We left shortly afterwards as Mio was getting really rowdy and we were worried she’d disturb everyone’s enjoyment of the taiko performances. At the end of the Obon festival, they supposedly had a candle memorial ceremony to remember loved ones who have passed on. Maybe next time, we’ll be able to stay for the whole festival! 🙂 It’s great that our children will be able to experience and take part in these Japanese traditions even while they live in America. Even as Americans, it’s a valuable thing to get exposure to your ethnic heritage and its traditions so that you can develop an understanding and appreciation for them. I think going to Obon will definitely be a family tradition for us in the years to come!