2016 - 61st Annual Ginza Holiday Festival - A Japanese Cultural Festival: Food, Bonsai, Ikebana, Music, etc. (3 Days) (Check Hours)NEW

The 61st Annual Ginza Holiday Festival, a large Japanese cultural festival, will be presented by the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT) on Aug. 12, 13 and 14 at 435 W. Menomonee Street in Chicago's historic Old Town.

Flown in from Tokyo for this event, four master craftspersons (Waza) will demonstrate their generations-old skills creating unique crafts. The public will have the opportunity to meet the Waza and purchase their crafts. Several other exhibits and booths will be filled with Japanese textiles, snacks, t-shirts, kimonos, artwork and jewelry.

An abundance of traditional Japanese cuisine will be offered, including the famous grilled Chicken Teriyaki dinner, udon (Japanese cold noodles), sushi, Spam musubi, edamame, grilled corn on the cob and Hawaiian shave ice. For dessert, try the kintoki (Japanese snow cone topped with sweet azuki beans). Japanese beer will also be available.

Featured at the festival will be ongoing stage performances with the energetic taiko drumming by Ho Etsu Taiko and MBT Taiko; the MBT Minyo Group (Japanese folk dancing) and The Na Kupuna Ukulele group. Aikido and Judo schools will demonstrate self-defense tactics, while Kendo (Japanese fencing) will entertain the crowd.

Inside the temple, there will be exhibits of bonsai and ikebana (flower arranging). Ginza expands into Saturday evening with Yoko Noge and her band, Japanesque. Yoko's music can be described as a combination of Japanese ''Minyo'' folk music with "Chicago blues." Performed with an electric piano, shamisen, horn section, and Yoko's sweet and growly blues vocals, she will warm the August night with her appearance at Ginza at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The chapel will be open for visitors who are interested in observing the place of worship and learning the basics of Buddhism. During stage intermissions, Rev. Ron Miyamura will deliver short Dharma talks.

A benefit donation of $7 for adults, and $6 for students and senior citizens will be collected at the gate. Children under 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. A special 3-day pass will be available for $15. On Saturday evening, $12 will be charged after 7:00 for the Yoko Noge concert.

Date
August 12-14, 2016

Hours
Friday, Aug. 12, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM;
Saturday, Aug. 13, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM;
Sunday, Aug. 14, 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Location
Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 West Menomonee Street, Chicago, IL 60614

For more information, please visit us online at http://www.ginzachicago.com or contact The Midwest Buddhist Temple at 312-943-7801 or Joy Zavala, Ginza Publicity Chairperson, at [email protected].