Family Fun: Tanabata Festival at Japanese Friendship Garden

Enjoy the summer sun and join the Tanabata Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden!

Originating from Chinese folklore, the Tanabata celebration centers on the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi. Separated by the Milky Way, the stars Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet once per year on the seventh day of the seventh month.

Tanabata Festival Performers

This year’s festival will be full of kid-friendly fun, such as games, performances, crafts, and food!

Enjoy a full schedule of live performances and food from local vendors in the lower garden. Children’s games and activities will be set up in the upper garden.

  • 10 AM: Honu Sumo Club
  • 11 AM: Akido Del Mar
  • 12 PM: Tsumiki Preschool
  • 1 PM: San Diego Elisa, Sanshin Hula Team
  • 2 PM: The San Diego Kimono Club
  • 3 PM: San Diego Yosakoi
  • 4 PM: San Diego Iai-Batto

Kazari at the Tanabata Celebration

A common practice during Tanabata is to decorate the nanatsu kazari, or seven decorations. The nanatsu kazari include the Fukinagashi, Tanzaku, Kamigoromo, Orizuru, Kinchaku, Toami, and Kuzukago.

The Fukinagashi is the most eye-catching decoration. It represents the weaving yarn in the Tanabata legend of Orihime and is a charm for improving the arts.

Tanabata Festival

See you there!

Come admire the decorations, learn the meaning behind the Tanabata celebration, and enjoy the beauty of the Japanese Friendship Garden!

Click here to learn more.

See you there, San Diego!

Share This Event
Event Details
  • Start Date
    July 7, 2024 10:00 am
  • End Date
    July 7, 2024 4:00 pm
  • Status
    All done
  • Location
  • Venue
    • Japanese Friendship Garden
  • Address
    2215 Pan American Road. E., San Diego, CA 92101
  • More Info
Event Map
The Latest
Santanaways The Carlos Santana
Feel the groove of Carlos Santana at the Santanaways Spreckels Organ Pavilion, an outdoor venue that enhances live music experiences.
America The Beautiful 50 Concert at The Rady Shell
Discover America the Beautiful at The Rady Shell, featuring timeless songs and a full orchestra for a memorable Fourth of July.
things to do in san diego this weekend
Check out this week’s Things to Do in San Diego this weekend and make your plans! Celebrate the Fourth of July with spectacular fireworks, festive...
top concerts in san diego this week
Here are the top concerts in San Diego this week! Catch Grammy-winning R&B star Leon Thomas, experience Rosalía’s spectacular Lux Tour 2026, or celebrate America’s...
Juan Jasper in San Diego's Golden Hill neighborhood
The Craving is ThereSanDiego's weekly guide to what's worth eating and drinking in San Diego right now. Every Tuesday, we surface new restaurant openings, standout happy hours, limited-time menu specials, and upcoming food events across the city - so you know what's happening before everyone else does.
San Diego County Fair fireworks
July is packed with reasons to get out and explore San Diego! Celebrate Independence Day with spectacular fireworks, festive food and drink specials, and patriotic...
Event Details
  • Start Date
    July 7, 2024 10:00 am
  • End Date
    July 7, 2024 4:00 pm
  • Status
    All done
  • Location
  • Venue
    • Japanese Friendship Garden
  • Address
    2215 Pan American Road. E., San Diego, CA 92101
  • More Info
Upcoming Events
Bird's Eye View of Mission Bayfest
October 16, 2026
3:00 pm
  • Mariners Point
Mission Bayfest is heading back to the waterfront this fall, bringing three days of reggae, rock, and SoCal vibes to Mariner’s Point Park along the...
La Mesa Oktoberfest
October 2, 2026
4:00 pm
  • La Mesa Village
Join the fun at La Mesa Oktoberfest! Enjoy live entertainment, games, and great food in San Diego's biggest German celebration.
Fourth annual Punches in the Piazza at Piazza della Famiglia
September 11, 2026
6:00 pm
  • Piazza della Famiglia
The fourth annual Punches in the Piazza returns to Little Italy’s Piazza della Famiglia for an evening that blends amateur boxing, community connection, and meaningful...
Tori Amos San Diego
August 26, 2026
7:30 pm
  • San Diego Civic Theatre
There are artists who put on a show, and then there’s Tori Amos – a force of nature who turns every performance into something genuinely...
August 14, 2026
6:00 pm
  • USS Midway Museum
Shelter to Soldier’s largest fundraiser of the year returns to one of San Diego’s most iconic venues – the Flight Deck of the USS Midway...
Event Search: