About This Festival
Location
Midwest Buddhist Temple|435 W Menomonee St, Chicago, IL | Map
Everfest's Take
From the Organizer
The 65th Annual Ginza Holiday Festival, a large Japanese cultural festival, will be presented by the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT) on Aug. 7, 8 and 9 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 textiles and other products from Japan, 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, edamame, grilled Mirai 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, the Chicago Koto Group 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). 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 brief talks on Buddhism. HOURS: Friday, Aug. 7, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM; Saturday, Aug. 8, 11:30 AM - 8:30 PM; Sunday, Aug. 9, 11:30 AM - 4:30 PMenefit Donation: $5. Children under 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, please visit us online at https://www.ginzaholiday.com or contact The Midwest Buddhist Temple at 312-943-7801 or Joy Zavala, Ginza Publicity Chairperson, at info@ginzaholiday.com.
