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Saturday, July 29, 2023 | 12 – 4pm

Celebrate one of The Arboretum’s most beloved gardens during the Japanese Garden Festival! With hands-on activities for all ages, food trucks and more, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

  • Granville Yoga will be onsite offering guided meditation and Qigong
  • Try your hand at calligraphy
  • Practice the art of origami
  • Listen to the drumming performances
  • Iron Grill will have food available for purchase [UPDATE: Kona Ice and Chef Shack are no longer available.]
  • Arboretum staff will be sharing the history of the Japanese Garden.
  • Plus, don’t miss the Annual Columbus Bonsai Show, happening in the Visitors Center at the same time!

Get Arboretum Tickets

Admission to the Japanese Garden Festival and the Columbus Bonsai Show are included with Arboretum admission.

Please note that both lanes at the Gatehouse will be open for entry to The Arboretum during the Japanese Garden Festival and all visitors will exit on Davis Drive Rd.

Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a Formal Tea Ceremony with Tea Master Yumiko Passalacqua during the Festival for a fee. Registration is required and space is limited. [UPDATE: Each time slot for the Formal Tea Ceremony is now sold out.]

Register for the 12:30pm Tea Ceremony

Register for the 1:30pm Tea Ceremony

Register for the 2:30pm Tea Ceremony

Schedule of Festival Events:

  • 12pm: The Japanese Garden Festival is open! Food trucks will have food for purchase and all activities will begin!
  • 12pm: Qigong’s 1st session, lasting 30 minutes. (Festival will include 4 sessions total)
  • 12pm: Calligraphy
    • Yasue Arceno - first come, first serve and can host 12 people at a time, they will be open throughout the event.
    • Dragon Ikka, Yasuko Jameson - first come, first serve and can host 20 people at a time, session approx. 40 minutes.
  • 12:30pm: Formal Tea Service  (sold out)
  • 12:30pm: Meditation’s 1st session, each session is 20 minutes. (Festival will include 4 sessions total)
  • 12:30pm: Drumming Performance
  • 1:20pm: Meditation 2nd session
  • 1:30pm: Drumming Perfomance
  • 1:30pm: Formal Tea Service (sold out)
  • 2:10pm: Meditation 3rd session
  • 2:30pm: Formal Tea Service (sold out)
  • 3pm: Dragon Ikka Calligraphy, last session of the event
  • 3pm: Meditation 4th session, last session of the event
  • 3pm: Yasue Arceno Calligraphy will host a Q&A, 1hr session
  • 3:30pm: Formal Tea Service Q&A, 30 minute session at the Resting House
  • 3:30pm: Drumming Perfomance
  • 4pm: Event sends

Following the event, adults ages 21+ can enjoy an Ikebana Workshop, complete with flower arranging and sake tasting!