Tanabata, the Star Festival

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Washington Park

This is a recurring event and we're showing the details from its most recent past occurrence. We'll update this page with future event info as soon as we get it. Please check back!

When

Sunday, July 2, 2023

10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Cost: Included with admission

Where

Portland Japanese Garden

611 SW Kingston Ave
Portland, OR 97205

The following description was submitted by the event organizer.

Celebrate Tanabata, the Star Festival, at Portland Japanese Garden. The Star Festival commemorates the one day a year the star-crossed lovers Orihime, the Weaver Star (Vega), and Hikoboshi, the Cowherder Star (Altair), meet in the sky.

Tanabata at the Garden will include musical performances by Takohachi Q Ensemble (taiko drums, shinobue flute), storytelling of the Tanabata folk legend, and wish writing to add to the colorful display of tanzaku, the wish strips that are added to the bamboo in the Portland Japanese Garden's Crumpacker Bamboo Allee.

Tanabata was inspired by an ancient Chinese folk legend. In it, Orihime and Hikoboshi were in love but were banished by Orihime’s father, the Sky King, to opposite ends of the Milky Way for neglecting their work to spend time together. Moved by his daughter’s sorrow over this, the Sky King allowed them to meet just once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month. On this night, a flock of magpies use their wings to form a bridge so that the Orihime can cross the Milky Way to be united with Hikoboshi. The magpies will only make the bridge if July 7 is a clear night; if it rains, they must wait another year. Because of this legend, many Japanese people pray for a clear night on July 7. Tanabata is one of five seasonal festivals celebrated in Japan since the 8th century.