In preparation for the Japanese Friendship Garden’s inaugural Tanabata Festival on July 7, 2019, the June OPOT Get-Together brought Park employees and volunteers together to learn more about the holiday and create traditional decorations to adorn the Garden grounds.

Originating from Chinese folklore, Tanabata is a holiday that celebrates the meeting of the stars Orihime and Hikoboshi. Separated by the Milky Way, Orihime and Hikoboshi are able to meet once per year on the seventh day of the seventh month. The Japanese Friendship Garden invited guests of all ages to celebrate and enjoy the summer sun and festival foods, carnival games, and cultural performances and demonstrations at their first ever Tanabata Festival. Guests also partook in the celebration by creating kazari, traditional paper decorations made to be hung on bamboo trees to “catch,” good fortune.

Park team members left their own mark on the 2019 Tanabata Festival by creating kazari and tanzaku, a popular decoration featuring a written wish for the coming year.

Thank you to the Japanese Friendship Garden for hosting One Park – One Team and giving Park team members an opportunity to participate in popular Tanabata customs!

Please note that One Park – One Team Get-Together’s are for current Balboa Park employees and volunteers. This is an opportunity for Balboa Park employees and volunteers to network and get to know one another. Guests are not permitted. Please be courteous.