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Japantown Peace Plaza in San Francisco will host the annual Children’s Day Festival. Bring out the kids and friends to enjoy festival offering many fun games and prizes, craft activities, face painting, bounce houses, and cultural and live stage performances for the community to enjoy. Admission is free and open to the public, and children are encouraged to wear kimono, yukata or other Japanese clothing.
Attendees to this year’s festival can look forward to stage entertainment including cultural performances! Festival performances this year include ABC Preschool, UC Berkeley alumni acapella group Members Even After Nikkei Choral Ensember (MEAN), San Francisco Kendo Dojo, Na Hoaloha Ukulele, Ito Yosakoi Dance Group and Genryu Arts Taiko.
Of all the Children’s Day holidays celebrated around the world, none is older, more celebrated, steeped in tradition and well known than Japan’s Kodomo No Hi. Kodomo No Hi, or “Children’s Day,” is celebrated every year on May 5th. On this Japanese national holiday, children are respected and honored for their individual strengths and to celebrate their happiness. The origin of Children’s Day dates back to around 600 AD and is one of the five sekku, or seasonal festivals, of Japan. While traditionally May 5th was recognized as Boys’ Day in Japan, the holiday was renamed to Children’s Day and was officially designated as a national holiday to honor and celebrate the health, growth and happiness of both girls and boys shortly after the end of WWII in 1948. Kodomo No Hi is particularly well known for the unique traditions and colorful decorations that are associated with the celebration of the holiday.
May is AAPI Heritage Month.
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the activity organizer or venue as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
