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July 08, 2010 Culture » Entertainment Picks

Obon Festival 

Saturday July 10

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During the summer, Salt Lakers have numerous opportunities to take in cultural festivals representing dozens of different ethnic backgrounds. Some are higher profile than others and tend to draw bigger crowds. So, when was the last time you experienced the Obon Festival?

The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple hosts this annual celebration of the Utah Japanese-American community, with many of the same trappings you’d expect from a cultural festival: authentic food for sale, craft booths and plenty of entertainment. That includes the sound and spectacle of Taiko drumming.

The nature of the showpiece performance, however, arises from the nature of the festival. Obon is the traditional Japanese Buddhist commemoration and honoring of deceased family members. Among the elements of this commemoration is bon odori, or dancing to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of those who have gone before. The traditionally costumed bon odori dancers take to the streets at 8 p.m.—and visitors are invited to participate.

Obon Festival @ Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, 211 W. 100 South, 801-363-4742, July 10, 1-10 p.m., free. SLBuddhist.org

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Scott Renshaw

Scott Renshaw
Bio:
 Scott Renshaw has been a City Weekly staff member since 1999, including assuming the role of primary film critic in 2001 and Arts & Entertainment Editor in 2003. Scott has covered the Sundance Film Festival for 25 years, and provided coverage of local arts including theater, pop-culture conventions, comedy,... more

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