Join us at our Star-Prayer/Tanabata festival.  Bento and tea ceremony under the star at Community Observatory.  

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Date: August 16th, 2024 at 7pm

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Place: Community Observatory

6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA 95667

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 Fee:$37/Associate member*, $47/Non-Associate member

Reservation is required. Open to public.

Online Reservation: Click here

(The payment is not refundable but transferable. )  

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Schedule

Meeting time: between 6:30pm and 7:00pm at the observatory
Picnic and tea ceremony start at 7:00pm
Community Observatory Public Viewing: 9pm to 11pm (optional)  

             

Cancellation policy: We have limited seats. If you are unable to attend, please contact us so we can give your seat to another guest.

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Fire Season Alert: Please add our email address so you will receive a confirmation email. Due to the wildfire season, the event might be canceled depending on air pollution levels. We will send a final confirmation email a couple of days before the event.

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Bento: Organic gluten-free and dairy-free Sushi Brito (fish) will be served.

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Tea: Organic authentic Matcha tea and traditional tea confections will be served at our tea ceremony. A caffeine-free tea option is available.

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What to Bring
Camping/portable chair or picnic blanket. We have picnic blankets and a couple of picnic tables with benches, but additional seating is appreciated.
A Matcha bowl (if you have one; a cereal bowl will also work. We have extras if you don't have one).
Your own drinking water.

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What to Wear
There is no dress code, but we encourage guests to wear something Japanese-themed, such as a Yukata (summer kimono), kimono, or accessories. Warm clothes, a blanket, and a flashlight are also recommended. It will be warm until sunset and can get VERY cold at night, so a jacket and blanket are advisable.

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What is Tanabata/Star-Prayer Festival?
Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a traditional Japanese festival that celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively, according to Japanese mythology. The festival is based on a romantic legend where these two stars are lovers who are separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.

Tanabata festivals are typically held in July or August, depending on the region of Japan, and are celebrated with colorful decorations, especially paper decorations called "tanzaku" (small strips of paper) on which people write their wishes. These tanzaku are hung on bamboo branches along with other decorations such as paper cranes. It's a joyful occasion where communities come together to enjoy festivities, often featuring parades, traditional dances, and food stalls.

The customs and specific date of Tanabata can vary slightly across different regions of Japan and other countries that observe variations of this festival, such as China (where it's known as Qixi Festival) and Korea (where it's known as Chilseok). Tanabata remains a significant cultural event that celebrates love, hope, and the beauty of star-crossed lovers

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*how to become our Associate member

 

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