Bon Odori/ Bon Fest Chicago 2024

8.17 UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS.

The Japanese Art Foundation and Japanese Culture Center in partnership with NEWCITY & AIRMW presents the 2024 Bon Odori / Bon Fest Chicago. Shubukai collaborates with Kimiei Fujima Sensei from Shizuoka, Japan and Ageha Bijo Sensei from the Nihon Bon Odori Association for this year's festival.

Program:

7pm Open to public

8pm Greeting

8:15pm Taiko 

8:30pm Bon Odori 

From the organizers:

Bon Odori is a summer festival for people to come together to honor their ancestors, express their joy, respect, and feeling of community; to create a connection with community. The festival is traditionally held in the peak heat of summer when space between the natural and the supernatural world is thinnest. This is a time when individuals come together to remember ancestors and those lost as a community. As we continue to process the tremendous loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome our community to come together through the arts. Traditionally, Bon Odori dancing is performed by those in attendance to welcome spirits, though each community and region has their own style of dance and music. One does not have to be a dancer, the dances are simple and fun!

Participate in bon dancing

Join the workshops with Yoshinojo Fujima of Shubukai to learn the bon odori dances for August 17th

@ AIRMW (Register HERE)

Wed July 17 from 7-8pm

Wed July 24 from 7-8pm

Wed July 31 from 7-8pm

Wed  Aug 14. from 7-8pm

@ Hyde Park Arts Center (Register HERE)

Sat July 20  10:30 - 12:30pm

Sun July 21 11:00am-1:00pm

@ Japanese Culture Center (Register HERE)

Sat July 20 from 7-8:30pm

*Pending dates for workshops at the Logan Center & NEWCITY coming soon*