The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach celebrated Obon, or the Bon Festival this past Saturday, August 14.  A traditional Japanese observance when the spirits of deceased family members are thought to return to the world of the living, the Bon Festival at the Morikami is always a much anticipated event. 

Those of us who live in Palm Beach County, and Delray Beach, in particular are so lucky to have the Morikami Museum and their beautiful take-your-breath away gardens right in our back door.  Since 1977,  the Museum has given us a peek of what a Japanese villa might look like; let us see the "steeped" in tradition tea ceremony and walk through over 200 acres of Japanese gardens, winding paths, and cross bridges over lakes filled with koi. 

The Bon Festival featured performances of the Bon odori, a folk dance that is supposed to entertain the many spirits. The platform you see below is the Yagura, where drummers and flutists perform.                 

Bon odori dancers

Outside the tent are activities for children, food booths, and many other exhibits.  You can also tour the gardens or explore its latest exhibit, the Kaiju! Monstor Invasion ! located inside the museum.   Visitors wanting to honor their deceased ancestors could purchase lantern sleeves that were lighted and set afloat on the Morikami Pond.  The festivities were topped off by a fireworks display at 9pm.

Morikami Museum Bon Festival  Morikami Museum Bon Festival Morikami Museum Bon Festival

                                              Drummers                                             Floating Lanterns to honor Ancestors

If you come down to South Florida and want to spend a day surrounded by peaceful beauty; learn more about the Japanese culture, and relax over lunch as you overlook one of the lakes don't miss the Morikami Museum.  And as a bonus, located just across the way from the museum is another of Delray Beach's visitor and resident favorites, the national headquarters of the American Orchid Society.

 Kathy Streib 

Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 

   Google+    Facebook        RSSLinked In
 
pinterest
 


                                   

Before and After Pictures-Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

 
This post has been included in Florida Real Estate News Palm Beach County, FL Real Estate News
Post is included in group: All Things Florida
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: The Lounge at Active Rain
Post is included in group: Things to Do/Places to Visit
Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!

17 Comments on The Morikami Museum in Delray Beach Florida celebrates the 33rd annual Bon Festival!

AUG
16
2010
Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Kathy - Love Morikami Japanese Gardens. One of my pictures on my site is of a gateway that I took there. Wonderful place to take a peaceful walk and don't forget to have lunch at their cafe. My granddaughter who is only 4 learned a few Japanese words in the cafe, it was so cute and the people are so friendly. Beautiful place to visit.
8:44pm • #1
592,595 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kathy, I regret that I was never able to visit this fascinating place while we lived in Boca, thank you for sharing with us here on AR!
8:51pm • #2
413,669 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Kathy,   Great post!  I love the Morikami.  How lucky we are to have such a special place!  My favorite festival is the Hatsume Fair.  Have definitely seen those drums there. 
8:59pm • #3
1,011,774 Points 84 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Wish I was still there to enjoy the festival.  Have fun Little One.
9:13pm • #4
322,804 Points 19 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kathy, what a celebration to honor the deceased ones.  It sounds like a very nice event to attend.

 
9:14pm • #5
1,057,282 Points 246 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Linda- if it isn't too far from you, we should meet there for lunch some day.

Marilyn- Well then you have to get back down here and visit it.  Who knows we can get some other AR members, like Linda and Elyse (above) and meet for lunch!

Elyse- I've never been to the Hatsume Fair but have always wanted to go.  Last Saturday was hot and humid but there was still a huge turnout!

Roger- You would have loved the gardens!

Rita- It's so relaxing.  You should really go if you're ever here in South Florida.
9:21pm • #7
1,011,774 Points 84 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Looks like I'd love everything about it.
9:43pm • #8
AUG
17
2010
580,973 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

What a fabulous event - would love to make a trip down there next year to enjoy it!
6:02am • #9
Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Kathy - Would love to meet there for lunch. Just right around the corner. :)
6:50am • #10
1,057,282 Points 246 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Roger- next time!

Carol- The Morikami has so many events throughout the year.  You should come down.

Linda- Ok, we'll have to set a date.
10:18am • #11
231,209 Points 2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kathy, looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. Japanese tradition with lanterns is so meaningful and it is so pleasant to watch.
10:21am • #12
1,119,711 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Kathy, very intesting...and a nice celebration for families to honor their deceased loved ones.
12:15pm • #13
188,216 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Always good to learn something new, I love Japanese Gardens, only had once the opportunity to spend some time in Japan...
12:23pm • #14

Morikami has been on our to-do list for years.  Next time we'll need to stop instead of driving through the area.
8:17pm • #15
1,057,282 Points 246 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Anna- I love the traditions behind the ceremonies. 

Rebecca- This was my first year to go.  I was really pleasantly surprised at the number of people who attended.

Barbara- I've never been but the artistry behind the gardens, and even the tea ceremony is serene and graceful.

Laura- Oh, you must!  And don't forget to save some time to go across the road to the American Orchid Society.
9:02pm • #16
AUG
18
2010
794,637 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This sounds like a great place to visit.  My husband would love it too.  I bet the lanterns floating is a beautiful thing to see.
3:48pm • #17
AUG
19
2010
1,057,282 Points 246 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Sharon- The Morikami always draws a lot of out of town and local visitors.  And with the American Orchid Society just across the road it's a must see for anyone who enjoys plants, orchids, beauty and has a camera!  Come on down.
7:29am • #18

Login or register to leave a comment
 
Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging) Ambassador_large

Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224

Delray Beach, FL

More about me…

Room Service Home Staging

Address: Delray Beach Florida, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach,Palm Beach County , and Beyond!

Office Phone: (561) 914-6224

Email Me

Clicky Web Analytics

Clicky

SUBSCRIBE IN A READER

 

Locations of visitors to this page


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog