Monterey Obon Festival This Sunday

MONTEREY — The 69th annual Monterey Obon Festival will be held Sunday, July 12, from 12 to 7 p.m. at Monterey Buddhist Temple, 1155 Noche Buena St. in Monterey.

Enjoy delicious Japanese foods, entertainment, games for children, bonsai and ikebana exhibits, and Japanese goods and crafts for sale. Food choices include tempura prepared by chefs from local Japanese restaurants, sushi, beef teriyaki, udon, kushi katsu (fried pork), gyoza, kuri manju (baked dessert with sweet bean filling), strawberry shortcake, ice cream, and shave ice. Gluten-free okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) will be available again this year.

Day-long entertainment features martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremony, Japanese dancers, and taiko drumming. At 6 p.m., the colorful Bon Odori, or community Japanese folk dancing, takes place.

The day wraps up with a raffle drawing and a grand prize of $1,500.

This is a free event, but donations are accepted. Parking is available across the street from the Temple.

For more information, call (831) 394-0119 or visit www.montereybuddhist.org.