SACBC Obon Festival on Aug. 13

UNION CITY — Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church, 32975 Alvarado Niles Rd. in Union City, will hold its annual Obon Festival on Saturday, Aug. 13. Everyone is invited.

Everyone is invited. There will be Buddhist dancing (7 p.m.), Japanese music, a taiko drum performance, and Japanese foods (5 to 6 p.m.).

The Obon dance is a “Dance of Joy.” Colorful kimono-clad participants gather for a memorial day for our departed beloved ones and a day to give thanks to them. With deeply felt joy and gratitude, we honor and remember our deceased loved ones whose very existence made our own lives possible. We also give special reckoning to loved ones whose earthly lives ended within the past year; this observance is called Hatsubon (first Obon).

SACBC’s Hatsubon and Obon service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kurt Kyosei Rye from Placer Buddhist Church as guest speaker. Otoki lunch will follow the service.

For more information, call (510) 471-2581 or visit www.sacbc.org.