Orange County Buddhist Church Obon Festival 2026

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The Orange County Buddhist Church hosts its annual Obon Festival on July 18–19, 2026 in Anaheim, carrying forward a tradition of community, remembrance, and celebration that has been part of Japanese American life in Orange County for decades.

Obon is observed across Japan in midsummer as a time to honor ancestors and welcome their spirits home. In Japanese American communities, it evolved into one of the warmest community gatherings of the year — part cultural festival, part neighborhood reunion, part street fair with specifically Japanese food.

Bon Odori dancing begins at dusk each evening and continues until closing. The circle of dancers grows as the night progresses — first the practiced dancers who know every song, then visitors who follow along and pick up the steps as the music repeats. The experience is deeply inclusive. Wearing a yukata is encouraged but never required.

Food booths open in the afternoon and run until sellout — look for yakisoba, chicken teriyaki, spam musubi, shave ice, and mochi ice cream. The game booths are run by temple youth groups, and the energy around the yagura drum tower as the Taiko performers warm up is unlike anything else in Southern California's summer event calendar.