Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival, celebrates the legend of Orihime, the weaver princess, and Hikoboshi, the herder. These lovers, separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month.

Enjoy a summer evening relaxing in Hillwood’s spectacular gardens and take part in festive indoor and outdoor entertainment:

• Listen to delightful music performed by the Washington Toho Koto Society.
• Explore the enchanting Japanese-style garden.
• Bring a blanket or lawn chairs from home and enjoy a picnic on the spacious Lunar Lawn. Sandwiches, drinks, and snacks are available for purchase from Merriweather To Go.
• Create and decorate your own paper lantern to take home.
• Write poems and special wishes on colorful strips of paper, called tanzaku, to hang on bamboo, following the traditional Japanese custom to celebrate Tanabata.
• Try your hand at Japanese calligraphy and origami with our partners at the Japan-America Society of Washington DC.
• Join volunteers from the National Air and Space Museum to explore the constellations associated with the Tanabata legend through solar telescopes and sky maps (weather permitting).
• While here, be sure to explore our newest exhibition, Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles.

EVENT TIMELINE

5:30-8:30 p.m. | Explore Hillwood

• Enjoy Hillwood’s mansion, gardens, and greenhouse.
• Visit the Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles exhibition.
• Merriweather To Go and museum shop open.
• Picnic on the Lunar Lawn.
• Decorate paper lanterns, fold origami, practice calligraphy, and make tanzaku (paper wishes).

6 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 20-minute concerts by the Washington Toho Koto Society

PICNICKING INFORMATION

• Picnicking is welcome at this event. Please note our liquor license does not allow patrons to bring in outside alcohol.
• Please bring your own picnic blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the lawn.
• Food and drinks, including beer and wine, will be available from Merriweather To Go.