Malinda Julien / Courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The Japanese Spring Festival at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
After COVID-19 canceled the event in 2020, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG|BRIT) is getting ready to welcome back Taiko drummers, dancers, and Asian food vendors for the return of its annual Spring Japanese Festival.
The festival, which FWBG|BRIT hosts alongside the Fort Worth Japanese Society, will take place March 27 – 28 within the Japanese Garden. This year's event celebrates the Year of the Ox with traditional dance performances, miniature bonsai displays, Asian food trucks, vendors selling goods like vintage kimonos and plush anime characters, and other demonstrations of Japanese culture.
“We look to 2021 and the Year of the Ox as a sign of new hope, new prosperity, and new wellness,” Japanese Society member Harvey Yamagata said in a statement. “With emerging foliage, warmer weather, and the chance to be in beautiful outdoor surroundings, the spring festival corresponds nicely with those attributes.”
Additionally, guests will be able to view the recently completed "Stickwork" sculpture and tulips that were planted in the fall.
Masks are still required to enter the Botanic Garden, despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's lifting of the statewide mask mandate starting Wednesday. According to the garden's vice president for horticulture and assistant director Bob Byers, FWBG|BRIT has received positive feedback about keeping its current COVID-19 policies in place. The garden has continued to host events since reopening last June, including the Fall Japanese Festival, which took place in November.
“Being outdoors, wearing masks, safe distanced, and timed entry seemed to provide the assurance guests needed based on the encouraging feedback we received,” Byers said.
The garden also continues to limit capacity and requires tickets to be purchased online. Tickets are available here.
