STAR-PRAYER Tea Ceremony & Picnic "when you wish upon a star"
Advertisement
Join us at our Star-Prayer/Tanabata festival! Enjoy a bento (light dinner) with sunset and a tea ceremony under the stars at the Community Observatory. After the tea ceremony, we can join the public viewing (9pm to 11pm) at the Community Observatory.
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 7pm
Meeting time: between 6:30pm and 7:00pm at the observatory
Picnic and tea ceremony start at 7:00pm
Community Observatory Public Viewing: 9pm to 11pm (optional)
Location: Community Observatory, 6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA 95667
Fee: $37/Associate member, $47/Non-Associate member*
Online Reservation: https://temple-kukuri.square.site/
Cancellation policy: We have limited seats. The fee is not refundable but transferable to another guest or to your 2026 KUKURI Associate membership.
Fire Season Alert: Please add our email address so you will receive a confirmation email. Due to the wildfire season, the event might be canceled depending on air pollution levels. We will send a final confirmation email a couple of days before the event since
Associate member discount: You must have our 2026 Associate member card to receive member discounts. Please visit https://www.templekukuri.org/associates to learn how to become an Associate member.
Bento: Organic gluten-free and dairy-free Teriyaki chicken Sushi Brito will be served. Vegan options are available upon request (Please email us for vegan option). Menu is subject to change.
Tea: Organic authentic Matcha tea from Japan and traditional tea confections will be served at our tea ceremony. A caffeine-free tea option is available.
What to Bring
Camping/portable chair or picnic blanket. We have picnic blankets and a couple of picnic tables with benches, but additional seating is appreciated.
A Matcha bowl (if you have one; a cereal bowl will also work. We have extras if you don't have one. Please email us).
Your own drinking water.
What to Wear
There is no dress code, but we encourage guests to wear something Japanese-themed, such as a Yukata (summer kimono), kimono, or accessories. Warm clothes, a blanket, and a flashlight are also recommended. It will be warm until sunset and can get VERY cold at night, so a jacket and blanket are advisable.
*By purchasing a ticket, attendees agree to the Temple KUKURI Event Participation and Day Membership Agreement: https://www.templekukuri.org/templekukurieventparticipationanddaymembershipagreement
*****
What is Tanabata/Star-Prayer Festival?
Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a traditional Japanese festival that celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively, according to Japanese mythology. The festival is based on a romantic legend where these two stars are lovers who are separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.
Tanabata festivals are typically held in July or August, depending on the region of Japan, and are celebrated with colorful decorations, especially paper decorations called "tanzaku" (small strips of paper) on which people write their wishes. These tanzaku are hung on bamboo branches along with other decorations such as paper cranes. It's a joyful occasion where communities come together to enjoy festivities, often featuring parades, traditional dances, and food stalls.
The customs and specific date of Tanabata can vary slightly across different regions of Japan and other countries that observe variations of this festival, such as China (where it's known as Qixi Festival) and Korea (where it's known as Chilseok). Tanabata remains a significant cultural event that celebrates love, hope, and the beauty of star-crossed lovers.
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 7pm
Meeting time: between 6:30pm and 7:00pm at the observatory
Picnic and tea ceremony start at 7:00pm
Community Observatory Public Viewing: 9pm to 11pm (optional)
Location: Community Observatory, 6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA 95667
Fee: $37/Associate member, $47/Non-Associate member*
Online Reservation: https://temple-kukuri.square.site/
Cancellation policy: We have limited seats. The fee is not refundable but transferable to another guest or to your 2026 KUKURI Associate membership.
Fire Season Alert: Please add our email address so you will receive a confirmation email. Due to the wildfire season, the event might be canceled depending on air pollution levels. We will send a final confirmation email a couple of days before the event since
Associate member discount: You must have our 2026 Associate member card to receive member discounts. Please visit https://www.templekukuri.org/associates to learn how to become an Associate member.
Bento: Organic gluten-free and dairy-free Teriyaki chicken Sushi Brito will be served. Vegan options are available upon request (Please email us for vegan option). Menu is subject to change.
Tea: Organic authentic Matcha tea from Japan and traditional tea confections will be served at our tea ceremony. A caffeine-free tea option is available.
What to Bring
Camping/portable chair or picnic blanket. We have picnic blankets and a couple of picnic tables with benches, but additional seating is appreciated.
A Matcha bowl (if you have one; a cereal bowl will also work. We have extras if you don't have one. Please email us).
Your own drinking water.
What to Wear
There is no dress code, but we encourage guests to wear something Japanese-themed, such as a Yukata (summer kimono), kimono, or accessories. Warm clothes, a blanket, and a flashlight are also recommended. It will be warm until sunset and can get VERY cold at night, so a jacket and blanket are advisable.
*By purchasing a ticket, attendees agree to the Temple KUKURI Event Participation and Day Membership Agreement: https://www.templekukuri.org/templekukurieventparticipationanddaymembershipagreement
*****
What is Tanabata/Star-Prayer Festival?
Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a traditional Japanese festival that celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively, according to Japanese mythology. The festival is based on a romantic legend where these two stars are lovers who are separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.
Tanabata festivals are typically held in July or August, depending on the region of Japan, and are celebrated with colorful decorations, especially paper decorations called "tanzaku" (small strips of paper) on which people write their wishes. These tanzaku are hung on bamboo branches along with other decorations such as paper cranes. It's a joyful occasion where communities come together to enjoy festivities, often featuring parades, traditional dances, and food stalls.
The customs and specific date of Tanabata can vary slightly across different regions of Japan and other countries that observe variations of this festival, such as China (where it's known as Qixi Festival) and Korea (where it's known as Chilseok). Tanabata remains a significant cultural event that celebrates love, hope, and the beauty of star-crossed lovers.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Community Observatory, 6713 Campus Dr, Placerville, CA 95667, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherTemple KUKURI
