WHEN: Saturday, August 8, 2026
SERVICE: Hatsubon Service at 3:00 p.m.
DANCING: Bon Odori Dancing at 6:00pm
The TSDBT Obon Festival, celebrating our loved ones and ancestors who have died, will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
The day begins with our Hatsubon Service at 3:00 p.m., which is a memorial service for those who have passed away in the last year. If you have a loved one who has passed away in the past year and would like to honor them by lighting a candle during the service, please contact Alison Nishi (info@tsdbt.org) in the office by Thursday, August 6th, and include the following information about the loved one you would like to honor:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Date of death
Bon Odori dancing led by TSDBT Minyō Kai with Denver Taiko Performance will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Sakura Square parking lot. The TSDBT Choir will also accompany our dancing, with a special performance of Lantern Song, which we were lucky to learn from Bonbu Stories last November. All are invited to join in celebrating those who have died by dancing with joy together. Food for purchase and games will be available.
Obon Lanterns to Remember our Loved Ones will be available at Bon Odori for a recommended donation of $20 to TSDBT. These are personizable to remember your loved ones, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis as long as supplies last. We will also have a web page displaying virtual lanterns that may be personalized with a small donation. More information about how to request virtual lanterns will be available here the week of August 3rd.
Obon Dance Practices will be held Wednesday and Thursday, August 5th and 6th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Temple Gym. Practices are led by TSDBT Minyō Kai and are open to all. This is the perfect time to learn and/or refresh your memory of the group dances. Please join us for this fun time to learn and get to know each other!
PLEASE NOTE: This weekend’s (August 8th/9th) service will be the Hatsubon service on Saturday. There is no service on Sunday, August 9th.
Keep your eye on this space for more information to come!
Please contact the TSDBT Office with any questions: 303.295.1844 or info@tsdbt.org