Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-5pm (plaza next to The Japanese American National Museum and MOCA)

The Tanabata Festival is the opening celebration of Little Tokya L.A.'s annual Nisei Week.  Traditionally this festival has celebrated the meeting of deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by stars Vega and Altair).  According to the legend, the Milky Way separates these star lovers, and they are only allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.  The festival is a celebration of this annual reunion, with beautiful kazari kites made by community members on display throughout the weekend.